"Winter got me feeling down. Next season I'll come around. Reflecting back on it, you were my only friend. You really helped me out, but even now I——

want this love like everyone,want this love like everyone else.

We ran aground. I heard it loud. Can't pretendi Iain't down. Didn't plan to never landj, ust never thought that we could drown.

Therapy saw me naked. 26 years I've waited. Life isn't what I made it. My past is what I make of it.

Make of it, make of it, like these new shoes, I'll break 'em in.

Old best friends I'll pray for 'em. All my friends I'll pray for 'em.

Lost what I have never held. Hardly recognize myself. Brought to the deepest end. God help me breath again. Tell me, have I been alone all along?"

Endeavor got there much faster than they thought he would.

No one told him exactly why they wanted to talk to him--the situation itself was enough reason.

But Endeavor was very subdued when he did arrive.

Mirko wasn't really interested in witnessing the whole thing and stayed out of the room with Ren and Kayla, who certainly weren't interested. Aizawa and Miss Joke also exited.

Everyone else stayed, though it was really none of Bakugo's business...but, then again, after being privy to all the other blow outs with the Todoroki family, why should he worry about that now?

"I suppose you all have figured it out," Endeavor said dully when he saw his children and the DJs and Momo waiting for him, "I haven't been able to really think about what it means... If it's true, then there is so much I am afraid of right now. But one thing does not make sense. This Dabi person does not look like Touya. Touya did not have scars like that. Those photos were much too recent to be before he disappeared, so I don't understand that part."

"You've thought it out." Shine was impressed. 

He must be reeling, but he still put that together.

"It's a serious accusation, whether it's true or not," Endeavor said, "They will drag our family name through the mud more than ever. I'm sorry for that. I believe it is my fault."

He looked utterly defeated.

"Oh," Dabi walked in slowly, unable to resist this, "I don't know if you should take all of the credit. I might get a little offended."

Everyone except Shine was shocked he would just walk in like that. Shine knew too well his love for the dramatic entrance. She almost would have laughed if it hadn't been too grim a moment.

Endeavor startled though and blinked like he thought he was seeing things.

Dabi scowled at him darkly, as if daring him to react.

"Touya?" he stammered.

"Dabi," Dabi said, still darkly.

Shine decided to just step in before Dabi opened his big mouth again.

"Dabi is Touya," she said, "The reports are correct."

Silence.

Endeavor was not a delicate person, or he likely would have toppled over from that shock...but then, as Shine had always thought, he'd already half guessed this.

He was just quiet.

Fuyumi shivered because she thought that was not a great sign.

Shoto thought he'd explode more, yell, or doubt...react somehow.

But Endeavor just didn't have the energy to be shocked anymore.

"Why is he here?" he finally said, "With all of you? What's going on?"

Dabi made a scoffing sound. "I'm not going into that... Yeah, the whole 'I'm alive' speech is such a cliché. Let's just skip that part. I don't want to talk about it, and I don't want to talk to you. I only did this to clear up the confusion." He cocked his head bitterly. "Satisfied?"

He meant Shine.

Shine shrugged. "If you are," she said.

"Well, you know, I'm really not." Dabi's temper began to come out at that. "Feels a little anticlimactic, doesn't it? All those meetings on the field, trying to kill each other, only for it to come out like this? I mean, it wouldn't be the first time this family disappointed me, but still..."

"Ouch..." Wally winced on their behalf.

Fuyumi bit her lip.

"You're not making this better," Shoto said flatly.

"It's me. What did you expect?" Dabi said.

Endeavor was still very silent. "You must hate me," he said, with the attitude of a man who's used to everyone hating him, and why should today be any different?

"Yeah," Dabi said, eyes burning.

"I'm not surprised," Endeavor said, "but...why now? Why come out of hiding now?"

"You think this was on purpose?!" Dabi was ready to go off any second and that did it. "Like I wanted to be exposed like this without some kind of plan? My idea was to do it in my own time! This whole s--- show wasn't my idea. In fact, it was--"

"Touya," Shine said.

He stopped.

"Dad...why aren't you more shocked it's him?" Shoto couldn't help but ask.

"Truthfully, I thought it might be," Endeavor said.

Shine made a sign like, "Told ya," to Wally.

"But I was hoping I was wrong," Endeavor said, "I have a lot of enemies."

Dabi snorted. "Yeah, not a shock."

"In a way I also hoped it was true," Endeavor went on slowly, "because I wanted a chance to apologize...though I won't ask for forgiveness."

Dabi made a weird face. "Oh, you can't be serious."

"Dude," Wally said.

"I don't want to hear this." Dabi held up his hands. "Everyone keeps saying you're on this weird reform kick, and that it's not the same." He sounded on the edge. "And that I would feel different about it. But I don't think I do. And I don't want to hear about it. You couldn't do all that years ago? Huh? What did it finally take? Shoto not wanting to be you? All Might getting wrecked? Well, frick that."

[I really doubt he used the euphemism, but I have to.]

He clenched his fists. "It's a little late, if you ask me."

Endeavor wan't arguing. He looked completely unsurprised.

"And maybe I've come to understand some things more," Dabi went on, still mad, "but that doesn't mean I'm just gonna forget about all that time."

"And yet," Shine spoke like this was a normal situation to be in, "you know perfectly well that you're just as susceptible to being blinded by your own hatred."

"Likstar, don't try to turn this on me!" Dabi almost yelled at her, "I told you this was a bad idea."

"I think you're doing great." She wasn't scared of him.

"Shut the h--- up!" Dabi said.

"Hey." Wally stepped a little in front of her. "Watch it. Only person on your side, remember?"

"There's no need, Likstar," Endeavor said, "I won't even ask you why you know about all this, yet again. But I understand my position, and I'm not going to try to deny it. All I want to know is why we are all here, talking about it, and how this disaster has happened." He shook his head. "Once we sort it out, if Touya still wants to fight, he can take a free shot... I don't care anymore about defending my actions."

"Dad," Shoto said, "that's not why we're here. He's reformed."

"Did I ask for your help?" Dabi snapped.

"You said you weren't going to get into this," Shoto shot back, "but since you didn't stick to that, I don't see why I can't try to keep this from turning into a dumpster fire."

"Heh." Bakugo thought it was funny.

"We can leave if you want." Momo felt awkward.

Shoto grabbed her hand. "I'd actually prefer it if you stayed..." He was afraid he'd get worked up too.

Momo nodded.

Endeavor noticed that with some confusion but didn't comment on it.

Dabi was not as out of control as he would have expected himself to be. He always had been, in the past, unable to keep from getting carried away around Endeavor, to keep from holding back, sticking to the plan... He was always so full of cold rage and hatred.

But now, confronting him, it...it really wasn't like he thought. Shine was right. It just didn't...rattle him the same way. He could remember why he was mad at Endeavor...and he remembered when he'd just wanted to kill him.

But he didn't want to kill him anymore. When had the urge to kill just gone out of him?

In fact, Dabi was in a fair way to realize he'd completely changed in the last couple of months.

And Endeavor, who used to scare him so much...wasn't intimidating anymore. He almost seemed small and shrunken.

What had he even wanted to kill? Dabi suddenly thought. The past? What was the point? Endeavor wasn't the same arrogant prick as before. He was just sad now. There was nothing in hurting him if he was already going to put himself in that that position...

Unlike Shoto, Dabi wasn't just angry on other people's behalf though, and this realization didn't make his anger drop off of him, but it did make it seem like a more distant thing that wasn't really relevant to this situation.

So he suddenly was quite calm.

"Well, let's not all get uppity on my behalf," he said in his more normal, dry tone, "I'm not worth it... The problem at hand is what to do about those d--- ninja. Whatever problems we have, we could sort them out better if those freaks weren't on our tails."

Endeavor stared at him in shock.

Shine smiled. "I think you're right about that. I can wait to yell at you again, after all."

"That's the spirit, Likstar." Dabi was sardonic as usual.

"But..." Endeavor couldn't with this mood shift, "I don't understand."

"I think we'd better tell you the full story," Shine said, "Touya, you can sit this out if you still want to. I'm just going to tell it how it happened."

"I'll fact check." Dabi leaned on the wall. "But if you make me sound pathetic, so help me, I'll--"

"You'll what?" Wally crossed his arms.

"I'll think of something," Dabi hedged.

"I... You don't...quite seem like before," Endeavor said, "And...how did you get those scars removed?"

"All part of the story," Shine said.

"I'll make us some tea," Fuyumi said, "This will take a while."

"You knew already," Endeavor realized.

Fuyumi frowned. "Uh...yeah..."

"Hmm." Endeavor didn't even get mad.

Shoto really didn't know what to do with his dad's new calm side.

"Well, I'm going to enjoy hearing this story again," Wally said.

* * *

At least 30 minutes later, they were only halfway through it.

Endeavor kept interrupting with questions.

Dabi really thought he'd hate this more, but he started to almost enjoy shocking him. If he couldn't beat him up, this was at least some kind of retribution, wasn't it?

He could be smug about it having nothing to do with Endeavor's own efforts.

While that wasn't the best attitude, everyone else took it over murderous rage.

Miss Joke and Eraser actually rejoined them to hear the story, as they thought the emotional moment was over.

But it really wasn't. Endeavor might not have been shocked to believe the Dabi was Touya, but he was shocked to hear how he'd gone back to being Touya from being Dabi.

"I don't understand, Miss Likstar," he finally said, "What made you investigate and go to him instead of one of us first?"

"Common sense?" Shine sipped her tea and also munched on a snack. "Experience? I find edgy emo villain types usually prefer you keeping their secret."

"You did not just call me an edgy emo." Dabi was insulted.

"Would you prefer E-boy, punk, goth, or bratty manchild?" Shine replied.

"I prefer edgelord," Dabi said.

"Okay, fine, Honey," Shine said in a falsely sweet tone.

Dabi rolled his eyes.

Endeavor had just as little sense of irony, tone, or camaraderie as any of his sons, so this was hard for him to process.

"I'm...still confused," he said, "Can you work magic, Miss Likstar? How did you...? I mean..."

"What? Convert me?" Dabi said.

"Was going to say persuade," Endeavor said.

"I'm not a sucker." Dabi frowned.

"Down, boy," Shine said, "It's a legitimate question. I have a high heat tolerance--that's my answer."

"I...don't get it," Endeavor said.

"Neither did I," Shoto said.

"But it's nice, isn't it?" Momo tried to help.

"I can't believe we're having this conversation." Fuyumi's family bluntness came out. She smiled. "I never thought we'd be able to talk like this. I was so sure you would fight."

Wally stifled a laugh at her frankness.

"Things are worse in our heads than they are in real life, often," Shine shrugged.

"I'm not enjoying this." Dabi scowled. "But I guess compared to the bloodthirsty quirk hunters, it just no longer feels like my biggest problem. Is that maturity or just survival instincts kicking in? I don't really care."

"For you, it would be both," Shine said, "because it's nice to see you have survival instincts."

"Shut up," Dabi said.

"We're good friends," Shine told Endeavor, shrugging, "He can be a little crap, but I like him. And thankfully, he does not remind me of you. That would be weird."

Endeavor gave her a strange look.

Bakugo chuckled again.

"But you're taking this well..." Shine went on, "I really thought you'd be upset, even if you weren't angry."

"I think I'm...currently just past that point," Endeavor admitted, "I'm not even sure this is really happening. It's surreal. When I thought Dabi might be Touya, I thought he was going to make all of us pay for our mistakes in the past, but they were my mistakes, really. I was afraid Shoto would be involved in that."

Shoto gave him a look.

"He just stopped attacking," Endeavor said, "and I thought maybe I was wrong, but it seemed yet again you have intervened, Likstar... Are you some kind of guardian angel?"

Shine and Wally laughed.

"Why do people keep saying that?" Wally said, "I mean, I get it--she's nice and I'm awesome, but angels? I think our tempers might not be that calm."

"I'm not so sure angels don't have tempers, if you read about Michael at all..." Shine mused, "but I see your point. The answer though, Endeavor, is that I just happen to have the background and experience to help this messed up family, as it cannot be worse than mine. So I think it was destined to happen. I didn't really plan it. I love Touya, and I love Shoto, and I even love Fuyumi." She smiled. "Working on Natsuo. And I like you too. But I shouldn't get the credit for this. God is the one who changes our hearts."

Endeavor didn't argue. "So it would seem..."

Dabi sniffed. "Lucky for all of you, I wasn't going to turn back for any of your sorry a---s... The only thing that convinced me was that Likstar did not come at it that way. If she'd said I owed you something or should still love you or some s--- like that, I would have cremated her."

Wally frowned at him.

"What? I was a headcase," Dabi said, "You know that."

Wally shrugged. "Fair enough."

"But it's never been about that," Dabi said, "I guess all this just isn't the most important thing to me anymore. Weird, but..."

"But it's better that way," Shoto finished for him, "I think it's like finally being able to breathe a little."

"I'm glad you all feel that way." Shine smiled. "At the moment, I could use the happy thought...because all this sucks--I mean what they're doing now."

"But how did he end up leaving the LOV?" Endeavor asked.

"I'm right here," Dabi frowned.

"How did you?"

"I ain't telling you nothing," Dabi said.

"He got an involuntary make over on his mug." Bakugo didn't hesitate to get his digs in. "So he left because he was embarrassed by his pretty face." He started laughing.

"I will kick your a--!" Dabi said.

"I'd like to see you try, Princess," Bakugo shot back.

"That's her." Dabi gestured at Momo.

"Prince, then."

"That's him." Gestured at Shoto this time, who just looked confused.

"Then you're just a wuss." Bakugo wasn't to be put off.

"Girls, you're both pretty, shut up," Shine said, "Look, we don't have time to dissect this. He left the LOV. He's been crashing at UA--no point hiding it now--he can't go back there. Nezu will hand him over, so here we are. I've been teaching him as well as Shoto. And Cece did some therapy."

"Wait, Cece? That woman with the truth quirk?" Endeavor looked like he had PTSD.

"Yes... Why?" Shine said.

"That woman who was my intern?" Endeavor said.

"She has mentioned that."

"The one who made out with Touya on my desk." Endeavor had absolutely no sense of when it was a bad idea to say something.

Fuyumi almost passed out.

Shoto looked shocked, and Momo covered her mouth.

Dabi started laughing at that memory. "I forgot about that."

"What?" Wally looked sort of impressed. "You made out with the counselor?"

"She was a secretary at the time, but, no, it was a lie." Dabi was still laughing. "I just told Endeavor that to piss him off and get her fired."

"Wait, that wasn't true?" Endeavor thundered, "I sacked her!"

"I know. It was the best joke ever!" Dabi was almost in stitches. "Ah, Cece was fun."

"I don't really think she was your type," Shine said, "What is your type anyway?"

"I don't know," Dabi said, "I don't think I have one. She's just funny."

"Not gonna lie," Wally said, "I probably would have done the same thing if I could have."

Shine gave him a look.

"I mean lied about it," Wally said hastily, "for a joke, not made out with... I mean, come on."

"Nice going, West," Dabi said, "If you had a couch you'd be sleeping on it."

"Excuse me." Shine looked at him, eyes flashing. "We're not like that."

"I know, but you do get mad about it. Makes you an easy target," Dabi said.

"I swear, you are as bad as Midnight sometimes," Shine said.

"Okay, now that actually offended me." Dabi frowned. "Comparing me to that bimbo? Really?"

"Hey, she's our teacher," Shoto said.

"And that's just one of the many problems with UA that I've been exposed to," Dabi shot back.

"Okay, he's right about that," Shine admitted, "but still." She hit Dabi with a water bottle.

"Ow..." He rubbed his arm. "I'd melt this, but plastic is toxic so..."

"You know, though," Wally said to Shine, "if you'd stop reacting like that, people would probably stop teasing you about it."

"Says the man who gets chary when Hawk Girl makes even a light joke like that," Shine said.

"Well...okay, yeah, I shouldn't talk..." Wally admitted.

"Who's Hawks' girl?" Endeavor said.

"Oh...I want to say so bad..." Wally glanced at Fuyumi, who was puzzled by it.

"She's a friend of ours. Nothing to do with the Hawks, you know," Shine said.

"If you're all done with this," Aizawa broke in, "if Endeavor has any way to help with the real problem, I'd like to hear it."

"Eraser, he just got his son back." Miss Joke elbowed him.

"No, he didn't," Dabi said.

"Well, still, give him time to think," Miss Joke said.

"I think that would be best, actually," Shine said, "We're all caught up now. Let's reflect on stuff separately and then talk again. Sounds good?"

They all agreed to that.

* * *

Ren was pretty tired, as well as thirsty, after what he'd been through.

Rumi actually let him fall asleep leaning on her, something they hadn't done in years, since they stopped gaming all night on the weekends.

He faded in and out though, because his injuries, while much better, were not totally gone. And he was still sore from almost having a full on attack.

Kayla was just sitting in silence.

"I guess we owe you for saving him," Rumi said flatly.

Kayla shrugged. "Call it being polite. It just happened to be him."

"So why bother, then?"

"I just thought, if I'm not one of them anymore, I should stop standing by and watching them kill people...and anyone they were after, it might benefit me to save," Kayla said, "But...you know, they really want you, not him."

Rumi's ears went back. "Yeah, no surprise... What is it with them and targeting me?"

"I can't say I've even talked to the higher ups about you, but if I had to guess, based on what I know of how they think...you're a loner hero," Kayla said, "Getting connected to these mystery people was just a stroke of luck. You answer to no one, and it made it easy to manipulate you, or so they would think. They'd do the same to anyone they thought it wouldn't be noticed to mess with. I'd think you could guess that much."

Worst fears confirmed there.

"So they think I'm that easy just because I'm tough on my own," Mirko said.

"You are naive," Kayla said, "No one is tough alone. To be alone is to be vulnerable and able to be backed into a corner. Everyone has weaknesses that can be exploited, no matter how tough they think they are. The Originals' whole strategy is that they do not work alone. Having no quirks means having no arrogance. We could never hope to defeat a hero one on one, so we use numbers. And whatever your propaganda says, numbers are always stronger than mere power. It's call synergy."

"I hear that word a lot lately."

"Those two oddballs are a more of a real threat to them," Kayla went on darkly, "People who can unite others, no matter who they are, and get them to work together, despite everyone so very different...that's a threat. If they were on their own, it wouldn't matter, but they are only getting more support, all while staying under the radar. While you are part of them, they will view you as a problem. On your own, they will view you as a tool. If you broke off from this team, they would leave your family alone as long as you didn't make trouble for them, or they'd pick you off, but if you're protected by this circle, they need some other way to get to you." She nodded at Ren.

"And he is also a threat on his own now too. I am just telling you this so you can be prepared. We think of people in terms of how much damage they can do us. We have to. We're quirkless or at least quirk suppressed."

"That's not much of a choice," Mirko said, "Either stick with these crazy people and be a threat, but have them use whatever leverage they can, or accept being a pawn and probably dying."

"Your only hope is if they turn this around," Kayla summed it up, "That's the long and short of it. I can guarantee you, you go off alone again, and you will never be rid of them. Just maybe, if your leader can outwit them, you can walk away from this. It's a big if, but it's better than certain failure. My lot is thrown in with all of yours now, though I didn't want it that way, but it's too late. I have to hope they can pull this off too. Either it was your lucky day to get picked out by those two, or it was your doom. I'm not sure."

"Yeah...me neither," Mirko said.

Kayla shrugged. "I need water..." She left the room.

"Ah," Ren looked up, "don't be so gum, Sis. At least there's a chance, right?"

"After your near death experience you should be the glum one." Rumi pinched him.

"Oh...I don't know, being shot really was almost worth it, getting to be rescued by a sexy siren type," Ren said.

"What?" Rumi made a face. "Ugh, that is such a guy thing to say."

"Well, I am a guy," Ren said, "And how many bros can boast that? I'd be the envy of most of my friends."

"You're an idiot."

"Just 'cause you're allergic to romance doesn't mean I have to be," Ren said, "I mean, that Latin Romance stuff is in the DNA, isn't it?"

"I think you swallowed too much saltwater," Rumi said.

"Maybe Kayla is right..." Ren changed the subject, "I'm not so sure it is a good idea to go off alone now. I thought it was, but...well, I'd still split from the League if I were you."

"Ren, getting tired of talking about this."

"Oh, I know," Ren said, "but still--But even so, it seems we're all safer together. I'm not sure what kind of group you joined here, but it's nice to see you play with others for once."

"Not the reason," Rumi said, "They pushed me into it."

"Sure," Ren said, "You were never just a little lonely, maybe? It's lonely being at the top."

"I'm not lonely," Rumi said, "I've always been perfectly happy with my life."

"I know," Ren said, "but that doesn't mean you aren't lonely... Loneliness isn't really about being dissatisfied, is it? It's about being alone. Even a neet like me can get that."

"Neet? You leave the house."

"It's called hyperbole," Ren said, "And while I'm touched by your concern for me, it's kind of sad that it's the only relationship you have in your life."

"Oh, get off." Rumi shoved him away. "Like I need your weird psychoanalysis of my life. Stick to inventing and creeping people out on the internet."

"That kind of hurt..." Ren said, "You could take it easy. I'm wounded."

"If you don't want to be more wounded, you should stop running your mouth," Rumi said.

"If you stop running from your problems," Ren replied smugly, "Gottcha."

Rumi shoved him with her good foot off the seat.

"Ow--" He said some Spanish cuss words.

Kayla walked back in. "Oh...nevermind..." She backed out.

"Oh, no, come in. It's fine," Ren said, "We're just having a discussion."

"Actually, we're not." Rumi got up. "You two can discuss. I'm done." She walked away.

"Sisters, am I right?" Ren said.

"I wouldn't know," Kayla said.

"You do seem like an only child," Ren said, "So, Kayla, you ever get lonely?"

"What?"

"Something we were talking about. Nevermind. That kind of came out of nowhere," Ren said.

Kayla sniffed. "I'd be less lonely if my dad was safely out of Canada. Goodness only knows when I'll even be able to contact him again."

"If that's all, I think Intelli could get on that," Ren said.

"Really?" Kayla brightened a little. "Wow...what can't he do?"

"Well, he cannot talk to girls to save his life," Ren said, "Sadly not everyone grows up with 8 sisters... Also, he can't go 24 hours without coffee. You do not want to see him off coffee."

Kayla laughed in spite of herself. "That's asinine."

"And you finally showed a sense of humor," Ren said, "Wonders never cease."

"Shut up," Kayla said, saltily. [Get it? 'Cause she's a mermaid.]

"Moment over." Ren didn't know when to quit.