"How did it go?" Wally asked Shine when she appeared outside to watch them shooting some time later.

"You know...not bad," she said. "I'll say one thing-- AFO's lies are not nearly so convincing now, and that may in the end be what helps us the most."

"Yeah, as long as Ender doesn't waste us all before we can really get somewhere," Wally said. "But I'm really way more optimistic now. It's amazing what blowing up a few bottles will do for a guy."

"Ye gotta be more patient, boy," Dillon scolded Bakugo. "You pull on the trigger too fast and mess up yer shot, and it's a waste of a good bullet and your dignity. Folks are more impressed by your hitting the target than by how fast you did it wrong."

"Stop telling me what to do," Bakugo snapped.

Dillon snatched the gun out of his hand. "Any poozer who can't follow instructions ain't got no business holding a gun, that's for certain sure. Now this young lady here was born for it." He meant Momo.

"I...uh...I mean I just have practice, you know, with other weapons" Momo said. "And I don't really believe in using guns."

"Do you believe in being shot by them?" Dillon said.

"Um..." Momo was sure what to say.

"He's definitely Texan," Wally said. "All about their guns."

"Hey, Babe, I might be from a blue state, but I'm red-blooded," Shine said.

"Well, in that case, Miz Likstar, how's about you show these little cayutes how it's done?" Dillon tossed her his other handgun.

"Shine uses a sword," Jiro said.

"Can you shoot?" Kaminari asked her.

Shine smirked. "Well, I do prefer swords for style and dexterity...but," she took aim and fired, grazing the edge of one of the bottles so that it rattled, "I'm okay... Just missed."

"Hey, for a tinhorn that's not bad," Dillon said.

"Did you just call me a tinhorn?" Shine imitated his accent. She shot the hat off his head.

"That was so cool!" Kaminari said.

Shine tossed Dillon the gun back. "This is nothing anyway. Wait till they see you use in a real fight, all the bells and whistles."

"I don't like to give away all my best risks outside the rodeo," Dillon said.

Shine rolled her eyes. Then suddenly a letter appeared in her hands along with a package.

She opened the letter. "'Don't know how you could forget this,'" she read aloud, "'you hated it so much. But here's the movie and book, and don't expect us to watch it for you. This guy sounds like a real piece of work. Please come home soon with more stories and bring Wally by for game night. Signed, Crystal and Lumina.'"

"Wow..." Wally said. "You know, we are overdue for game night."

"That's what you got out of that?" Midnight said.

Shine opened the package. "Ender's Game, and Ender's Shadow," she said. "I remember I read the book for a book group, and I loathed it more than almost any book I've read...and this move made me mad too. I must have blocked it out from disgust...or else it was blocked from Ender himself."

"Wait, so this Ender is a character in a movie?" Camie said. "Like, for real? Or is it one of those parody sort of things?"

"I can't say how close to reality it will be," Shine said, "but I know the themes are often still there, and that key to understanding our opponent is through that. I'm afraid I have to call off the gun practice, Dillon. We have some scheduled viewing to do."

"I'll get the popcorn," Wally said.

"I'll get the holy water," Shine said, then, "Kidding. We don't do that."

* * *

The movie was pretty short.

Shigaraki surprisingly joined them, only because Silk, who was avoiding everyone and had hung around them almost unnoticed the whole week, told him it was about the foe.

Medea left Lethe and Yin alone for a bit to sit in. No attacks were expected until Ender could verify if the last one had worked, and so far he seemed unable to figure out how they were.

Dillon took off his hat and spurs to watch the film.

"These fancy projector things are sure a hassle," he said. "Hey, buckaroo, get your head down." He meant Kaminari, who was sitting on the back of one chair and blocking part of the light.

"So this movie will tell us who Ender is?" Midnight asked.

Shine took some popcorn before answering. "Not exactly," she said. "I doubt he's actually the Ender from this movie...or book.... These stories are like...shadows, or re-tellings of true stories of DJs or other worlds or both. And you learn to pick out what's likely based on fact, and what the artist just sort of came up with on their own when they're adapting it. Like a book adaptation to a movie, they also leave out some things, change details and characters, and so on, but a good adaptation keeps the heart of the story, so it can be useful. It's a possibility this guy has just named himself after this character, and we need to find out why."

"Shut up, it's starting," Bakugo said.

About 10 minutes into it, almost all of the kids were already saying the movie didn't make a lot of sense.

"I don't like any of the adults it this movie," Momo said. "I mean, not to be disrespectful, but I feel like they're using Ender as a tool.."

"Why does he beat people up?" Bakugo asked. "Like, if he's so sensitive or whatever, pick a side, idiot."

"Maybe you should just watch it and find out," Wally said, a little annoyed.

Bakugo went quiet.

About halfway through the film, Dillon was shaking his head. "I really hope this ain't based on fact. Can you imagine what a sad world that would be?"

But the finale of the movie had everyone infuriated.

"How could they lie to him like that?!" Momo cried.

"The despicableness!" Iida cried. "Authorities should not deceive people like that."

"He wiped out a whole race!!!" Jiro said. "That's... Did this actually happen?"

"Yet again, I don't know." Shine was frowning. "I can't believe I forgot this movie. What a terrible story."

"Is the book any better?" Wally asked.

"The book was about Bean and his story.... I only remember it because of how unnervingly it described a psychopath's way of thinking."

"But everyone was kind of psycho in this movie," Camie said. "I mean, they just play games at killing things and beating people who were down. Even Bakubae didn't do that, and he's, like, supposed to be the bully."

"What?" Bakugo said.

"Like at first," Camie said, "but now you're really nice."

"I have to agree, even Bakugo was never that bad," Shoto said with a straight face. "And Ender is the hero of the story."

"Shut up Icyhot!" Bakugo said.

"You sure are a feisty little nipper, aren't you?" Dillon said.

"Isn't that more of an Australian term?" Shine asked.

"Eh, I can borrow it. It ain't hurtin' no one," Dillon said.

Bakugo glared at him but was silent.

"Well, that was horrible," Shigaraki stated, surprising them by speaking at all. 

Mirko tilted her ears. "So...Experts, how much of that was real?"

Shine and Wally exchanged a look,

"Dillon, what do you think?" Shine asked. "I can't read your mind."

"Well," Dillon was polishing his gun, "I... dunno... Somehow I kinda doubt there was any bug race of people in this guy's past, ya know? I mean, if that was true, wouldn't they be here with him? You ain't seen any bugs?" He glanced at Shigaraki.

"No." Shigaraki was very curt.

"So maybe the alien bug part ain't real," Dillon said, "or maybe he just named hisself after his character, as you said. Maybe he's from a world like yours, Miz Shine, where this is a real movie."

"Yo." Camie held up her phone. "I just found a video of it here...but it's not the same. They call it Ender's Shadow."

"That's the book," Shine said.

"Ah...oh, wait it's like a trilogy," Camie said.

"It's not a trilogy in my world," Shine said, "so here someone must have made more movies."

"Do we have to watch those?" Jiro groaned.

"Probably," Shine said. "But let's assess: What did we learn about Ender?"

The kids looked at each other.

Mabui raised her pen. "If I may, I think that Ender's tendency to cripple his opponents so that he will never fight again is much like my world's society, but the same error is present.  It's not really wisdom-- If you defeat every opponent completely, no one can ever stand up to you, and, in fact, you are untouchable. You are like a god."

"Interesting," Shine mused.

"Further more, I'd suggest that's really a kind of fear," Mabui said. "You fear what will happen if you give your enemy a chance to come back stronger. Instead of rivals, you just want victories, to always be the best and not have to grow."

"Wow, that's deep," Camie said. "I just thought he was a little out of his head."

"I'd almost think there was something in the old X-men's show's idea that video games and TV cause mutations," Shine said, "because video games fricked that kid up."

"Well, what do you expect if he's just taught about war and stuff as his highest purpose?" Wally said. "It would mess anyone up. What about fun and family and love and hobbies?"

"Yeah, nothing like that," Shine said. "To save humanity these futuristic things always strip humanity of what makes it human, like that one woman pointed out."

"Ender is not human," Shoto said. "He hardly has emotions, and they tell him not to have them...and they want him to feel alone." He shook his head. "It sounds like the ninja, all right...and others."

It was at this point that Shigaraki suddenly froze up and seemed to be having some kind of flashback, from the way he was scratching...

The kids were somewhat startled, but a lot of them had seen this enough times on their missions to not be that fazed.

Mirko jumped up.

"I got it," Wally said, going to help him.

"I'm afraid maybe the movie was too much," Shine said. "He seemed okay...but it can hit late.... Sorry..."

"Aw, you didn't know," Dillon said. "No telling what ghosts may haunt a man. We can't be sure."

"I'll just take him back to his room," Wally said.

"I'll make some more tea," Momo said.

"Momo knows no ailment that can't be helped with tea," Kaminari said.

"Tea has healing properties," Ibara said.

"At least she's helping," Jiro said.

"I can help!" Kaminari said. "Uh...how?"

"Maybe if you had a hand-held video game," Dabi joked.

"I think we do," Kaminari said.

"I know there's some in the storage room," Hawks said. "Some of the staff play it on their break... They think I don't know, but joke's on them. I do it too."

"Model of discipline, aren't you?" Midnight said.

"He's as much a model of discipline as you are one of decorum," Shine said.

Midnight gave her a killer look.

"Ouch.... Shoto, make her some ice for that one..." Dabi muttered.

* * *

Shigaraki kind of passed out, either from exhaustion or the strain of his flashbacks...

But he came out of it not too long later.

It might be just as well he was too ignorant of his own psychology to see this as a bad sign that he was still having this.

The kids brought him tea, a hand-held game, extra blankets, and a snack... Iida tried to make suggestions that no one was really listening to, but he was trying to help.

Shigaraki was puzzled by their attempts at helping.

Wally was laughing about it. "Ah, my kids are all grown up and helping people out with their actions, not just words. I'm so proud...but I feel like a dad... I'm not old."

"Dads can be young, moron," was Bakugo's comment. He glanced at Shigaraki. "Hey...don't get so d--- freaked out by things and not tell people! You idiot."

He stalked away.

"I think that was his way of saying he wants you to be more careful," Wally said. "I'm learning to speak angry Pomeranian.... Well, you should rest up. We'll just keep analyzing on our own. Fill you in later." He made a guns-up sign and left.

Shigaraki thought they were all nuts. Didn't they remember they were supposed to be enemies?

But he lacked energy to really complain...

He ended up using the hand-held game out of sheer boredom, though his mind was still fixed mostly on AFO and Ender...but it was fixed in the unchanging, anxious way that really gets you nowhere, and a distraction was welcome, if not very effective.

He fell back asleep at some point.... It was more the emotional drain that anything else...

When he came to hours later, Mirko was the one sitting in the room. She was actually asleep too, in a chair, head tucked into her arms like a kid.

Shigaraki was not ready for that and moved so fast he dropped some of the items on the floor.

Mirko jumped up like she was ready for someone to attack, but then she realized what it was.

"Oh...hi..." She sat back down, kind of embarrassed.

"What are you doing in here?" Shigaraki grumbled.

"Nothing." She looked away. "It's quiet in here..."

Uneasy pause.

Shigaraki remembered a little too vividly her trying to grab him and getting infected by the dust... The whole thing made him uncomfortable.

He was finally starting to suspect that this feeling might in fact be guilt. He'd come a long way.

"Did...did I hurt you?" he said vaguely.

Mirko looked up. "Oh, this?" She held up her hands, which were still marked up. "It's nothing...just the dust... I was lucky. Shine stopped it... It was dumb to touch that stuff anyway." She tugged her hair.

"Sorry." Shigaraki never said sorry, but what else was he supposed to say?

"Why? It's not your fault. I did it to myself," Mirko said. 

"They used me..." Shigaraki said.

"Yeah, those frickers," Mirko said snarkily. "But they didn't succeed. I guess that's the main thing now. And stopping them..." She glared at the floor. "Savior complex...what a nut..."

"You shouldn't have come that close," Shigaraki said, a bit more peevishly. "You're an idiot."

"I probably am," Mirko didn't even fight it, "but that's not even at the top of the list of reasons..." She glanced at him. "Stop scaring us all like that."

"I don't know why any of you should really care," Shigaraki remarked. "Heroes are weird... I never did anything for any of you except try to kill you."

"Water under the bridge." Mirko gestured flippantly. "Who hasn't had that happen to them?"

"I just don't get why they all seem so concerned suddenly," Shigaraki said. "Likstar could have just let them kill me and saved everyone a lot of trouble."

"Hey!" Mirko said sharply. "Quit saying that. That's crazy talk."

"So? It's a fact."

"Sure, let them win," Mirko said. "That'll make us all feel so much better. You're so dumb." She put her hand to her forehead over-dramatically. "Why do I like the dumb ones?" she muttered to herself.

"I think it's logical."

"Well, stop thinking, then," Mirko said. "Just deal with it. No one's letting that happen around here." She frowned. "And I hope you know that's the last time I'm letting you go off alone and do stupid s--- like that. There's gotta be a limit to that free choice thing. We're all just gonna have to keep a tighter rein now."

"You can't tell me what to do!" Shigaraki said.

"Sure I can," Mirko said, standing up so she could look down at him superiorly. "You clearly can't be trusted not to get yourself killed, so we'll just have to make sure of it ourselves."

"Coming from you!?" Shigaraki finally found a bit of ire. "The most reckless Hero in the world."

"I should know, right? And didn't you say I should listen to other people more and not run off and do dumb things? Yet look at you, total hypocrite."

Pause. She kind of had him on that one.

"Well, it made sense at the time."

"No, it didn't!" She crossed her arms. "No more of it. Got it? We'll tie you down if we have to."

"I'm not planning on ever doing that again," Shigaraki finally said. "Why don't you calm down before you break something?"

Mirok frowned. "Like I would--" Then she stopped. "Yeah...whatever." She sat back down. "You should talk."

"I don't kick walls."

"No, you just disintegrate them," she shot back.

"Well, at least it's not in a fit of rage."'

"Maybe you just don't realize when you're in a fit of rage."

Another possibility.

"Are you going to be this annoying continually?" Shigaraki said.

Mirko frowned again, then she put her ears down. "Annoying, huh? Yeah...I guess that tracks." She got up. "Fine, I'll leave."

Now he felt even more guilty.

"Wait," he said.

She paused in the doorway.

"I...didn't mean that the way...uh.." Shigaraki wasn't sure what he was trying to say. "It was...just a quip. Stop taking everything so seriously."

"Oh, I  take everything too seriously, huh?" she said.

"What's gotten into you?" he grumbled.

Mirko sighed and turned around. "You know, this isn't easy for me either. I don't know how to say things or be nice or do any of the things Shine can do to help." She leaned on the wall. "The fact is, I'm not good with people. I never have been."

It dawned on Shigaraki that she might be trying to cheer him up...weird...

But a nice enough gesture...

"You're acting like nothing happened," he noted, like it confused him, "like it's all the same as before."

"No, I doubt that's true," Mirko said dryly. 

"Like I didn't almost kill you."

"Oh, that?" Mirko acted like that idea never occurred to her. "That's nothing. Who cares?"

"Who cares?" Shigaraki thought she'd lost her mind. "That's just crazy."

"No, crazy is thinking that what you did was a good idea." Mirko frowned and stomped her foot. "Crazy is trying to take on the guy alone--or trusting AFO, period.... But, like, taking it seriously? That's just dumb. AFO backed you into a corner. I get that... I guess I did before...I just didn't like it, but it's over now, so I'm going to try to forget the whole thing. Stop bringing it up." She crossed her arms again. "What's important now is that it didn't work."

"You're not afraid?" This question just came out because he was too puzzled to realize it.

"Afraid of what?" Mirko said. "Ender? I probably should be...but since I can't see it getting any worse than before...what's there to be afraid of now?" She shrugged again. "Why? Should I be?"

"Of me."

"Of you... When have I ever been afraid of you?" She kind of smirked there.

Well...never...now that she mentioned it...

"Why not?"

"Because you're not that scary," Mirko said. "Duh...Not to stomp on your pride or anything, but after growing up with my mother...not much fazes me." She gestured flippantly. "So, yeah. Why would you even ask a dumb question like that?"

"You make no sense."

"Maybe you should just get over yourself." Mirko cocked one ear. "Not everyone's gonna be scared of you. Don't be so self important."

"Self important? I could kill them."

"So? Anyone can kill someone," Mirko said. She gestured unknowingly. "But not everyone will."

Mirko definitely had a unique take on life threatening situations... Of course, maybe that was to be expected.

Shigaraki decided that trying to reason with her would be useless and exhausting at this point... She was just going to be determined not to think of safety, and that was just her way. Apparently nothing was going to change that... He was pretty sure Ender or AFO could try to kill her a hundred more times, and she'd just shake it off...

Well, maybe that was for the best in the long run...if they defeated them... Better than what happened to Lethe...or Compress...

Yeah, maybe he should just be glad that didn't happen.

And with his characteristic quick dismissal of things once he sorted them out, he pretty much put the matter out of his head.

"Well, if you're going to sit in here, you might as well do something actually entertaining," he said, picking up the hand-held games. 

Mirko smirked. "What, you feel like getting crushed?"

"I'm offering out of pity," Shigaraki said. Where did that quip come from?

"Self pity?" Mirko said, taking it. "Because that's all you're gonna have later."

"We'll just see about that."

https://youtu.be/_GenVbVFdYw

[Awww...I can't even with these two... I know you were hoping for a kiss... Soon, okay? Give them some time to breathe, guys.]

* * *

After analyzing the movie and book as best as they could, the team wanted to come up with a plan of attack.

But Dillon agreed with Shine and Wally that they should make Ender come to them.

"We ain't got no idea where to find him, and if we spread out looking, it will make us easy to pick off," he said. "Besides, your sickly looking friend has the inside information on him."

"Every time he comes to us," Dabi said, "we lose something."

"If we sit idly by, we're letting whatever he does happen," Aizawa added.

"And what will we accomplish by randomly looking around the countryside?" Shine asked. "He knows we're out there. The enemy will always attack. I prefer to spend my time strengthening our side."

"Y'all should get your affairs in order," Dillon said. "One way or another, a showdown with a Dark Hopper ain't gonna be an easy matter."

The kids looked somberly at him.

"You're scaring them," Wally said.

"I'mma shooting straight," Dillon said, "and you'd best be too. I think we can beat this guy, but I don't aim to make false promises."

Wally and Shine sighed.

"Let's just enjoy our respite," Shine said. "The eye of the storm... It'll be hard enough soon. And...anyone who isn't ready to take this kind of risk, they should go."

"If anyone shouldn't have to risk it," Shoto spoke up, "it should be the two of you--and Mabui." He nodded at her. "He wants all of you. And...it's our world.... If someone wants to try to ruin it, it's our job to protect it, but this isn't your home. You don't have to do that."

"You risked your lives to save my word," Mabui spoke up. "You all did. She glanced at the DJs. "I can see some sense in you not needing to help us, but I for one owe you all for that. I won't abandon you when you're in the same position. Don't try to dissuade me."

"Like we're gonna ditch you kids here to fend for yourselves," Wally said.

"Who knows?" Shine said. "All things happen for a reason. Maybe we're here for such a time as this." She tugged her hair. "Whether we win or lose, I want you all to know you've been the best students we could ask for, the best kids...and friends." She smiled. "And we love you all. And, hey, if he wins, we'll still see you on the other side. The end is never the end for us. But I'd like to believe we aren't all here, so specially selected, just to lose the world in the 9th hour."

The kids and Heroes nodded.

"Hey, ditto," Camie said. "You guys are the best."

"Whatever we do," Shoto said, "we're still glad that you came here. Our lives will never be the same."

"H---, who said it wouldn't be dangerous?" Bakugo shrugged.

"We still wouldn't trade that time with you for anything," Momo said.

Even the other UA kids were nodding.

"Yeah, well, you know I had nothing to lose in the old life," Dabi said, shuffling.

"I...have to say," Aizawa said, "I didn't like that you came here...and things haven't gone the way we thought... but I'm not sorry you came, after all."

"That actually means a lot," Shine said.

Mabui smiled and looked at her feet a little sadly.

"Hey, we're totes glad you're here too." Camie grabbed her arm to hug her. "The more the merrier, right? Major guts to come here."

"Ah..." Dillon wiped a tear away. "It does my heart good to see the loyalty between a DJ and their kin. Makes the job worth it, don't it?"

"Yep," Wally said.

"Welp," Dillon straightened, "if you tinhorns are all done jawing, I think we should be resting and stocking up. I'mma go do that... There any portable player batteries around here? Mine done run out."

"I'm sure we can dig up something," Shine said.

Momo formed a few AAs in her hand.

"Well...I'll be hornswaggled." Dillon's eyes got huge. "That's some gift you've got there, girl."

"Peaches is a super genius," Wally said.

"Peaches?" Dillon said. "Ah, that's a cute nickname... Every cowpoke's gotta have a nick name, right, Speedy?"

Wally frowned. "Uh...Speedy?"

"As long as it's not Lonestar," Shine joked.

"Oh, that's clever," Momo said.

"No...it wasn't." Shine frowned.

"A little mistake I made about her name when we was in jail," Dillon said. "It kind of stuck, but I've been tryin' to rectify it, just as she's so particular about it."

"Just don't call her Shiny," Dabi said. "She'll flay you alive."

Shine's look could have frozen hot coal.

Dillon chuckled.

* * *

Everyone did rest, after that... It felt weird to have nothing to do for so long.

Dabi was listless.

Mabui was avoiding him, as expected.

"Why the long face, pardner?" Dillon asked, when he'd come outside for some air and found Dabi just tossing pebbles at some broken bottles.

"It ain't nothing," Dabi said mockingly.

Dillon adjusted his hat. "You seem to like to keep to yourself, Slick. Could it be you're at odds with your team a little? Ain't good to have dissension in a group when you're facing a challenge."

"It's nothing for you to worry about," Dabi said. "I don't need your little Indiana Jones act."

"Indiana Jones ain't a cowboy, son, he's an explorer," Dillon said.

"I don't know the difference between American tropes," Dabi said.

Dillon leaned on the wall. "You always judge a book by its cover?"

"The cover's kind of hard to miss in this case," Dabi said.

"Ya know, you're the exact reason I dress up like this and do the whole bit," Dillon said. "If you present people with something a little colorful, you find out real quick who's just in it to look good and impress people too much. Weeds out the flakes." He shrugged. "So what's your schtick? You a pretty boy, or a real one? Who you got to impress around here? Seems to me those good people in there accept your bony husk the way it is."

Dabi sighed.

"I...kind of got dumped," he said, more defeated. "Except we weren't dating... Anyway, it's nothing to worry the others about, so don't mention it."

"That nice lady with the clipboard?" Dillon said. "I can't figure how to say her name... Malibu..."

"Mabui. How did you know? Did Camie--?"

"I saw you looking each other's way whenever you thought the other tweren't looking," Dillon said. "I know a scared critter when I see it... What's got you spooked?"

Dabi groaned, then shrugged. "I don't think I'm ready for relationships...and...even if I were, she could do better."

"That all?" Dillon was skeptical.

"That and...well, I kept putting off deciding," Dabi said. "I thought enough time would go by, I'd feel what was right, but she got tired of waiting."

"Ah, I know--the old standoff trick," Dillon said, "kind of what we're doing with these varmints now."

"Sure."

"And she caved first," Dillon said. "I have a suspicion that it might not be the first time you waited till she did."

Dabi reddened. "Uh...it might not have been."

"That's a real bad habit, son," Dillon said. "Waiting till other people get fed up with you...that's a self defeating habit. You not like winning?"

"I..." Dabi paused. "Maybe I don't," he said finally. "I tend to move late or too soon and throw fights. Used to be for the best. I was a Villain."

"I do recall Miz Likstar mentioned having a villain in the bunch here... She's good with troubled young men," Dillon said. "Had her visit the ranch once. They loved her. It's what I do too... Young steers who just need someone to give them something they can do and be respected for... A lot of young pokes ain't taken seriously these days... You seem like you've had some experience with that yourself."

"Is it that obvious?" Dabi said. "I guess bad boy is still written all over me."

"I think it's the jacket," Dillon said.

Dabi finally smirked slightly.

"Eh, I ain't one to judge an unique sense of style," Dillon said, "but you can pick up a thing or two. You need people to see you ain't a dependable man, so that they don't depend on you, is that the facts of the matter?"

Dabi thought. "I guess that's one way to put it," He said.

"Why're you so sure you can't be dependable?" Dillon said. "The team depends on you here. They trust you, I can see that. You wouldn't be in this circle if they didn't."

"Well, they also trust Midnight, Shigaraki, and Ingenium Jr.," Dabi said. "I wouldn't have included any of them in this, personally."

"So you get to decide who is and isn't worthy?" Dillon said.

Dabi winced. "Maybe just to build myself up... It was sick...but I still do it. I'm kind of judgmental." He shrugged. "I can't seem to stop it...and that's why I'm not a good person to rely on. I tend to dislike people."

"Hmm, I saw you reading some Lewis book earlier," Dillon said, after a pause. "You a fan?"

"Shine talks him up. I hate to say it, but he does live up to the hype," Dabi said. 

"You know Lewis didn't think of himself as a nice, patient, or kind person at heart," Dillon said. "He wrote about having irritations and temptations, same as the rest of us." He shrugged. "But to his friends he was a real reliable, kindhearted soul. Humble too. I do my research." He raised an eyebrow. "So maybe what we feel inside, and what we act on, is two different things... You know you ain't fair to people. You can work on that. The thing is to treat them fairly even if you don't feel it, and sooner or later, you will, or it won't matter. We call it common courtesy where I come from. You see, son, I think your problem ain't that you're so much worse than anyone else, it's that you're a little too focused on yourself. We all are just as you are, but most of us, we brush it aside and do our best. You want to be more than human."

"What about brotherly love?" Dabi shrugged. "I failed that one years ago... I couldn't even measure up to any standard." He gripped one of the stones. "Not even my own."

"You think that what we believe is about standards?" Dillon said. "You done missed the entire point, son. It's about knowing you're gonna blow it and having someone cover your back. You can't expect to not have bad days... It don't mean you can't be as happy as anyone else. It's what you aim for and always want to become, not what you are now, that should define you. If your heart's toward the right thing, you can make as many mistakes as you need."

Dabi stared at his hands. "I've heard stuff like that before...but I still don't feel ready to accept it."

"Well, your problem there is you think anyone ever feels ready," Dillon scoffed. "If we felt ready, it'd be like feeling good, and we don't. We know we're sinners. You're gonna feel like a sinner. It's accepting it when you feel like that, that's when you have peace. You're putting the cart before the horse."

Dabi looked at him oddly. Could it really be that simple?

"And as for your lady friend," Dillon said, "if she loves you, then she'll know that too... She's got her flaws also, but if she doesn't want to limit herself by them. Maybe she's a tad wiser than you are, Slick. I'm a just saying."

Dabi chuckled slyly. "She's probably way smarter than I am.... She could do better."

"Eh, women could always do better," Dillon said. "Ain't none of us deserve love, even from each other, but love ain't about that. You should feel like she could do better--that's healthy. If you felt like she couldn't, I'd say you weren't ready for a relationship for sure...but as it is, the only thing that's really stop you is giving into that fear and doubt you seemed to carry. Get that chip off your shoulder and you'll do fine." He tipped his hat. "You chew on that for a while, Dabi." 

He walked in.