Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sometimes Eros was faced with a concept that made him reassess his life choices in spite of himself. Not that he’d change. No, he was in far too deep for regrets now. But self reflection was inevitable. And the Hero of Love had a lot to reflect on. His career had been a bit of a joke in the hero world. Him as a support hero working mainly to handle damage caused by soulties, more often cutting people apart than helping them actually solve anything. Then the seedier lot had gotten wind of him and begun to approach him. And frankly a sociopath with money and an unhealthy fixation on their soulmate wasn’t all that different from some of the heroes Eros had worked with. Minus the money. He was just expected to help them. 

Still he’d never expected any of the League of Villains to show at his doorstep. And with their interests, they didn’t mind getting him certain items of interest. He’d almost wished he’d started this all sooner. Villains and criminals were lucrative. And even if this particular member had an incalculable body count, he came ready to pay.

Eros let out a long low whistle as Dabi placed the unconscious girl out on the table. There clearly had been a struggle based on the bandage around Dabi’s hand and the bruises along the girl’s arms and legs. But she wasn’t burnt to a crisp, so she had that going for her.

“You’re certain this is her?” Eros asked. Normally he’d have checked her wrists, but they were both wrapped in medical bandages--clearly a subtle hint. And Eros had long ago learned to take those hints to heart.

“Yes.” Dabi grunted. 

“Well then,” Eros leaned over, extending his hand. “Let’s take a look…” His crimson eyes went over the details of the link. 

Her soul was a pale green, like a mist of moss held down with a wire thin red chord. The red chord faded out of Eros’ vision. So she had another soulmate. Whoever they were, they clearly weren’t Dabi. Dabi’s soul was blue like his flames.

“I can’t find any ties between the two of you,” Eros admitted. “It happens sometimes. Some people get them cut, or sometimes the soul will cut the ties to preserve itself.”

“Such as a near death experience?” Dabi suggested.

“Likely.” Eros agreed. “If that’s the case then reattachment should be possible.”

“Do it.” Dabi grunted.

“I will warn you,” Eros cautioned. “Depending on the severity of that experience, and her own nature, she may relive some of that trauma.”

He was somewhat relieved to see the burned villain considering that. Eros wasn’t in a position to be picky with his clients from the underside of society, but he didn’t like the idea of destroying the girl on the table either. 

“You think she will?” 

Eros glanced back at the soul. “Probably.” he admitted. “This isn’t an exact science, but she appears to be a bit higher on the empathic scale than average.”

“Is there any way to lessen the side effects?”

“Likely just to stay with her until it passes.” Eros counseled. “That will strengthen your bond and cement it, allowing your proximity to become a comfort.”

Dabi nodded. “Do it then.”

Eros cracked his neck. He rarely pitied anyone their attachments. Most were lucky in that they had them--a premade person to care about their existence no matter what the rest of the world thought of them. But for her, he could feel some pity. She was bound by two souls, and Dabi wasn’t what anyone would call safe. If he felt anything for this girl it was likely limited to her usefulness to him. But that was none of Eros’ business.

He flexed his fingers over her heart, calling to the soul, coaxing it to respond. It practically clung to the thin connection of the red thread, as if it understood something awful was about to happen. But there, hidden and tangled among the connections was a single strand, no larger than a hair--singed and damaged, and held on only loosely. He ran his hands over them, receiving a spark of blue light. It ignited, dancing like a little flame across the sphere of green.

From the corner of his eye, Eros could see Dabi flinch, clearly feeling the effects. Lines of blue and green began intertwining and crisscrossing. Eros twisted them tighter, binding them closely. The girl on the table was starting to shake, whatever near death experience Dabi had mentioned hitting her anew. Tears flowed from her eyes as Eros continued to tighten and strengthen the bond. Her soul, despite itself, was almost resistant, green threads tangling into the red as the new connection took hold.

“Do you want me to cut the other tie?” Eros asked. 

“No.” Dabi grunted. “Leave it.”

He was tempted to ask, but thought better of it. Dabi had his reasons. And maybe it was the only mercy she’d get in the whole debacle. Eros instead finished the work and then sat back.

“You’re likely going to feel some side effects,” He sighed. “It varies from person to person, but usually it falls upon the territorial end, so if you start feeling overly invested, it’s just the ties.”

“Understood.” Dabi nodded, fishing into his pocket. “Your payment,” He handed him a case. “Those are concentrated doses.”

“Fancy,” Eros grinned. “Pleasure doing business with you.”

Dabi didn’t reply, instead scooping up the unconscious body. Eros watched him go, a sense of amusement filling him. Outwardly there was little to indicate any actual change. But his crimson eyes were trained. There was a touch more care then when he’d come in. His steps were more carefully measured, the girl's face carefully tucked into his chest. 

Eros smiled to himself as he inspected the vials of drugs in their case. She’d gotten the short end of the stick in soulmates, but it was her cross to bear. Dabi, in whatever twisted way, had just set himself up with a weak point. And Eros knew more than a few people who’d be interested in that.