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Asphalt tastes like shit.
Hawks spits some of it out of his mouth, the tang of blood from a cut on his lip mixing with the gravel and dirt of the pavement, the taste foul on his tounge. He hasn’t had his ass handed to him like this in a while, he has to admit.
“Give up yet?” the villain taunts him, cackling, “I’ve got the number two hero all twisted up, face in the ground. Gotta say, you don’t look like a pretty boy right now all beat up and exposed. Never would have guessed you’d be hiding those under your gloves.”
Hawks doesn’t wince, years of training keeping him too composed for that, but it’s a close thing. He flexes his talons, not used to hanging them in full view. His gloves have been torn to shreds in the fight, useless and vanished into the darkness of the pavement. Those talons are currently covered in blood and dirt, curling as he stares up at the villain.
“You’re a freak, just like me!” the villain laughs, spinning in a circle and looking up at the stars, “I wanted Endeavor to kill me, but you…I think you’ll do. Rip out my insides, bird!”
The rest of the fight is a short one. Hawks doesn’t kill the guy, but he’ll definitely need a long stay in the nearest villain hospital in order to recover. In the meantime, Hawks is being debriefed by his handler on the phone.
“Excellent, Hawks,” she says in her usual clipped tone, “No casualties and minimal property damage occurred. You’re off duty for the next thirteen hours, I suggest you rest.”
Hawks thanks her and disconnects his earpiece, glad she didn’t mention his gloves vanishing in the fight, relieved she doesn’t seem to know. It’s not a secret exactly that Hawks has talons, but his handlers prefer he doesn’t show them off too often. It’s generally better if people forget that he has bird attributes, other than his wings. It’s why he wears the googles, to hide the eyes the HPSC calls unsettling.
“Oh my god, it’s Hawks!” a civilian is gushing from behind the police caution tape and Hawks stomach squirms. He turns and flashes a signature smile and peace sign, using the moment to launch himself into the sky to the roaring approval of the crowd.
“Hawks, we love you!”
Hawks kind of wants to dive into the ocean. He flies in the direction of his apartment, his mind occupied with the ongoing mission he was assigned a few weeks ago.
“You will infiltrate the League of Villains,” the director of the commission had told him firmly, “They will not suspect you are a double agent. You will feed information back to us.”
Hawks hadn’t said no. Hawks never does.
He sighs to himself as he flies, high enough that even he gets cold, shivering a little as he flies, not even realizing he’s turned away from the way that would take him home. His mind had flashed to somewhere else, a place he’s been spending more and more time at lately, more time than is necessary for his mission, if he’s being honest.
The Paranormal Liberation Front, or PLF, had absorbed into (or was absorbed by-Hawks isn’t sure) the League of Villains, and they have some kind of manor stronghold out in the woods. He’s been there a number of times, and while he hasn’t interacted much with the PLF as a whole, he has gotten to know the League.
It’s refreshing talking with people who are brutally honest and also don’t give a flying fuck that he’s the number two hero. Hawks likes the realness, the way he’s treated as just another soldier here. It keeps him grounded.
He lands on the grounds of the manor shaking his wings as he heads inside, passing other traitorous heroes and dangerous villains alike. Hawks wonders how long it will be before he’s thrown into one of those sharply defined categories by the media. By anyone’s standards, he’s no hero anymore.
When the HPSC had ordered him to kill Best Jeanist, Hawks had actually thought they meant it. There was a solid five seconds where he reconciled with himself that he would kill Jeanist, and he had come to peace with the thought horrifyingly quickly. Of course, right after that, the commission continued by telling him it would be a body double, a corpse from a morgue, modified to look like the hero and Jeanist would be placed into protective custody. Hawks wouldn’t actually be killing anyone.
Of course, the HSPC would never kill one of their own. Especially not a top ten hero. So why had Hawks found the idea of murder so easy to accept?
Since that day, since being with the League and the PLF, Hawks’ brain has been churning with thoughts. Sure, Shigaraki’s crazy, All For One is no joke, and the PLF is terrifying. He doesn’t want Japan to be destroyed. But hero society? That’s something he could get behind destroying. The HPSC does no one any favors and Hawks has to admit as someone who regularly benefits from the system, society’s fucked.
“Hey, birdbrain, watch where you’re walking,” a voice cuts into his thoughts and Hawks blinks to see Dabi standing in front of him.
“Sorry,” he says, putting on one of his fake smiles, “Long night, lost in thought. How’s things here?”
Dabi raises an eyebrow, folding his arms and leaning against the wall, raking his eyes up and down Hawks’ form. “Fine. I didn’t think you were coming here until next week.”
Hawks winces, internally cursing himself. Dabi has a way of getting under his skin that no one else seems to be able to do. The villain breaks through his facade with ease and calls Hawks on his bullshit when no one else does. It leaves him feeling very unsteady.
“Exhausted after an arrest tonight,” Hawks says honestly, “I was going home, but I just kind of found myself here.”
“Really,” Dabi grins, “That’s interesting. Maybe you really are turning villain, you little traitor. Well, you can’t spend all night in the hallway. Come on, let’s go get some food, pretty bird.”
Hawks’ face flushes at the epithet, following the scarred villain down the hall. This place is so huge it has an actual cafeteria, and Hawks feels strange when he walks inside. It’s fairly empty, it’s late at night and most people are asleep. Dabi grabs a couple of sandwiches, gesturing over to an empty table where the two of them sit down.
Hawks still hasn’t taken his talons out of his pockets, remembering suddenly that he doesn’t have gloves. Dabi’s never seen his hands without gloves before. Hawks isn’t sure anyone in the League has.
“Here,” Dabi says, shoving a sandwich towards him, “Eat. I was getting news alerts about your activity all day, did you stop for a break once?”
Hawks shakes his head, looking at the sandwich and very cautiously taking out one of his hands. They can’t be mistaken for human hands, not from a distance or up close. He still has five fingers, but the smooth, pale human skin turns into dark, bumpy raptor skin. The tips of his fingers are black, curled at the ends. Instead of fingernails, he has razor sharp talons. Not ideal for eating politely.
Swallowing hard, Hawks reaches up to take off his visor, his yellow eyes able to see just a bit more clearly. Dabi looks curiously at him, but doesn’t react at all to seeing the uncovered eyes and the unsheathed talons.
Hawks says nothing, he just picks up the sandwich and starts to eat, knowing he’s not exactly using the best table manners as he stabs half the sandwich with his fingers.
“You know you don’t have to cover up around here,” Dabi says, making Hawks cough in surprise, “Seriously, birdie. I mean, fucking look at me. Do I look like I’m hiding shit?”
Hawks shakes his head, a little red in the face as he swallows hard. “No, you don’t. I’m just…not used to showing them to people. I’m…not supposed to.”
Dabi looks intrigued. “Not supposed to? Says who? You’re the fucking number two, can’t you do whatever the hell you want? Endeavor does.”
“What? No he doesn’t,” Hawks says in confusion, “Endeavor’s watched more than any of us. That’s why none of the shit about his family is public.”
It’s Dabi’s turn to cough and splutter, looking at Hawks with shock. “What…you know about that?”
“Well…yeah,” Hawks says, rustling his wings. Truthfully, he used to idolize Endeavor, until he had started taking interns. His intern from UA’s class 1-A, Tokoyami, told Hawks a lot about his classmates. Shouto Todoroki, Endeavor’s son, who seemed to be quiet, but frighteningly powerful. Hawks had suspicions after he met the kid, so he did digging on the new number one.
He had hated being right.
“What exactly do you know?” Dabi asks, voice hard, “Tell me everything, birdie.”
Hawks wonders why Dabi cares so much, but he has no love for Endeavor, so he starts to explain.
“I dug into Shouto Todoroki’s UA files,” Hawks starts, not missing Dabi tense, “Because I met that kid one time and his body language screamed child abuse. He has no mother on file, and a deceased brother. So, I broke into the commission’s files on Endeavor and I found tons of redacted medical reports, a couple of scrapped worried calls from neighbors, and an investigation report filed by Shouto’s teachers at UA that was never checked out by the commission. It all added up to some pretty nasty things.”
“He’s an abusive asshole,” Dabi snarls, and Hawks sees steam rising off of Dabi.
“Yeah,” Hawks sighs, “He is. My old man was, too. An abuser and a villain, did you know that? Endeavor was the one who arrested him, if that isn’t the most fucked coincidence of all time.”
Dabi looks furious and Hawks mentally thinks about a secret little theory, one that he figured was too far-fetched to be real, but now is seeming more and more probable. Dabi’s eyes are the same color as Endeavor’s, and one of Shouto Todoroki’s. He appears to be the same age as the dead brother, who had burned to death. Dabi is covered in scars and hates the number two hero.
Hawks is starting to think the far-fetched theory is more and more probable by the minute.
“Dabi,” Hawks says quietly, getting the villain’s attention, “After we eat, can you…come to my room here, with me? I want to talk to you about something, but I can’t say it out here.”
“Now you’ve got my attention,” Dabi grins, leaning back in his chair, “Alright, pretty bird.”
A while later, Hawks leads Dabi down the hall to the room he’s been assigned here. It’s small, only a bathroom, desk, bed, and dresser, and very impersonal. Hawks keeps nothing here, only uses the room to crash, but he’s grateful for the space tonight.
Dabi’s sitting in the desk chair, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, staring at Hawks curiously. The intense look makes Hawks blush, even more conscious of the fact he’s not wearing his visor or his gloves. His eyes can pick out every detail on Dabi’s face, and the shiny reflection of the staples from the lamplight of the room distracts his raptor instincts.
“So,” Hawks clears his throat, once he shuts the door, “What’s the chance this room is bugged or wiretapped?”
Dabi raises an eyebrow, sitting up and crossing his arms. “Practically zero. Everyone here’s fucked if anything gets leaked, and we have too much shit to deal with, there’s no way all the rooms can be monitored.”
“I know that,” Hawks says, “But my room. I know you’re not the only one who suspects me. Trust me, you don’t want anyone to hear what I’m about to say.”
Dabi’s eyes narrow, but he reaches his hand out and touches the wall. Before Hawks can say or do anything, Dabi’s burned a whole straight through it, reaching in and melting a couple of wires.
The lights in the room immediately go out and Hawks’ eyes adjust to the dark. Dabi’s fried the electricity to the room, so even if they were being wiretapped before, there’s no way they are now.
“No bugs, right?” Dabi asks casually, as if he hasn’t just destroyed a wall, “You checked?”
“Y-Yeah,” Hawks replies, sitting down on the bed, “I did.”
Dabi nods, pulling the desk chair closer to the bed and turing it around so he’s sitting in it backwards, his wrists crossed at the top of the chair as he stares at Hawks. They’re less than two feet apart and it’s the closest Hawks has ever been to the villain, save for when they first met and Dabi had tried to burn his face off.
“So, what’s the big secret?” Dabi asks him, his eyes glinting in the dark, “You’ve piqued my curiosity, birdie.”
Hawks sighs, rustling his feathers like he does when he’s anxious. He’s not sure how best to say this, how to talk it through without Dabi roasting him alive. For once, Hawks wishes he could peel back the veneer of hero that’s all over him and show Dabi Keigo Takami, the kid that’s locked inside Hawks, the kid who died years ago in a commission training room. Hawks isn’t even sure who Keigo is anymore, just that he doesn’t think of himself as that name.
“Touya,” is what he says, and he sees Dabi freeze.
“What?” Dabi hisses, and Hawks can see his hands clenching the top of the chair, hard.
Hawks swallows hard, knowing he’s right. “You’re Touya Todoroki, aren’t you? I…had my suspicions for a while, but your reaction when I brought up Shouto…it’s gotta be you, right?”
Dabi isn’t moving, isn’t saying anything and if Hawks didn’t know better, he would think the villain is panicking right now. Dabi’s probably trying to think his way out of the situation, probably assuming Hawks is going to use this information somehow, so he knows he has to give Dabi something of equal value.
“Don’t worry, I haven’t told anyone, and I won’t,” Hawks says firmly, seeing Dabi look up at him with surprise. The dark of the room makes it hard to see every detail of his face, but nothing’s on fire, so Hawks is pretty sure Dabi’s not going to attack him.
“My name is Keigo Takami,” Hawks says quietly, the words feeling like a lie on his tongue despite them being true, “No one knows that, not the other heroes, my interns, no one. The only people who know my true identity are my handlers at the HPSC and it’s been buried so deep they probably don’t remember it anymore.”
Dabi exhales a soft, “Shit, birdie.”
“Now you know my name,” Hawks continues, “It’s insurance because I know yours. But you should know, everything I said about Endeavor was true. He shouldn’t be number one and I won’t give you up, to the commission, the police, or the heroes.”
“Careful,” Dabi says softly, “You really do sound like a villain.”
Hawks laughs, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah, well, I know you don’t think I’m on your side, and maybe I’m not, not fully, but I promise you I do think hero society is fucked. And I want to do something about that, for both Touya Todoroki and Keigo Takami.”
Dabi is silent for a long moment before he says, “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” Hawks replies, and he feels like a wall’s broken down between them.
After that night, the tension between him and Dabi lessens. Dabi’s more free with his laughter, and even casual touch. Hawks stops wearing gloves, his visor, and eventually even his shoes at the manor. His feet are curved into talons just like his hands, and having them out in the air is very freeing.
Dabi starts making Hawks want to take risks. Risks outside of what the commission has asked him to do. Since they know each other’s names, they’ve shared stories, and Hawks has told Dabi things he’s never told another soul. Dabi opens up to him about his life story, how he loved his father, and how Endeavor had pushed him away, hurt Dabi’s mom. It was sad.
Hawks knows he’s breaking at least a dozen rules from the commission when he brings Dabi back to his apartment. He knows it’s risky, but he wants a night with his friend away from the PLF, the HPSC, and any other prying eyes.
“Wow, shit, this place is depressing,” Dabi says when Hawks walks him into the apartment. Hawks can’t refute that, he’s almost never home, so his place has no personality. It’s nice, sure, but it looks like a magazine and there’s almost no personal effects anywhere.
“Yeah,” Hawks agrees, sighing in relief when he kicks off his shoes and pulls off his gloves, flexing his talons. Dabi looks at him with an odd expression, following Hawks into the living room where they both collapse on the couch.
“I wish you didn’t cover them up,” Dabi says, motioning to the talons, “They’re fucking badass, you know. I think you look way more awesome like that.”
Hawks blushes, shrugging a little. “I wish I didn’t have to, but I’m not allowed to show them. It would be bad for my ratings. People don’t…really like mutation quirks that much. Do you know there’s places in the city that don’t allow people with animal mutations to enter?”
“Jesus,” Dabi says, laying back on the couch with a sad expression, “I guess I never thought about it. Spinner goes on about that stuff sometimes, I know that’s a lot of why he became a villain. Discrimination is alive and well, that’s for sure. Why don’t you do something about it?”
Hawks winces at the blunt question, guilt twisting in his stomach. Truthfully, he’d like to do something about it, but the HPSC would never let him. Not while he’s in the top three.
“I’m on too tight of a leash for that,” Hawks says bitterly, sitting on the couch next to Dabi and leaning back with a sigh, “I fucking hate being their dog, being summoned whenever I’m called. You know, they’re the ones who told me to infiltrate the League in the first place, to pass them information. They don’t know I’ve been feeding them bullshit for weeks now.”
Dabi freezes, looking at Hawks with his mouth agape. “Shit, birdie, did you just actually admit that? I mean, I knew you were a double agent, it was painfully obvious, but hell, never thought you would actually admit it.”
Hawks shrugs. “Figure you know everything else about me, might as well know that, too. I’m not committed to being a villain, but I don’t really want to be a hero, either. I don’t know what I want.”
Dabi is staring at him with an intense expression and Hawks shifts, a little uncomfortable under the gaze. He realizes then just how much time he’s spent with Dabi lately, how often they’ve spent just talking. Hawks doesn’t think he’s ever talked to someone so much about things that matter before.
“I don’t really know what I want, either,” Dabi admits quietly, “Things are so fucked, now. It used to be easier, I just wanted to kill Endeavor. You know, Stain…I thought he had the right idea for so long. But now…meeting you…shit, you made everything so complicated, Keigo.”
Hawks’ heart races at the sound of his given name, and it beats faster when Dabi reaches over, gently wrapping his fingers around Hawks’ wrist.
“Why the fuck are you so complicated?” Dabi whispers, leaning closer, and the last bit of Hawks’ self control snaps.
He surges forward, pressing his lips against Dabi’s, feeling Dabi bring a hand up into his hair. The kiss isn’t gentle, and Hawks sighs into it, letting his mind go blank. They kiss, and kiss, and kiss and Hawks is suddenly sure that this is what he needs, the anchor he was looking for. The PLF, the HSPC, hero society, all of it is bullshit and the only thing that matters is Dabi, the way he’s kissing into Hawks’ mouth, the way he’s holding him.
“Fuck,” Dabi whispers between kisses, leaning down to press their foreheads together, “Keigo, fuck.”
“Touya,” Hawks says gently and Dabi exhales, gently resting a hand on the back of Hawks’ neck.
They sit for a long while, saying nothing as they just hold each other. It’s simple, achingly simple, but Hawks thinks he’s never felt something so gentle before. Dabi touches parts of his heart he thought were long buried and ruined, and Hawks wants nothing more than to sink into Dabi’s embrace and stay there forever.
“I’d burn down the fucking world for you,” Dabi admits softly and Hawks whimpers, “Keigo, I’m serious.”
Hawks doesn’t answer, but he knows Dabi understands. Hawks has already burned down his own world for him. He’s smashed any belief he had in hero society, he had lied to the commission, betrayed his allies, betrayed the League.
“Jeanist is alive,” Hawks chokes out and Dabi laughs, “Just thought I should tell you.”
“God, they really fucked up when they chose you, pretty bird,” Dabi snorts, kissing Hawks gently, “They should have picked someone else. Someone who wouldn’t fall for me.”
Hawks hums, leaning in to kiss Dabi again, and they’re too busy to talk for a while after that.
Things can’t stay this way forever. After a passionate night together, Hawks knows Dabi is it for him. He can’t keep playing both the PLF and the commission, his only goal now is to get Dabi out. For both of them to leave. It’s selfish, and not very heroic, but Hawks doesn’t care. His plan is to give all the information he’s collected to All Might and let the former number one decide what to do from there. All Might maybe the one true hero Hawks has ever met, and if anyone can untangle the mess Japan is in, it’s him.
Hawks has no desire to do it himself. He just wants Dabi, no Touya, and he wants his freedom. It’s this thought that propels him as he flies through the rain towards UA. He’s not wearing his visor, his gloves, or his shoes, not in his hero costume. He’s got on one of Dabi’s t-shirts and a pair of sweatpants, and his hair is longer than the commission usually allows it, tied back to keep it out of his face.
He dives in the rain, speeding straight through UA’s front gates and speeding towards the dorms. He remembers taking Tokoyami there once after a long patrol. A good kid, Hawks thinks, and one he hopes he can trust.
Hawks sees the dorms, Heights Alliance, and lands just outside the front doors. He knows he looks nothing like his hero persona right now, wet and bedragged, Dabi’s black t-shirt soaked and clinging to his chest. His wings are in disarray and his talons are flexing as he walks through the front doors, seeing a lot of teenagers around a tv.
“Hawks?”
one of the kids splutters, and a dozen pairs of eyes turn to stare at him. The old Hawks would have flashed his practiced grin as he fed them some cheesy line, but Hawks is starting to ebb away and be replaced with someone that might be
Keigo.
“Hawks,” Tokoyami says, rushing over to him, his eyes wide. Dark Shadow is curled around him and Hawks does smile at them, for real.
“Hey Fumikage,” Hawks says tiredly, “Dark Shadow. It’s good to see you guys.”
Hawks sees the group of students staring at him curiously, knowing that he’s dripping all over the floor and his bright, predatory eyes are on full display. His talons are shining from the rain and Hawks realizes these kids have probably never seen them before.
Hawks’ eyes drift until they lock on Shouto Todoroki, something in his heart clenching. He can see so much of Touya in Shouto’s face, and Hawks wants to claw into Endeavor’s chest for what he did to his kids.
“Not that I’m not happy to see you,” Tokoyami says cautiously, “But what are you doing here?”
Hawks reaches under his shirt, pulling out a sealed waterproof envelope. “These have to get to All Might, Fumikage. Urgently. I need you to promise you will hand them to no one but him. It’s not an exaggeration to say that thousands, if not millions, of lives depend on him seeing that information as quickly as possible.”
“I understand,” Tokoyami says gravelly, and before Hawks can say anything else, Tokoyami is out the door and off like a shot. Hawks smiles. Good kid.
“Uh…Hawks, sir?” a short, green-haired kid Hawks vaguely recognizes as Midoriya says, “Are you okay? No one’s seen you in a few weeks.”
Hawks closes his eyes, silently asking for strength before he looks back at them all. God, they really are just kids, aren’t they? Hell, half of them aren’t even sixteen yet. Babies, practically. Hawks puts a gentle hand on Midoriya’s shoulder before he looks back out, locking eyes with Touya’s brother.
“Shouto,” Hawks says, watching the youngest Todoroki’s eyes widen with surprise at being addressed so familiarly. Hawks can understand that; they’ve never really met before.
“Yes?” Shouto asks, confused. Hawks walks over to him, looking at Shouto, gaze locking on the scar and the blue eye, the one that looks so much like Touya’s.
“I have a message for you,” Hawks says gently, thinking through his words very, very carefully. He has to be careful how he says this. Dabi doesn’t care if Shouto knows he’s alive, there’s little they can do about it either way. If Dabi sets foot on UA’s grounds, he’ll be arrested or killed, and if Shouto goes anywhere near the villains, Endeavor will turn up.
“What is it?” Shouto asks calmly and Hawks realizes he’s been waiting too long to speak.
Hawks leans over to whisper in Shouto’s ear so the rest of the class can’t hear. As he talks, Shouto’s eyes widen big, bigger and until Hawks pulls away. The kid’s eyes are filled with tears, and Hawks’ feathers rustle nervously.
“R-Really?” Shouto stammers, looking at Hawks with so much hope it’s painful, “But…why…why hasn’t he…”
“He can’t,” Hawks answers, responding to Shouto’s unasked question, “But he is alive, I promise, kid. He’s okay.”
Shouto looks stunned, some tears falling as a few of his frantic classmates rush to his side asking what’s the matter. Hawks is about to put a hand on Shouto’s shoulder when the hair on the back of his neck stands up, knowing immediately that someone is coming. Without a word, he eyes the front door, waiting for it to open.
Eraserhead and All Might are there, with an out of breath Tokoyami and Hawks doesn’t wait around. He knows Eraser’s quirk won’t work on him, so he pulls his wings back and launches himself through the doors. He hears some people calling his name, but he ignores them.
Touya, I’m coming.
Hawks knew it’s only a matter of time before Dabi snaps. Since passing along all the information to All Might regarding the less-than-heroic actions of the HPSC and the horrifying, destructive plan of the PLF, it had been chaos. All Might had gathered all the heroes he could to support him, launching an investigation into the commission.
The PLF’s plan is exposed to the public in every detail and while it caused mass panic, Hawks knows it also means the plan will be stalled, or changed. The PLF claimed they were doing this ‘for the people’ but it was hard to make that claim when the majority publicly said they didn’t support the PLFs ideals.
Three days after Hawks visits UA, Hawks’ commission earpiece had gone silent for the first time in years. He checks the news and laughs when he sees HSPC headquarters in flames. Blue flames, to be precise. Dabi was apparently done waiting for the heroes to take the commission down for real.
The only problem is that now Hawks can’t reach Dabi at all and it’s giving him a terrible feeling in his chest. He rockets through the sky, his talons and eyes on full view for everyone to see, pulling out his commission earpiece and throwing it to the ground below. He speeds up when he sees the smoke from the commission building smoldering under the cremation-hot flames of Hawks’ beautiful, amazing, arsonist boyfriend.
His love and pride for Dabi are swept away by fear when he sees a figure crumpled on the ground, surrounded by police officers and to Hawks’ horror, Endeavor. Without thinking, Hawks dives in front of the collapsed figure, immediately recognizing it as Dabi, spinning to face the heroes and the police.
“Hawks,” Endeavor says, shocked, “Where have you been? No one’s heard from you in days. Step away, we are just about to apprehend this villain.”
Dabi gives a weak cough on the ground and Hawks feels his chest clench. He didn’t get a close look at Dabi’s injuries but he sounds bad, and Hawks knows he must have quirk exhaustion after setting fire to everything like he did.
“Do not touch him,” Hawks snarls, his eyes narrowing as his talons flex, unfurling his wings to their full length and sharpening the feathers as hard as they’ll go.
“What are you doing?” Endeavor asks as the police officers take a few steps back, “Hawks, that is a villain.”
“If you touch him, I will kill you,” Hawks growls, not missing Endeavor’s eyes widening in shock, “I suggest you back off, Enji Todoroki.”
Endeavor’s eyes narrow in fury, but he does take a step back. Hawks is fairly certain it has to do with the reporters in the distance, filming everything. Endeavor probably doesn’t want to be seen fighting with another hero on live television.
“Dabi, are you alright?” Hawks asks, not turning around as he keeps his eyes on Endeavor.
“Yeah, pretty bird,” Dabi coughs weakly, “Took you long enough, babe.”
Hawks’ heart races, taking immense pleasure in watching Endeavor’s eyes widen with shock when he realizes what Dabi had just said. Thinking back to something Dabi had given him permission to do, Hawks decides to drop the last bombshell.
“Sorry, Touya,” Hawks says, seeing the color drain out of Endeavor’s face, “I came as soon as I could.”
Endeavor actually stumbles back a step and Hawks takes the opportunity to turn around, picking Dabi up in his arms and launching himself into the sky. He flies fast and hard, not even turning around to see if Endeavor is following them. Once he’s sure they’re alone, he starts scanning for places to land.
“Can’t believe you did that,” Dabi coughs with a laugh, “You really can’t go back there now.”
“I don’t care,” Hawks says simply, eyes fixed on the setting sun over the ocean in the distance, “We’ve got to land and get you healed up first, love.”
The sweet word falls from his lips before Hawks can stop it and he tenses for a split second, half-expecting Dabi to splutter angrily. Instead, he sighs, nuzzling closer to Hawks and gripping him tighter.
“I wish I could have seen Shouto,” Dabi mumbles, sounding half-asleep, “And Fuyumi, and Natsuo, too. Even mom. I hope they’ll be okay.”
“They will,” Hawks says firmly, “Shouto’s strong, one of the strongest in his class. Nothing’s going to happen to your family, Touya.”
“That’s good,” Dabi says sleepily against Hawks’ chest. Hawks holds Dabi carefully and flies as fast as he dares, carrying another person. His arms are starting to get tired from Dabi’s weight, so he’s relieved when he spots a thick forest underneath him.
Diving down slowly, he navigates carefully through the trees until he manages to find a branch thick enough to lay Dabi across. It’s risky, being up so high, so Hawks carefully rests his back against the thick tree truck, pulling Dabi to his chest. Hawks uses the talons on his feet to grip into the wood of the tree, feeling secure and safe once he’s locked in.
“You’re safe now,” Hawks murmurs, keeping a tight hold on Dabi so he doesn’t fall out of the tree, “Are you hurt anywhere, Touya?”
“Mmm, just tired,” Dabi mumbles, “Are we seriously in a fucking tree right now?”
Hawks smirks, pleased to hear Dabi teasing him. “Would you rather be in a jail cell, love?”
“A fucking tree,” Dabi laughs, “Figures. Ugh, my head. Quirk exhaustion’s a bitch. Am I good to sleep now, pretty bird?”
“Yeah,” Hawks murmurs, leaning over to kiss Dabi’s forehead, “You’re good.”
Dabi falls asleep shortly after and Hawks stays wide awake through the night, glad for the slightly higher body temperature of his boyfriend and his own thick wings to keep them both warm through the night. Hawks checks his phone a few times, seeing that he’s been listed as missing in action along with the villain Dabi, but no video from the scene has been posted. Probably Endeavor’s doing.
He has dozens of missed calls and texts from various hero contacts, and he rolls his eyes at most of them. Tokoyami has texted him once, asking if he’s alright, which makes Hawks’ eyes go soft. Tokoyami’s a good kid.
Hawks looks to the stars through the branches of the trees, wondering what to do next. Society is crumbling, but All Might will fix it. It’s a selfish thought, one a true hero wouldn’t have, and he smiles wryly when he thinks of how hero killer Stain would dispatch him on the spot for that thought. The PLF will probably disband, reorganize, and come up with a different plan. Hawks sees in another news article that the heroes, lead by intel from All Might, raided the manor. Shigaraki has been captured, sent to Tartarus, along with a number of villains and traitor heroes.
Hawks doesn’t know which of those categories, if any, he falls into. He just wants to be somewhere quiet, with Dabi. Somewhere where they can heal, where they can just be, without the heroics, and the bullshit, and the lies.
These thoughts occupy him all night until Dabi stirs against him and Hawks blinks to see the sun already rising.
“Mmm, fuck,” Dabi groans, blinking as he looks out in front of him, “Holy shit, we seriously are in a tree. Keigo, you’re fucking crazy.”
“Good morning to you, too,” Hawks grins, kissing the top of Dabi’s hair, “Feeling better?”
Dabi sits up with a wince, bringing a hand to his forehead. “Yeah, I think so. Slept most of it off. So, what’s the plan now that my dear old dad knows you’ve got the hots for me and that I’m not actually dead?”
Hawks thinks about it for a while, realizing he doesn’t really have an answer. Hawks is always supposed to have answers, heroes are supposed to reassure people. But the truth is, he has no idea what to do now. It’s scary, but kind of a freeing thought.
“I genuinely have no fucking idea,” Hawks says, making Dabi splutter a laugh, “I am open to suggestions, love.”
Dabi hacks and coughs as he laughs, Hawks rubbing his back to soothe him. “Jesus, birdie. Don’t sugar coat it. Well, it just so happens I have an idea, but you’re probably not gonna like it.”
Hawks raises an eyebrow and Dabi grins, reaching into his pockets and pulling out his beat up burner phone. He opens it, dialing a number and smirking when someone answers on the other line.
“Toga? It’s me,” Dabi says, wincing as he holds the phone away from his ear as the girl on the other end starts screeching, “Calm down, I’m alive. Yeah, I’ve got Hawks with me. Listen, we’ve both got nowhere to go. Where are you and Jin?”
Hawks stays quiet as Dabi talks to Toga, leaning his head back on the tree truck. The sun is up in the air now, shining down through the treetops. It’s gorgeous, the sunlight dappling over the leaves. Hawks’ piercing eyes can see down to the forest floor, where various animals are stirring, beginning their day. It’s peaceful, tranquil, and Hawks wonders what it would be like to be a real bird, free to live wherever he wanted, answering to no one.
“Keigo,” Dabi says quietly, jolting Hawks from his thoughts, “Jin and Toga have a place, way out in the country. No one’ll find us there. We can camp out until things quiet down and then get the hell out of dodge. Maybe I can see my family again, you know…once it’s all over. And you can see that kid…the one with the fucking demon quirk.”
“Dark Shadow isn’t a demon,” Hawks laughs, stretching a bit, “But yeah, that’d be nice. Tokoyami’s a really good kid. I’d like to thank All Might, too. He really lived up to his reputation with all of this.”
After they figure out a plan, Hawks carefully flies them down to the forest floor. Fortunately, his phone is commission made and has at least three more days of battery life, so he sets the GPS coordinates to the location Toga had told to Dabi, wincing when he sees it’s seven hours away.
“Let’s get a move on, babe,” Dabi smiles, threading their hands together, “Ready to be on the run with me, for real?”
The sunlight streams through the trees and the staples on Dabi’s face sparkle in the sun. His smile, a real one, reaches his eyes. Some of the rain from the past few days has started washing out the black dye in his hair and Hawks can see the white roots peeking through. Dabi looks a little younger, a little softer, and it tugs at Hawks’ heart.
“Yeah,” Hawks grins, squeezing Dabi’s hand, “There’s honestly no place I would rather be.”