~Painted Feathers~A DabiHawks Story

Chapter 1: Boulevard of Broken Dreams

(Credit to the artist for the image above :D)

Dabi's POV

~9 Years Later~

The sun shone brightly through the small window in my room at the LOV hideout. The pure brightness of the natural light would have been enough to slightly better my morning if it weren't that day. This was the one day each year that I truly cannot control my emotions. There is a 100% chance I will have a mental breakdown.

On that note, I begrudgingly slid out of bed and rubbed my eyes. I shifted my gaze towards the wall that held my small window, admiring the watercolor feathers that I had painted upon it.

With a few heavy steps, I found myself gently tracing the edges of the paintings with my fingertips. Oh, how I wished I could hold Keigo again. Hug him close to me and pet his soft crimson feathers. But he was a hero now, and I was a villain. He had reached his goals while I was too busy running away from my problems. This, this day will always remind me of how I left him. How I broke his heart. The very day that Touya 'died'.

I dragged my feet across the hallway to the LOV's bathroom and closed the door behind me. Placing my hands on the counter, I hung my head low, finding more interest in the dripping faucet than in my own reflection. I looked up and saw the face I barely recognized, the face of a villain named Dabi.

Sometimes that part of myself completely controls me, like Touya never existed at all. But then there are the other times, like today, that seemed as if I never left Keigo's arms, and Touya was never gone.

But when I look in the mirror, all I see is Dabi. I am reminded of the painful truth; I am alone. I don't have Keigo to love me anymore and all I can do is hope that someday, he will find me.

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me

My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating

Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me

Till then I walk alone

Once I'd brought myself to leave the safe walls of my room, I walked into the bar and was met with the usual sight of Kurogiri cleaning behind the bar and Shigaraki drowning his sorrows in alcohol.

"Hey Crusty, I'm going out for a little while." I almost inaudibly mumbled as I continued my path towards the door.

"Don't care what you do, just don't make a mess of things." He carelessly commented before dramatically dropping his head down to meet the surface of the bar with a loud thump.

Kurogiri acknowledged me with a slight shift in his portal-like figure, which I had previously deciphered as a nod. Hands buried deep in my pockets, I kept to the shadows and walked towards my first destination on my trip of depressing nostalgia.

After avoiding some pedestrians and other passers-by, I walked towards the location that I had recently found; Keigo's apartment.

I lurked in an alley near the apartment complex when I saw what I had been expecting. Keigo opened his balcony door and stretched out his beautiful wings, before leaping off and diving into flight. He swooped upwards just before hitting the pavement, getting dangerously close to the ground.

I smiled as I watched him fly so freely, noticing he had a certain look about him today which I didn't normally notice. He seemed to be flying with a bit less of his usual happy demeanor like something was negatively affecting him. That's when it hit me, he must feel horrible today. After all, it is the 9th anniversary of the day a person that he loved faked his death and left him.

I was pulled out of my thoughts by a singular feather floating in the wind, passing directly in front of my face. I reached out and grabbed the soft feather, holding it close as I took in a deep breath.

Maybe I should leave Keigo a little surprise.

I walked into the alleyway and dug through a nearby dumpster, finding an array of colored spray paint that would work perfectly. I turned towards the wall of the apartment building and painted a large feather right where Keigo would be sure to see it when he walked down his street. Satisfied with my work, I started the long walk towards my second, but also last destination.

Just as the sun began to set, I climbed the hill that Keigo and I had shared our first and last kiss 9 years and 1 day ago.

Once I reached the top, I sat down in the overgrown grass and closed my eyes. I took in a deep breath as the soft breeze ruffled my hair and the tall grass around me. I froze as a familiar voice brought me out of my trance.

"Who's there?" Said a confused, yet slightly demanding tone.

I turned around slowly to see a blonde young man with hawk-like features and large crimson wings folded at his back.

A/N Sorry for my mistakes and probable story rushing, I know there is probably some of both. Please comment if you have any suggestions. I also have a question. Do you guys like some drama added to the fluff? There will be some anyway, but the amount is up to you. Also, I am thinking of making this an in depth slow-burn. What do you all think? I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

- Ducky