Of Wings and Flames - Dabi x OC x Hawks

Burning Hearts [12]

Waking up hit me like a ton of bricks. My eyes were crusted shut and my body felt empty like a tin can. I painfully opened my eyes and found the sun streaking through a cracked window, lazily blanketing my face. I winced as I sat up, my body creaking like rotten woodwork. My mouth felt pasty and dry, and my skin felt like rock. It was going to be a rough day. With a pang, I realised I couldn't speak with Keigo anymore, my body seized up.

But no tears came. I was completely dried up.

I slowly rose from my space on the floor that had become my temporary home, and I blinked at the charred circle I left in my wake. I inwardly cringed; My landlord was probably going to give me an earful later. I slowly lifted my phone and winced at the low energy symbol, before I checked the date. My heart seized. It had been two whole fucking days. I cursed and looked at the missed messages and calls. I grit my teeth, I really fucked up this time. I immediately called the agency, and the phone was put through to one of my sidekicks.

"Sun Keeper?! We've been trying to reach you for two days, what the hell happened?" He shouted in the mic, his voice laced with worry. I shut my eyes tightly and sucked in a breath, trying to drudge up an excuse that didn't involve a broken heart.

"S-Sorry, I've been really sick, I couldn't reach the phone," I explained, and to be fair I sounded like I had caught the plague. They sighed on the other end, but it seemed like the worst had passed.

"Sorry to hear that Sun Keeper. Just... Next time be sure to contact us, okay? It's alright to take a few days off. Are you coming in today?" He asked, and I cleared my throat before responding.

"Yeah yeah, I'll be over in about an hour," I promised, and they seemed satisfied with that answer and hung up. I slumped my back and groaned. Sleeping on the floor was not the best decision I had ever made. I wandered over to the door in a daze and opened it before knocking my foot against a box. I blinked slowly before reaching down and picking it up. It had my name on it. I quirked my eyebrow before dragging it inside and opening it. The tape gave way under the blade satisfyingly, and when I opened it my mind clicked.

Right, I had sent in my request for a new hero costume!

I began to feel a little giddy and fidgeted as I held the fabric, my face glowing brightly. New day, new clothes; the people at my agency were going to love it! I threw off my old clothes and slipped myself into my new costume, loving the feel of it on my skin. It was a skin-tight dress with a flushed skirt that dangled airily above the shorts that were sewn into the costume. The top of it held no sleeves and hugged my neck comfortably. On the left side of my chest where I activated my Ultimate Powers of my quirk was a perfectly circular metal band that connected to the rest of the dress with four sticks. On the fabric in the middle of the metal band was a phoenix in flight, it's wings spread wide. The colour of the outfit was crimson and accented with gold linings, such as the hemming. It made me feel like I was living flame.

On my back, there was an open area in the shape of a diamond to accommodate my wings and a similar golden diamond on my abdomen on the front. My feet were adorned in boots with thick soles that shimmered like molten honey, with a special material designed to let me expel flames through my feet with extra force. and on my hands, I decorated them with a simple red bracelet that had a tight string that settled on my middle finger. It was elegant and sexy, and breathable too. It made me feel empowered. This was the costume I was looking for.

I quickly ran into the washroom and grabbed some shampoo and viciously scrubbed my hair in the sink, getting rid of the past two days of sleep grease that had accumulated in my hair. I deftly dried off my hair, leaving a bush of auburn that puffed behind me in a ponytail that swished with every step I made. I sighed; It would have to do.

My stomach grumbled as I stepped out the store, and memories flooded my mind unbidden. Keigo wouldn't be able to take me out to lunch this time.

Even a month of recovering didn't stop my body from fucking hurting with the absence of Keigo in my life. I barely smiled, and every villain I took down made the populace grow more and more worried. I couldn't stop it though; I couldn't hide the heartbreak that was festering inside of my chest.

One day, I sat at my desk idly, my eyes glazing over as I stared at the papers before me. My mind was completely vacant, numb. It was like I was a complete shell of who I used to be. One of my agents who had been standing at the door of my office for a few minutes finally coughed pointedly, and I slowly lifted my head up. Her features had worry lining her face, and she sighed before she walked in the room.

"Sun Keeper, is everything alright? This past month you've just been downright gloomy," she started, and to keep herself busy began to organize the papers that littered my desk. Normally I was well put together, but recently I had just... Given up. It didn't matter. "If I'm going to be frank, you're approval rating as dropped. It's hard to imagine a woman who can barely hold a half decent smile to be carrying the sun in their heart." I looked down at that and bit my lip. Her words were true, and that's why they hurt. I wasn't living up to who I had made myself to be.

"I assumed that was happening. Some things had happened and... I don't feel like myself at the moment. I've got this hollow feeling in my chest and it doesn't hurt per se but it... Echoes with hurt." My agent's eyes widened at that, and she sighed loudly. She marched outside, grabbed a calendar before marching right back in. She slammed the calendar on the table aggressively and pointed to a vacant week. My eyes widened.

"That's it, I'm booking a retreat for you," she declared with an air of finality, and some of the sidekicks and attendants began to crowd around my desk, supportive smiles decorating their faces. "We were wondering when you were going to tell us what's up! You need a break, and you can't say no!" She immediately dialed a number, and before I could refuse she put a finger on my lips, shushing me. "Just let it happen," she soothed, and I pouted as I settled back into my chair.

"Hello hello! I'm making a very important reservation for one of your lakeside cabins! For whom? Why Sun Keeper of course! Oh yes yes, I'll pass on your regards," she turned to me with a wink, and a spark kindled in my chest. "Yes yes, for a week," she spoke the dates of which she wanted booked, and then with a cheery smile thanked the owner for their generosity before hanging up the phone. She turned to me, victory emanating from her body. Her enthusiasm was infectious. "That settles that, Sun Keeper! Now go home and pack up!" As she ushered me towards the balcony, and I stopped and turned around, taking her in.

"Thank you, Ms..." My eyebrows furrowed. I didn't even know my new agent's name. Just how oblivious had I been? She smiled warmly, purple eyes softly gazing at me as raven hair swept aside in the wind.

"Amethyst is fine, Sun Keeper. Have a safe trip!" She concluded and walked back inside. I smiled warmly as her figure disappeared into a mountain of work. I was surrounded by fine people.