Of Wings and Flames - Dabi x OC x Hawks

It'll Only Sting a Little [26]

"Stop feeding the pigeons, Josephine."

"Hey, I can't help it, it's a chronic disease of feeding my birds," I explained with a straight face as I placed a yakitori on my hand. I raised my eyebrows at him, flickering my gaze downwards before meeting his eyes again. He shook his head and crossed his arms, looking at me with triumph in his features.

"Look at that, see, I do have self-control," he boasted, and then a pigeon fluttered over my hand and snatched the treat with its talons, taking off into the air. I looked back at Keigo and smiled, daintily wiping my hand. He squinted his eyes. "Why are you smiling," he questioned suspiciously, and I averted my gaze upwards, biting my lip to hold back my chuckle.

"Who said I was holding out that treat for you," I asked, and his eyes widened. "Yup, it was for the pigeons, but you're so anxious to prove that you don't share a bird brain that you automatically assumed it was to test you," I crooned, and he slammed his hand on the table, shaking his head. I raised my shoulders and glanced upwards, sighing. "What can I say, I'm a genius."

Our drinks came around, and I gratefully smiled as I sipped at the cocktail. Keigo brought the bottle to his lips, sighing in satisfaction as he brought it away. He licked his lips, which caused my heart to spark. "So, are you liking the venue?" he asked, raising his hand to the place. I shook my head as I laughed, soaking up the atmosphere.

"It's lovely, I'm enjoying it very much," I answered candidly, an easy smile teasing at the corners of my lips. I wasn't lying. It was based outside on top of the skyscraper with heated lighting so the breeze wouldn't chill you. There were lanterns hanging above me, their subtle orange glow casting a warm atmosphere below. The tables were glass with well-loved metal-welded stands, reaching out across the dimpled glass like vines. "Although it would tug at the heartstrings more if we were to be underneath these paper lanterns with the night sky above," I commented, and Keigo hummed, gazing at me thoughtfully. I reached out and grazed the back of his hand with my thumb. "But none of that matters," I whispered softly, pulling back my hand.

Keigo leaned back in his chair with his beer in hand, his eyebrows arched in pleasant surprise. "Well well well, has the awkward firebird finally spread her wings and learned how to flirt?" I shrugged my shoulders, unable to hold back the smile that painted my features.

"I figured I should learn before I die a third time," I reasoned, and he barked a laugh, rocking back in his chair as he took a long drink. I sipped at mine, sighing softly. This was pleasant and comfortable, and the smoldering flames bled from my heart and spread through my limbs like warm honey. I welcomed the flush of heat, easing into it. I hummed, thinking of a question. "Have you ever wondered what you'd do with yourself when you retire from being a hero?" I asked, and he raised his brows, before delving into thought.

"I guess not," he admitted bashfully, "I always assumed that I'd be saving the day, flying off into the sunset with the girl of my dreams cradled in my arms," he imagined, but instead of gazing off far-away, his amber eyes pierced directly into mine. "But then it turned out that the girl had wings of her own, so now all I can imagine us doing is flying side by side, dancing along wind currents, not caring for the ground below," he chuckled at that, putting down his drink and drumming his fingers along the glass. "The problems are too numerous down here. The sky doesn't have any sort of hierarchy, except for hawks and phoenixes," he smirked and I huffed a laugh, propping up both of my elbows on the table and interlacing my fingers, gazing at him softly.

"She must be a lucky girl," I hypothesised, and a smirk tugged on the corners of his lips. "It must be nice to be away from the issues that these ground-dwellers create," I sighed wistfully, and he chortled. "I better stop, or else my ego will be so big I'll fall to the ground under the weight of my crushingly unfair expectations." He laughed again, looking away. A slight flush blossomed on his cheeks, and his eyes slid back to mine.

"She's an incredibly lucky girl, getting to be with a guy like me," he bragged, and I rolled my eyes. Suddenly his hand was on mine and pulling me up towards him. He placed his hand on the small of my back, and I gingerly placed my hand on his shoulder. "And I think I'm going to take her for a beachside walk," he said, and we took off the ground. He pressed me close to him, and wrapped my arms around him. "Don't let go, I'd hate to see you fall," he shook, and I giggled. He spun around and I cried out, my screams and laughs interchanging as we flew along the cloud-dotted sky.

I brought myself up close to his ear whispering, "Do you want to practice on the beach?" His eyes fluttered to me, his expression serious.

"Only if I get a kiss," he negotiated, and I stammered, looking down. I swallowed tightly against the blush that burned my face and nodded. He whooped and looped around, now both of his hands placed on my waist. "You're so cute," he mumbled, grazing his lips along mine. A furious heat swept over my body, and without realising it my limbs had started to glow. "And you're so hot," I burned slightly brighter, and he winced, "No, actually, you're very hot," he gritted his teeth, and I gasped, pulling in the flames as best as I could.

"I-I'm so sorry, oh god, don't worry when we land I have an idea, it could work, but oooooh no I'm sorry," I rambled apologetically, and he sighed, before smacking my head with his own. "Ow," I winced.

"Shut up dummy, we're landing." I looked down and watched as our feet skimmed the white sand. We landed on the ground on our sides, his hands still around me as I tucked my head against his chest. I blinked and sat right up, looking down on him worriedly. He hissed and winced, and I began to panic.

"Keigo, quickly let me see your back!" I begged, and he grumbled as he unbuttoned his shirt revealing... Oh it took all of my willpower to rip my eyes away from him, and I settled behind his back, looking at the burns I had created through my own carelessness. "Alright, hopefully, this'll work," I said, crossing my fingers.

"Hopefully?" He asked, glancing backward.

"Ignore that," I waved it away, and closed my eyes.