Smile For The Camera ~ Dabi x Hawks💙🧡

Almost Alone

POV HAWKS

"Hawks," Endeavor booms, making me stop abruptly. My legs feel weak beneath me. It's been six years since Endeavor's crime against me, and we're yet to speak of it, let alone tell another soul. Every time the flame hero, who's now the number one hero, comes near, I feel myself get sick. My muscles fail and my heart stops pumping blood; my body physically prepares myself for death.

"Hm?" I hum, too paralyzed to open my mouth.

"Have you spoken to Mirko recently?" Endeavor asks, keeping an awkward distance between the two of us. I shiver at the heat radiating off of him, and I get flashbacks from that night when Endeavor used that same heat to burn me into silence.

"No," I say quickly. "I should, uh, probably go look for her. See ya, number one!"

"Wait," Endeavor blurts, grabbing me by the shoulder. I freeze, my breath hitching in my throat. Endeavor coughs a bit, retracting his hand, but I can still feel his burning grasp. I start to get light headed, and look around for a distraction. Across the street are two little kids playing jump rope. One has on an All Might T-shirt, and the other has an Endeavor-themed hat on over messy blue curls. It's blissful and sweet, and part of me wants to ask to play. Unfortunately, I'm dragged back into reality by Endeavor. "Is it true the hero commission is having you infiltrate the League Of Villains?" Endeavor asks.

I pause, staring down at my shoes. "You shouldn't know anything about the hero commission," I say softly.

"Just answer me," Endeavor barks. "Are you really going to complete that mission? It's extremely dangerous, and you could get severely hurt if you're caught. This is a terrorist group we're talking about."

I can't hide my anger, not even if I wanted to. The pent up fear inside of me morphs into anger just long enough to slander the flaming hero's name. "Don't act like you give a fuck about me, Endeavor," I sneer at him. "I'm strong enough to handle this. I'm the number two hero for a reason. I got here by myself, and I'll stay here by myself. Leave me the hell alone."

"Hawks," Endeavor growls. He grabs my arm, jerking me forward violently. "You may be the number two hero, but I'm number one. I'm stronger than you, and I always have been. If you accept this mission, I'll show everyone just how weak you are. Don't test me, kid, I have the picture on my phone. Tell the commission that you're sick and that I'm willing to take the mission." Then Endeavor tosses me on the ground, ignoring the children staring from across the street.

I sit paralyzsed on the group, my hands shaking in the crisp air. I can feel sweat droplets forming on my forehead and my heart beating violently against my chest. Deep breaths, I try to tell myself. You can't freak out here, Hawks! There's people around! I stumble upward, my vision blurry. The sound of my blood pumping in my ears is louder than anything else around me. I manage to stumble into an alley, gasping for breath as I slide down the wall. I curl my knees up to my chest and wrap my wings around me like a cocoon. The night of Endeavor's crime plays in my mind, and it's like it's happening all over again. I sob into my hands, unable to stop trembling even as the afternoon sun dips down below the treeline. Eventually I fall asleep, cold and alone.

Well, almost alone.

POV DABI

"Is that Hawks?" Toga squeals, running forward with a syringe out. I grab the back of her shirt and yank her back, rolling my eyes as she lets out a high-pitched whine. "He's the number two hero! You know how amazing it would be to have his blood in my collection?" Toga yips, her face blushing a deep red. "Ah, and those wings look amazing! C'mon, Nugget, just a little bit?"

"He's a skilled fighter," I reply lazily. "You can't just run at him, Goldie. You either stay quiet or keep scouting for Twice's runaway double."

"You're no fun," Toga grumbles. "Fine, whatever. I'm gonna keep scouting. Have fun with the dead bird."

"Better be back at the base in an hour," I order. "I don't want to have to go looking for your bitch ass, too." Toga nods, skipping off, while I crouche over Keigo's curled up body. His wings hug him like a blanket, so I can't see his face or body– besides his feet that stick out from under his feather wall. I exhale slowly, debating on what to do with the bird. I know Keigo was trying to find a way to contact me, knowing I would be his best bet to get into the League of Villains, but nothing is really solidified yet. Either way, I can't attack him. For political and personal reasons.

I gently brush my fingertips across Keigo's wings, receiving a yelp from him. I forgot how sensitive his feathers were. The winged hero jerks awake, kicking his foot upward and hitting me in the chin. I grunt and fall backward, slapping my back against the cold concrete. Keigo gasps for breath, his wings trembling. "L-leave me alone!" Keigo cries, squeezing his eyes closed and cowering behind his wings. "Please, Endeavor, just leave me alone..."

"The fuck?" I growl, ripping Keigo's wing cocoon open. I scowl at him, making his breath hitch in his throat. "Do I look like Endeavor?" I snap at him.

Keigo shakes his head quickly. "Sorry. It's been a long day." I roll my eyes and stand up, holding out my hand for him. Keigo takes it graciously, pursing his lips together. "Thanks," Keigo says with a gentle chuckle. "That was embarrassing."

"For you," I tease. I couldn't help myself. "What are you doing sleeping in an alleyway, anyways? You know I could've killed you, right? If I were any other villain, you would've been fried chicken."

Keigo shrugs, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "You're right, patchwork. I'm kind of scatterbrained today. I need to head back to my apartment, so, uh, thanks again. See you around?" Keigo flaps his wings, bringing him about a foot off the ground. I scowl again, tugging the hero back to the ground. Keigo yelps, jumping back. "What's that for?!"

"You want to become a league member, don't you?" I say. I'm stalling for time with Keigo rather than trying to recruit a new member, but intentions don't mean anything now-a-days, do they? Not as long as the job is done. "You've been trying to contact me for two months, bird brain. I'm right here, yet you're about to fly away."

Keigo shakes his head, a defeated look in his golden amber eyes. I hate it. "I can't," Keigo says. "I'm sorry. Just forget all about it."

"What do you mean, forget all about it?!" I yell at him, feeling a little hurt. I was looking forward to having this idiot by my side again. How many years has it been since the two of us were friends? Eight years? Nine years? Long enough for Keigo to completely forget about it, that's for sure. I want to make him remember me.

"S-someone found out," Keigo says shakily, "about me thinking about being a villain. I can't be seen with any of the league members, or else I- or else people will get hurt. So I have to go. No hard feelings, patchwork." Keigo attempts to fly away again, but I catch him, holding him by the collar of his shirt. Our faces are just inches away, our breath heavy.

"Is it Endeavor?!" I seethe. "Is he threatening you?!" Pictures of my dad flash through my mind. Screaming at my mother. Beating me and my siblings. Parading around like a hero. I know damn well this scumbag isn't going for my birdie, too.

"Stop," Keigo breathes out. I can practically hear his heart thumping in his chest. "Let go of me, please, don't hurt me... I-I'm sorry..."

I immediately let go of Keigo, stepping back. I feel like there's blood on my hands, even though I haven't killed anyone. Did Endeavor hurt my bird? I stomp toward the hero, grabbing his wrist. "C'mon," I growl, ignoring Keigo's protests. "I'm taking you back to the base and we're gonna sort this shit out."