Feathers and Flame // Dabi x Reader x Hawks

11: Ambivalence

One would think that after being pummelled for days — if not weeks at this point — you would give up. Apparently for Shigaraki, there was no conceding. Defeat, it seemed, was not an option. But nevertheless, you cringed every time you watched him get pounded into the dirt, wondering if this time he'd finally pack it in. He never did though.

From what information you'd gathered during your time out in the mountains, you learned Gigantomachia was loyal to All For One, and until Shigaraki was capable of proving his strength, the giant wouldn't accept him as his successor. For the good of the world, you hoped that Shigaraki never got that far.

Time was ticking by and you were gathering intel that would be crucial to the Commission putting an end to the League for good. It wouldn't be long until your presence is requested at headquarters. This role of yours wouldn't end soon, that was certain, but the deeper you delved, the harder it would be to pull yourself out unscathed, if that was even possible. Eventually, you would need to utilise your quirk for more precarious missions against the League. And against Dabi.

Your stomach flipped. Dabi. This mission could save the world, but it may very well destroy you by its end.

A guttural moan left Shigaraki's lips as he was smashed against a tree, his back cracking against the bark with enough force to snap a spine. But still, he continued, weathered and broken but unwilling to stop.

"Tomura looks tired," Toga commented from where she stood beside you, watching over her leader without much concern at all.

The way the League interacted with one another still confused you. There were familial bonds, but apathy also. They bickered like siblings, but when it came to the physical parts of being a villain, they never seemed concerned by the wellbeing of one another. At least, when it came to Shigaraki. Then again, maybe they knew better than to doubt each other. And if you weren't capable of defending yourself, maybe you had no place being a villain in their ranks in the first place.

"He does." You turned to Toga, eyes gliding over the large canisters and boxes of knives strapped to her thighs. Obviously, you didn't miss the sharp glint of her needles. "How does your quirk work, Toga?"

She flashed you a feline smile, which seemed all the more menacing with the grinning mask hanging from her neck. "All I need to do is drink a little blood and I can become whoever I want."

"That's what the needles are for?"

She nodded, and you had the sudden urge to shiver. In some ways, Toga was innocent as a child. In others, she was terrifying. "How about we use some time to train? I've been getting lazy out here."

Toga's eyes lit up at the suggestion. "Does that mean if I cut you I can have your blood too?"

You side-eyed her, a challenge forming with the smirk on your lips. "That's if you can cut me."

"Let's see."

The moment that Toga placed some distance between you and whipped two knives from her stock of many, you knew she wasn't going to hold back. Not in the slightest. She bent down, shoulders squared, knees poised to take off as you shook out your joints, opting for a defensive stance.

Toga was skilled, you knew that. Just like you knew everything about her quirk, and the rest of the League's. Unlike some of them, you'd been trained since childhood. Sharpened like the edge of a blade to a killing point. And you had brought more death in your little years than some of the villains you had put down. For so long, it was all you knew. For the remainder of your life, it would stay that way until you finally drowned in all the blood you spilled.

"Ready?" Toga asked, a feral smile showing pointed teeth.

"Ready."

Like you expected, Toga charged at you, full sprint. The knives in her hands glinted with the wintery sunlight, and her boots dug up chunks of hard dirt each step she took. When she got close enough, she launched herself into a jump, the momentum carrying her towards you with frightening speed.