Feathers and Flame // Dabi x Reader x Hawks

13: Collide

The League arrived on the outskirts of Deika city as one. You'd never been there before, but one brief scan of the area told you it wasn't as it seemed. Cities were supposed to be bustling with life, but this one was silent and abandoned. It was very clear that Re-Destro — whoever he was — certainly wasn't lying about his influence, or the likelihood of his army. What this meant for the heroes, you weren't sure yet.

Dabi was warped along with the rest of the League from wherever he was loitering about, and he slowed his pace from beside Compress to fall into step next to you. Though you chose not to gratify him with a look, your chest squeezed with some foolish emotion.

Briefly, you were surprised to see a Pro Hero — Slidin' Go — leading you into the heart of Deika city. But it was becoming quite obvious that nothing here was as it seemed. Heroes were turning their backs on the society they vowed to protect, and the lines between loyalty and desires were becoming blurred.

Ironic, given my situation.

You blew out a heavy breath as you walked, noticing the glance that Dabi gave you as you did. But again, you kept your eyes forward.

The League had just stepped into a den of lions, and you were not stupid enough to ignore that fact. Whatever else was swirling around in your mind was of little consequence, and so you schooled your expression the way you were so thoroughly trained to do, becoming the assassin without the heart of the woman who's shell you wore.

Two figures appeared before you all, and you recognised one as a well-known politician, and the other — a blue-skinned woman — had her gaze set on Toga. The latter didn't seem fazed by the attention, but you didn't like the excitement in that woman's eyes when she looked at Toga.

"Don't take yourself too seriously, princess," Dabi said from beside you, his arm brushing against yours. "Ready to have some fun?"

The slightest of smirks fought its way onto your lips, and you chanced a look up at him, finding a matching smirk on his two-tone lips.

There were two sides to you. A cold, calculated assassin who embodied every lesson the Commission pounded into her. And then there was the other part of you — the reckless, deadly being who enjoyed the excitement of battle, of chasing her enemies and destroying them one by one. The girl who felt too much and cared far too easily to not get burned by the inferno she flirted with.

You knew you were supposed to be listening to Shigaraki speak to the two strangers, but your focus was on Dabi — on that irresistible challenge in his eyes — and you couldn't deny him even if you wanted to. "Try not to die."

Dabi grinned, the smile feral and untamed. "Give them hell, princess."

A loud, booming voice broke out, and you knew it had already begun. Masses of meta liberation warriors swarmed you and the rest of the League, incited by whatever quirk and command the politician had used. You pulled out your gun, firing a few perfectly-aimed shots towards the closest assailants, before unsheathing your knives and descending on another with a flash of silver and a spray of blood.

If only it wasn't fucking daytime and I could use my quirk.

Alas, you would need to rely on brute strength and skill, though that was fine by you. You'd fallen into your deadly dance, spinning around your targets with the grace of a professional, and an intent born from chaos.

"I never knew you were such a performer," Compress said from beside you as he tossed a marble. "It's marvellous."

You winked at him. "I'm just warming up."

Dabi made a noise beside you, a kind of grunt between irritation and amusement. "How about you pay attention to the fight and actually do something?"

Compress didn't respond, and you cast a glance at Dabi as you buried a knife in another heart. "Says the guy dodging everyone."