Word for Love

Chapter 4 - Moth to a Flame

It's been an hour since Dabi left. An hour in pitch black.

Hawks was sure he was going to die, everything so was so frantic. Every noise rang in his mind with an echo that hurt, the darkness has a strangling grasp around his throat, and the more that the hero swallowed, the more he could swear he tasted his own blood. It made no sense though.

Hawks just settled with huddling in on himself to keep everything numb. He didn't immediately claw his way out of the room and escape because he was told to be willingly kidnapped. He was a tool made for following orders, so here he was.

Instead he focused on what might be happening out in the world. He felt bad for being whisked away from Mirko before they could have some fun

He was blatantly kidnapped in front of a lot of different people. There was no doubt an uproar would happen that the number two dropped off the face of the earth after tripping through a portal.

As long as the hero commission didn't step in, people were probably looking for him. Right? There would be no reason for them to stop a search and rescue party...

The wings he kept closely huddled around him twitched, feathers puffing out at the sound and feeling of multiple foot steps walking down the dark hall outside the cell. No inch of light reached Hawks until the door opened and a warm blue glow filled the room.

Hawks breathed a slight of relief as he looked up, taking in the blue fire.

His relief quickly stilled into icy dread as he saw the villain, Compress. He ripped his hat and motioned for Dabi and Shigaraki to step in first.

"H..heyyyy." He croaked, trying to slip his charismatic charm into his voice. It sounded too forced.

He was wordlessly handed a phone. Confusion obviously crossed his face, but before he could try looking at the villains, Dabi's flame dimmed to naught. Hawks swallowed thickly and looked at the glowing screen.

An article from UA crossed his eyes.

"Number 2 Pro Hero Hawks on vacation!
Some controversial rumors have been going around about Hawks' disappearance yesterday afternoon. We'd like to tell you that everything is fine and he's happily visiting friends in America!"

Hawks stared at the headline and first subparagraph with a foul taste.

"...I didn't know villains could make such a realistic fake document." He laughed dryly, staring with wide eyes at the screen.

"The hero commission has abandoned you."

Hawks never looked up faster in his life as Shigaraki said this. How the fuck did he even know about Hawks' employers? He saw the ghostly glow from the phone screen on Shigaraki's face, barely showing his expression. It was enough to see a solemn pity.

"...no." Hawks spat out after a moment, roughly standing and tossed the phone away. "No! Fuck you! You can't just lie to my face-"

A cold sensation washed over his body, immediately crushing his spine and wings, making Hawks crumble into a tight squeeze. He felt a choked cry leave his throat. The marble was shattered agains the floor and he hit the wall, scream being choked from his throat.

The pro hero looked over with hateful tears pricking his eyes—into the darkness where he knew the pearl came from. He felt his chest twist, breathing becoming harsh. He tried to spread his wings, desperately trying to make room for himself.

The marble collapsed over him again for his efforts, the excruciating pain only one upped by the pure anguished panic that rose from his voice box, screaming again. He clawed at his own arms as he hit the floor upon this release.