Ashes and Feathers

Chapter 1: Fateful Beginning

Hawks leaned against the worn brick wall of the alley, his golden eyes scanning the streets below. The neon lights of the city flickered in his peripheral vision, casting long, distorted shadows that seemed to writhe in the darkness. Despite the cold breeze that swept through the streets, a bead of sweat trickled down his temple. He wasn't nervous-Hawks never got nervous-but something about tonight felt... off.

He was waiting for him. Dabi.

A familiar flash of blue flame appeared at the end of the alley, followed by the unmistakable silhouette of Dabi. His face, as usual, was concealed by the high collar of his jacket, the dark stitches stretching across his pale, scarred skin like cruel reminders of his past. His eyes, burning like twin embers, found Hawks immediately.

"Birdbrain," Dabi muttered as he approached, his voice dripping with that usual mix of disdain and affection.

"You're late," Hawks replied, pushing off the wall and walking toward him. The tension between them, as always, was palpable. It was a mix of lust, mistrust, and something neither of them could fully name.

"I had things to take care of," Dabi said, brushing past him and lighting a cigarette. The flame flickered for a moment before the smoke curled into the air.

Hawks hated that Dabi smoked, but it wasn't worth the fight tonight. Tonight, he had other things on his mind. "I got us a place," Hawks said, ignoring the faint smell of smoke as they walked down the alley together. "Quiet. Out of sight."

"Always so careful," Dabi mocked, though there was no malice in it. "You heroes and your rules."

"I'm not here to follow rules," Hawks shot back, his voice low, almost dangerous. "You know that."

They didn't speak again until they reached the abandoned warehouse. It was a place Hawks had scouted out weeks ago, far from the prying eyes of the heroes or the League of Villains. Inside, the air was thick with dust and neglect, and the moonlight streamed through the broken windows, casting eerie patterns on the floor.

Dabi's flames lit up in the dark as he tossed his cigarette aside. "So, what's the plan tonight? More whispers about hero corruption? Or do you just need someone to stroke your feathers?"

Hawks' jaw tightened. The playful insults were their usual banter, but tonight they grated on him more than usual. "We need to talk," Hawks said, stepping closer. His wings flared slightly, the golden feathers reflecting the faint light. "About us. About... this."

Dabi raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his gaze. "This? You mean our little secret meetings? What's the matter, getting cold feet?"

"No," Hawks said, his voice firm. "I just... I don't know how much longer this can go on."

Dabi's amusement faded, replaced by something darker. His flames flickered more intensely for a moment before he took a step closer to Hawks. "What are you saying?"

Hawks swallowed, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on him. He had always known their relationship was dangerous, but he had convinced himself that he could handle it. That he could keep Dabi at arm's length, just close enough to gather information for the heroes, but far enough to not lose himself in the process. But the truth was, he was already in too deep.

"I'm saying that I can't keep doing this. You and I... it's a mess. And I can't risk everything for something that's doomed to fail."

Dabi's expression darkened further, his hands balling into fists at his sides. "Doomed to fail? You think I don't know that, Hawks? This whole world is doomed. But you... you were supposed to be different."

"I am different," Hawks said, his voice softer now, more pained. "But that doesn't mean we can keep pretending like this is going to end any other way than badly."

Dabi's lips curled into a sneer, though there was something raw and hurt in his eyes. "So what? You're just going to walk away? Pretend like this never happened?"

Hawks shook his head, his wings fluttering anxiously. "I don't want to pretend. But I also don't want to watch you destroy yourself. And I can't help you if you don't want to be helped."

"I don't need your help," Dabi spat, his voice rising with anger. "I don't need anyone's help. Least of all some hero who thinks he can save the world by keeping his hands clean."

"I've never kept my hands clean," Hawks shot back, his temper finally flaring. "But this? This isn't something I can fix. You're too far gone, Dabi."

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the distant hum of the city outside, muffled by the walls of the warehouse. Dabi's flames had dimmed, but the fire in his eyes still burned fiercely.

"So that's it, then?" Dabi finally said, his voice cold and bitter. "You're just going to fly away like you always do?"

Hawks' heart clenched painfully in his chest. He had expected anger, maybe even hatred. But this? This hurt. "I don't want to leave you," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But if I stay, we're both going to burn."

Dabi laughed, a harsh, humorless sound. "Maybe that's the point."

Before Hawks could respond, Dabi turned and walked away, his figure disappearing into the shadows of the warehouse. The sound of his footsteps echoed in the empty space, growing fainter with each passing second.

Hawks stood there, frozen, his wings trembling at his sides. He wanted to go after him, to say something that would fix this, to stop him from walking out of his life. But he knew deep down that there was nothing he could say. Nothing he could do.

Dabi was already lost.