Ashes and Feathers

Chapter 2: The Fire Beneath

Days passed, but the weight of that night in the warehouse still clung to Hawks like a shadow he couldn't shake. He threw himself into his work, soaring high above the city, scanning for threats and patrolling the streets as if he could outrun the thoughts chasing him. But no matter how far he flew, no matter how fast he moved, one name echoed in his mind.

Dabi.

Every time he closed his eyes, he could see the flicker of blue flames, feel the heat of Dabi's gaze on his skin. It was maddening. The deeper he tried to bury it, the more it burned. He had thought walking away would free him from the guilt gnawing at him, but it had only intensified. The truth was, he hadn't been able to leave Dabi behind.

Standing on the rooftop of one of the tallest buildings in the city, Hawks scanned the streets below with a heavy sigh. His feathers bristled as he focused on the sounds of traffic and distant conversations, but his mind kept drifting back to that night.

"You're too far gone, Dabi."

He winced at the memory of his own words. He hadn't wanted to hurt Dabi, but he couldn't keep lying to himself. Dabi wasn't someone he could save, no matter how much he wanted to. The line between hero and villain had blurred too much, and Dabi was standing on the other side of it, unreachable.

But then, why did Hawks still feel that pull? Why did he still feel the need to fix things, to find some way to stop Dabi from spiraling further into darkness?

"Hawks."

The voice startled him. He turned quickly, feathers rising instinctively as his eyes scanned the rooftop. For a moment, he saw nothing, just the faint glow of the city lights and the distant hum of the streets below. Then, from the shadows, a figure emerged.

Dabi.

His eyes were the first thing Hawks noticed. Even from a distance, they burned with that same intense, haunting fire that had drawn him in from the beginning. But there was something else there now, something darker, more dangerous. Hatred. Pain. It hit Hawks like a punch to the gut.

"You're following me?" Hawks asked, his voice carefully controlled, though he couldn't quite suppress the anxiety rising in his chest.

Dabi stepped closer, the blue flames that always lingered around his fingertips flickering softly in the dim light. "You made it pretty clear that we're done," Dabi said, his tone low and icy. "But you didn't think I'd just let it go, did you?"

Hawks' heart pounded in his chest. "What do you want from me, Dabi?" he asked, his voice strained.

Dabi's lips curled into a bitter smile. "I want to know why you think you can walk away so easily. Like none of this mattered."

"It did matter," Hawks said sharply, stepping closer despite the heat radiating off Dabi. "It still matters. But you and I—we're on opposite sides, Dabi. This can't work."

Dabi's flames flared up suddenly, and Hawks flinched as the heat scorched the air around them. "Opposite sides?" Dabi echoed, his voice rising with anger. "You think it's that simple? You're the one who started this game, Hawks. You're the one who decided to play both sides. Don't pretend you're some noble hero now."

Hawks opened his mouth to argue, but Dabi wasn't finished.

"You came to me," Dabi continued, his voice laced with venom. "You got close. You used me for information. And now that it's not convenient for you anymore, you think you can just cut me loose?"

Hawks felt a surge of guilt twist in his gut. He couldn't deny that there was truth to Dabi's words. He had gotten close to Dabi initially for the sake of his mission. The League of Villains had to be stopped, and getting close to one of its most dangerous members seemed like the best way to gather intel. But somewhere along the way, things had gotten complicated. He had let his emotions blur the lines, let himself care about someone he should have kept at a distance.

"It wasn't just about that," Hawks said, his voice quieter now. "What we had... it wasn't just a game to me, Dabi."

Dabi's eyes flashed with anger. "Then why did you walk away?"

"Because you're killing yourself!" Hawks snapped, his wings spreading wide in frustration. "Every time you use your flames, you're burning yourself alive, and I can't watch you do that. I won't!"

For a moment, the only sound was the crackling of Dabi's flames as they flickered between them. Dabi's expression softened, just for a moment, and Hawks thought maybe, just maybe, he had gotten through to him.

But then Dabi laughed—a cold, humorless sound that sent a chill down Hawks' spine.

"You don't get it, do you?" Dabi said, shaking his head. "This is who I am. I don't need saving. And I sure as hell don't need you."

The words cut deeper than Hawks expected. He had known Dabi would be angry, had expected a confrontation, but the coldness in Dabi's voice, the finality of it, made his chest ache in a way he hadn't anticipated.

"I don't want to fight you, Dabi," Hawks said quietly, his wings lowering in a gesture of peace.

"Too bad," Dabi replied, his flames flaring up again. "Because I'm done playing nice."

Before Hawks could react, Dabi launched forward, blue flames exploding from his hands. Hawks barely managed to dodge, his wings propelling him into the air as the rooftop beneath him was engulfed in fire. The heat was unbearable, even from above, and Hawks could feel the sting of the flames against his skin.

"Dabi, stop!" Hawks shouted, but his voice was drowned out by the roar of the flames.

Dabi didn't stop. His flames grew hotter, brighter, as if fueled by the intensity of his anger. He hurled fireball after fireball at Hawks, each one more ferocious than the last. Hawks dodged and weaved, his feathers bristling with adrenaline, but he knew he couldn't keep this up forever.

"Dabi!" Hawks shouted again, this time more desperate. "You're going to kill yourself!"

"I don't care!" Dabi roared back, his eyes wild with rage. "I'd rather burn than let you walk away from this!"

Hawks' heart clenched painfully. He knew Dabi meant it. The self-destructive streak that ran through him was stronger than ever, and Hawks was terrified of what would happen if he didn't stop him.

In a flash of movement, Hawks swooped down, grabbing Dabi's arm before he could launch another attack. The heat from Dabi's skin burned Hawks' hand, but he didn't let go.

"Stop this!" Hawks pleaded, his voice raw. "Please!"

For a moment, Dabi hesitated. His flames flickered, the intensity fading as he stared up at Hawks with something close to confusion. But then, just as quickly, his expression hardened again.

"I don't need you," Dabi whispered, his voice barely audible over the crackle of flames.

Before Hawks could react, Dabi's flames erupted once more, this time with such force that Hawks was thrown back, crashing into the rooftop with a grunt of pain. He lay there, dazed, as the heat from Dabi's flames washed over him, searing his skin.

When he finally opened his eyes, Dabi was gone.

Hawks lay there for a long moment, staring up at the night sky, his heart heavy in his chest. He had tried to save Dabi, but in the end, he had only pushed him further away.

And now, Hawks realized with a sinking feeling in his gut, Dabi was more dangerous than ever.