Ashes and Feathers

Chapter 5: Shattered Wings

The dark sky above twisted like an open wound, bleeding hues of crimson and purple as Hawks flew through the dense, cold air. His wings beat frantically, the air heavy with despair and ash, as he searched for any trace of Dabi. His mind raced, trying to piece together what had just happened—Dabi's touch still seared into his skin, the taste of that brutal kiss still lingering on his lips.

Hawks knew their relationship had always been dangerous, a tangled mess of deception and forbidden desire. But now, it was something far darker, a twisted reflection of what they once had. The man he once loved had been consumed by flames, both literally and figuratively, and all that was left was a hollow shell driven by vengeance and fury.

But even as Hawks' mind told him to stop—to abandon this deadly pursuit—his heart wouldn't let him. He needed to find Dabi, to understand what was truly happening to him. This power, this darkness—it wasn't just Dabi's quirk anymore. Something far more sinister had taken root within him.

As Hawks descended into another alley, his wings brushing against the frost-covered walls, a sense of unease settled over him. The world felt wrong, as though reality itself was bending under the weight of Dabi's presence. The shadows seemed to move on their own, crawling along the walls like living creatures, their eyes—if they had eyes—following Hawks' every move.

He was close.

Suddenly, a sharp pain tore through Hawks' side. He cried out, spinning in midair as something—someone—struck him from behind. His wings faltered, sending him crashing to the ground. Gritting his teeth against the pain, Hawks struggled to push himself up, his vision blurring from the impact.

A figure stepped out of the shadows, his dark flames flickering ominously in the dim light.

Dabi.

But this time, he wasn't alone.

Behind him, more of the shadow creatures from before emerged—twisted, humanoid figures wreathed in dark fire. Their forms shifted and flickered like mirages, their eyes glowing with an unnatural, predatory hunger.

Hawks' heart pounded in his chest as he forced himself to stand, his wings aching with every movement. He knew he was outnumbered, outmatched. But he wasn't about to back down. Not now. Not after everything.

"Did you really think you could escape me?" Dabi's voice cut through the air like a blade, cold and sharp. He stepped closer, his flames crackling as they licked at the ground beneath him. "You're a fool, Hawks."

Hawks glared at him, his eyes narrowing in defiance. "I'm not afraid of you, Dabi."

Dabi's lips twisted into a cruel smile. "You should be."

Without warning, Dabi lunged forward, his flames surging toward Hawks with terrifying speed. Hawks barely had time to react, his wings flaring out as he dodged to the side, the heat of Dabi's flames scorching the air around him.

But Dabi wasn't finished. He moved like a predator, relentless and ruthless, his dark flames swirling around him like a living entity. Each strike was faster, more vicious than the last, forcing Hawks to retreat, his wings straining to keep up with the barrage.

"Is this how you want it to end?" Dabi taunted, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. "Broken and burned at my feet?"

Hawks gritted his teeth, his feathers bristling with frustration. He had to stay focused. He couldn't let Dabi's words get to him. But it was hard—so damn hard—when every word out of Dabi's mouth seemed designed to cut deeper than any blade.

"I won't let you destroy yourself," Hawks shouted, his voice hoarse from the exertion. "I won't let you become this monster!"

Dabi's laugh was cold and hollow, echoing off the walls like the cackle of a demon. "You still don't get it, do you? I am a monster. And you? You were just too blind to see it."

Before Hawks could respond, Dabi's flames surged forward again, this time in the form of a massive wave of black fire. Hawks' wings snapped open, and he shot upward, narrowly avoiding the searing heat below.

But as he ascended, one of the shadow creatures leaped at him from the darkness, its claws sinking into his side. Hawks gasped in pain as the creature dragged him back down, its cold touch burning like ice. He struggled, kicking at the creature with everything he had, but its grip was unyielding.

Dabi watched with a sickening smile, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. "Look at you," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Pathetic. Weak. Just like the rest of them."

Hawks' vision blurred as the pain intensified, his strength slowly draining away. He could feel the darkness closing in, the cold shadows wrapping around him like a shroud. But even as his body screamed in agony, his mind refused to give up.

With a sudden burst of energy, Hawks twisted in the creature's grip, his wings slicing through the air with deadly precision. The creature let out a hiss of pain as Hawks' feathers cut into its flesh, and it recoiled, its grip loosening just enough for Hawks to break free.

Panting heavily, Hawks staggered back, his wings trembling from the effort. Blood dripped from the wound in his side, staining the ground beneath him. But he didn't care. He couldn't stop. Not now.

Not when Dabi was watching.

"Is that all you've got?" Dabi sneered, his flames flickering with excitement. "I expected more from you, Hawks."

Hawks wiped the blood from his mouth, his eyes locking onto Dabi's with a fierce determination. "You want more?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "Fine. Let's finish this."

With a powerful beat of his wings, Hawks launched himself at Dabi, his feathers sharp and deadly as they cut through the air. Dabi's flames surged in response, meeting Hawks' attack head-on in a violent clash of fire and feathers.

The alley exploded with light and heat as the two forces collided, the sound of their battle echoing through the empty streets. Hawks' wings moved with blinding speed, his feathers slicing through the air like blades, while Dabi's flames roared with deadly intent, each strike meant to incinerate.

It was chaos. Pure, unrelenting chaos.

And in the midst of it all, Hawks could feel something shifting between them—something dark and twisted, yet undeniably familiar. It was as though their battle wasn't just a fight for survival, but a violent, desperate expression of everything that had gone unsaid between them.

Hate. Anger. Love. Betrayal.

All of it bled into their fight, turning it into something far more dangerous than a simple clash of powers.

Hawks felt his heart race as he locked eyes with Dabi, his body burning from both the heat of the flames and the intensity of their shared gaze. It was maddening, this push and pull between them, this dance of destruction and desire.

He knew he shouldn't feel this way. He shouldn't still want Dabi, not after everything. But the truth was undeniable, no matter how much he tried to bury it.

He still loved him.

And that love was going to destroy them both.