Don't Judge a Book

now there arose up a new king over egypt, which knew not joseph

"I can't believe I fucking allowed this to happen," Dabi stared up at the decorative ceiling. Tomura was clinging him from one side while Kai clung to him from the other. Both using his chest as a pillow. They were each comfortably snoring. He couldn't move a muscle or they'd wake up. Dabi knew Tomura was terrible if woken up by force. He didn't want to find out how Kai was. 

"This was such a mistake," Dabi sobbed internally, desperately wanting to stretch. His phone buzzed on the nightstand. He couldn't reach it, of course, but he could see the caller-id just barely. "Shouto?" No sooner had he muttered the name, the half-and-half brother appeared in the room. He was too worried to care about Dabi's current sleeping arrangement and began pacing back and forth. 

"Sorry, I traced the signal here. I know that was probably rude of me but I'm worried about Izuku. Bakugo said he was called back to Heaven and it's been numerous hours. There hasn't been a single word from him and he was texting us updates." 

"You think something happened to him?" Dabi sat up, not caring anymore if he woke up his two dearly beloved asshole partners. 

"Bakugo already said God was mad at him for what he did to help you," Shouto's voice fluctuated slightly. "I wish I could just go up there and help him myself but what would the angels do to me? I feel like such an asshole for being concerned about myself more than him but I've been a secret for so long... Izuku still hasn't figured it out. Neither has Bakugo...but the others? Dabi...what am I supposed to do?" 

"Nothing," Dabi replied. He stood up and jumped off of the bed (to avoid having to crawl over either Kai or Tomura). "I'll take care of it. If those two ask any questions just make up some shit," he threw on his jacket and opened the window. 

"What are you doing?" 

"I'm going to Heaven," Dabi jumped out of the window. For the first time since he'd fallen, he grew out his wings and flew up. None of the demons had ever tried to return to Heaven since their fall. There was this unwritten notion that it was impossible. Dabi didn't care if it was or wasn't possible, it was going to happen, no matter what. 

His wings were large with black feathers, similar to a raven's. He flew with ease as if he had flown every single day. Up, up, and further up. About halfway between Heaven and Earth, his wings caught on fire. He gritted his teeth and fought through the pain. 

"I've been burned worse than this," he told himself, time and time again. When he thought the pain was becoming unbearable, he would mutter the phrase. When he had less than 25% left of the way to go... his wings were practically bones strung together. Not a feather left on him. 

He was within arms reach of those pearly gates when his wings finally gave out. It didn't matter how much he suffered through it, there was only so much he could handle. He outstretched his arm as far as he could, grazing the cloud, but unable to cling to it. "Fuck," he growled, staring at the sight of those gates getting further and further away. 

"You're a mad man," a hand grasped his arm. Hawks shook his head, a smile that masked a bit of his sympathy. "What are you doing so close to Heaven?" 

"I'm here to testify for a friend," he replied, grabbing the cloud and climbing up. He laid on his back for a moment, taking deep breaths, his wings still flaming with righteous fire (even though there was nothing left to burn). 

He stood up, inhaled sharply, and pounded on the gates. Righteous fire scorched his hands, but he continued to pound until they bled. "Let me in you dimwits!" he growled. 

"They aren't going to do that," Hawks held out his hand to grab Dabi's arm. He wanted to pull him away but the fire burning his wings was too much for him to handle. He winced and took a step back or two. 

"I don't care what they do. I'm getting the fuck inside!" Dabi started climbing the gate. His feet caught fire from the impact but he gave 0 fucks. 

"Are you really climbing the gate into Heaven right now?" Hawks called up at him. 

"What does it look like I'm doing? Dumbass," Dabi tore a pearl from the gate and threw it down at him. 

"Do you think I can keep this as a memento of your stupidity?" Hawks held it in his hands as if it were a human baby. 

"Ain't no one going to stop you. There are enough of those on this gate already," Dabi finally reached the top. He climbed over and fell to the other side. "Well, that was easier than expected," he shrugged at the angels screaming bloody murder and tried his best to remember the layout of this place. Where was the holding place for 'bad angels' again? He shoved his (still burning) hands into his pockets and started walking. 'This is fine' became his mantra.