Crimson Burn

Reminisce about the past

HAWKS POV

At this time of night, the city of Musutafu was always the loudest. The streets were filled with cars, passerby's and citizens, all going about their night.
Not one noticing the two out of place people on the roof of an abandoned building.
Hawks lazily drew circles out of dust on the stone wall, where he stood perched against the cold surface. He was tired, his throat hurt, and he could feel his lungs constricting every time he took even the slightest breath.
On his right stood another man. One covered in purple scars, with hair as white as snow, and eyes as blue as the morning sky.
They had been standing there for hours. Silently standing on that rooftop, not wanting to say something in case it was the wrong thing. He had vaguely heard the other man say something earlier, but he was so content with focusing on the ground below, he didn't remember what it was.
Hawks pursed his lips, chewing on the inside of his bottom lip, not wanting to open his mouth for another reason. Those stupid flowers had already ruined his life. He didn't need them ruining his image either.
"Ya know." The other man finally said something. He turned to hawks. "Standing here in silence isn't going to do either of us any good."
Hawks simply shrugged. That annoyed the other man cause he grabbed hawks by the shoulder and turned him around. "Seriously. What are you doing here?" He demanded.
He had wanted to avoid a confrontation for as long as possible. But the other man, Dabi, wasn't having it. When hawks finally looked up, exhaustion evident on his once proud face, Dabi softened his expression. Not a lot.
But just enough to show hawks he wasn't gonna hurt him.
"You look horrible." Was all he said. Hawks chuckled.
"Gee. Thanks." He rolled his eyes.
"So he does speak." Hawks looked Dabi in the eye and stopped smiling. Both men a lot closer to each other than they were before. He stretched his wings and stepped back, a pink tint on his cheeks, though he wasn't sure if that was from the cold or from blushing.
Dabi stepped back as well, a hand scratching at his neck, his eyes wandering anywhere but the winged man in front of him. "Can I ask you something?" He lowered his arm and sighed. Hawks raised an eyebrow, and Dabi took it as an indication to continue. "Why did you let me go? The first time we spoke." His voice carried sincerity, and genuine curiosity in his question. Like he was afraid of the answer, but wanted one anyway.
"Honestly?" Hawks thought for a moment. Why did he let Dabi go? He's a villain. So he should've arrested him on sight. But he didn't. And deep down inside the subconscious of his mind, he knew why.
"Wasn't worth my time." He moved away from the wall and folded his wings, he crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Why?" Dabi edged towards the winged hero, getting closer to him than he anticipated. "Just curious. I'm a villain. You're a hero." He drew in a breath. "I almost killed you. And yet.." he focused on hawks. Scaling his eyes up and down his body, a smirk plastered on his face. "You're standing here, vulnerable once more, and I'm still not being dragged to Tartarus prison."

Hawks sighed once more and let his guard down. There was something he wanted to say, and that's exactly what he did. "Do you remember the meteor shower we went to? Down at the park?" Dabi stumbled a little, he was obviously caught off guard. He steeled his jaw and glared at hawks. "That was a long time ago." He spat. "Not worth remembering." Hawks unfolded his arms and dropped them to his sides. His golden eyes flashed with defiance and confidence once more. "It is to me." His response was barely above a whisper.
Dabi heard him.
"Why? It was a long time ago. We were stupid kids back then. Nothing more." He was trying to steady his voice, but hawks knew he wanted to yell.
He was angry, yet hawks could sense the sadness and pain behind every word he tried to coat in venom.
Hawks coughed once more. The petals falling from his lips again and again. Hawks didn't care anymore. He didn't care if he was pulling petals from his mouth in front of Dabi.
He didn't care anymore.
He shuddered, before opening his palm and showing it to Dabi, whose eyes tried not to widen in shock.
"This." His voice surprisingly calm. "This is what happens when you fall in love with someone." He let them fall to the ground. "Who doesn't love you back."
Dabi eyed the ground, watching as the petals scattered in the wind, blowing away until they were out of sight. "And I'm supposed to care why?" He whispered. "I'm not on this roof by accident Dabi. I'm here because we need to talk."
Hawks pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyes shut in content. He opened his eyes. "I'm not afraid of you." Dabi scoffed. "Sure." He answered sarcastically.
"I'm not. I thought I was." Hawks wrung his hands together. "But then I realized there was nothing to be afraid of. And that's ok."
"What is this? An apology?" He hissed. The villain once again stepped forward. "No. Not an apology. Forgiveness." Hawks unfurled his wings. "And I hope you'll take it." He flapped his wings, gaining momentum. He took off from the rooftop. Not bothering to look back at the villain standing below him.