Maldea: Mwahahaha! I love making you all suffer!

Hawks jerked at the pain in his chest, gasping in air, eyes shut tightly. He gritted his teeth and looked down at his chest. There was nothing there, but pulling his shirt up, there was a nasty scar. He glanced around, confused. The scent of the sea was gone completely. Standing up on shaking legs, he took in his surroundings.

He'd died. Instantly. The last thing he heard was Toya's warning shout, and then a nanosecond of pain, before it went black and then he woke up here. Trash bags were all around him, the smell of the city. He stood up, and walked into the light. The pain was gone in his chest. The tattoo on his leg remained, so it wasn't a dream.

His body there was destroyed. When he saw busy people walking by him, in cars, on their phones, he felt broken. Hawks was never going back. He lost his only family, the only place that felt like home. And Toya. Hawks had to have killed him, too. He fell, into New World water. God, the image of a sea king eating him made him want to vomit.

"H-Hawks?!" someone shouted, and got the attention of others. He backed up, and wiped his eyes. "You're alive!" they cheered, and gravitated towards him, so happy. This wasn't his home. He backed away, and flew off and up onto the skyscraper far above that alleyway. The place he'd been sent to that beautiful world from.

He was sobbing into his hands when he heard another shout, and saw someone with white hair below. Hawks gasped and jumped down, barely sticking the landing, nearly breaking his leg. Toya was there, looking just like he had before. Hawks ran and grabbed him tightly. Toya held him close, letting Hawks cry into his shirt.

Toya didn't cry, being the strong one. "Why? Was it a sea king?"

"A gun, and my own hand," Toya said quietly. They ignored people filming and cheering that he'd returned. Hawks wasn't especially surprised that Toya committed suicide. The Moby Dick was far from them. Without Hawks, he'd have never gotten back. He would have died. "I couldn't live a moment longer. I wasn't going to wait to be eaten alive. I… I had to get to you."

Hawks nodded. "We should go somewhere more private," he whispered, voice sounding broken. Toya nodded. Hawks grabbed him and flew away, back to his own home. It looked like the past few months had been a few months here. The place wasn't in ruins. The PLF hadn't acted yet. Or at least not there.

When they landed on Hawks' balcony, everything was gone. It was empty, but he saw nobody else had moved in. He forced the sliding glass door open, and walked inside. He felt cold. "Maybe we can get back somehow," Hawks said, voice strained. But he knew himself that his words were ridiculous and pointless.

"There's no going back. Our bodies, they're dead. The person whose quirk sent us… they're dead and gone, too," Toya said. "It's my fault. If we hadn't gone flying, we wouldn't have died," he hissed, sounding like he was hating himself. As he grabbed his hair, his hands turned into metal. Haki, again. "As if I need this!" he shouted angrily at his hands. Hawks walked over and buried his fingers into the white hair, and then down his smooth face. Thank goodness they were both in the same state they'd just been in.

They were even wearing the same clothes. But neither of them were soaking despite just being in the ocean. "I'll never get the nightmares out of my head. The - the harpoon and that sound. The squishing and crunching noise of your shattered bones. I could hear it, and then we fell, and you were gone just like that."

"Our third chance," Hawks said softly. "We're not dead and gone," he added.

"I want to be."

"To leave me?"

"I wanted to be in the afterlife or something."

"We'd both be in hell," Hawks muttered. "I want to go home. I - I want to go back to everyone. I don't care about cell phones, or TVs or airconditioning!" he cried, his face crumpling. Toya hugged him close. "I don't want to be a hero again. I don't want to, I want to be free."

"Then we'll run away. We adapted to a whole nother world. We can adapt to a new country," Toya said, being the rock this time. He pushed the hair out of Hawks' face. "I won't let you leave me again, you understand?" he said, holding his face firmly. Forcing him to look into his eyes. "I'm Toya, and you're Hawks. It's just us," the former villain said. "Our… our friends and family are gone. We can't hold out and wait for them to find a devil fruit user to bring us back."

Hawks nodded, not bothered by the possessive words. They didn't feel possessive, but reassuring and caring. "You won't go back to being a villain, right?"

"And give up my third chance? I'm not Dabi anymore," he said. "I won't use my fire anymore. I won't need it." Hawks nodded. They sat on the carpeted floor of the bedroom, leaning against the wall, looking out the window wall. They were silent for a long time, Toya petting Hawks' hair. Finally, Hawks brought up what he was thinking. "You have a chance to contact your original family. They'll never be you're real family. But… maybe having a little sister and brothers could help, you're not Dabi anymore, right?" Hawks worried he'd slip back now that they were gone from home, from the people who accepted him. But his burns were gone, nobody had to look at him the way they did before.

Toya was silent for a long moment. "I will."

"We need a phone or computer first. I don't have my credit card or ID. Maybe I can go to the bank with my face as my ID. I'm important again. I was. I won't have time to myself in public. Everyone will be all over me," he sighed. "It was always exhausting at some level-"

"The Commission won't rule your life anymore. You're strong enough to tell them to fuck off."

"Am I?"

"If I'm brave enough to try and make contact with my old family, then you're brave enough to stick it to your lifelong abusers. I'm not a villain, and you're not a hero," Toya said. Hawks nodded. "Let's go to the bank, then," he said softly. Hawks was so glad he was still Toya and not Dabi again. He loved both, but he'd rather have Toya anyday.

Standing, holding hands, Hawks didn't want to fly. "Do you want to leave your wings again?" Toya asked slowly. Hawks shook his head, knowing he'd likely never be as comfortable with removing his wings than he was on the Moby Dick. They left the apartment, leaving the door unlocked. It wasn't like there was anything to steal.

All of his belongings were gone. Not that he was attached to anything. The two went down the elevator and out into the lobby. Everyone there was speechless at seeing Hawks again. Shocked to the core. And the hero said nothing to any of them. Even the neighbors he knew.

They went straight to the bank. Word already spread that Hawks was alive, so they went across the rooftops, fly jumping if needed. Dabi's arms continued to use armament haki. Hawks had thought it only happened to him there because it was not this world. When they made it to the bank, he walked inside the glass doors, the glass wall, and then used a feather to harden and lock the doors to not allow anyone to enter. Not the crowd outside.

When Hawks walked up to the counter, the banker he usually met with was working, thankfully, and was shocked before a smile of relief - true relief - washed over his features. "Hawks-san," he said. "I'm so happy you're alive. I'll be right out with a new credit card for you."

"Wait. You're just giving it to me with no ID or questions?" Hawks asked in slight disbelief. The banker, Tatsuki, getsured to Hawks using his quirk. That was a give away, and he was glad he didn't need to go through an effort. Toya was standing near the door, looking at the crowd in distaste. He'd never been around crowds like this.

Hawks got some paperwork and a new credit card. He asked to move his money to a second account, that was inaccessible to anybody. Even the government. "Right away," Tatsuki said. Hawks transferred his untouched savings into a secret account. The password was "Whitebeard pirates202224". Nobody could ever break that. The numbers were Ace's age, Hawks and then Toya's.

He got a complimentary wallet, and shoved it and the papers into his deep pocket. He left to stand with Toya before asking to use the back door. Without hesitation, they were lead to the backdoor, and out they went. Time to go buy some cell phones. They'd just use hot-spot for internet before figuring out what to do next. Where to go.

Both got the newest phones, and could not help the smiles when they unlocked the screens. No more snail phones. But then their smiles slipped. Technology wasn't a deal breaker for where they'd rather be. Then, they went to the apartment. As they sat on the carpet, browsing the web and learning what happened in the last missing two months.

Hawks going missing had alarmed the public, and after a ton of searches, they found drone footage. Accidental drone footage of someone flying one illegally over the city. It showed him in front of the body, and then he just vanished. No trace of him. Anywhere. No other CCTV cameras in the country caught him. He was just gone. Everyone assumed he was dead.

There had been a country-wide memorial service. All the top ten heroes had taken place. Looking at the photos of his former coworkers, eyes closed as they gave respect to his empty casket, made him feel warm inside. Endeavor looked very sad. They'd only worked together for a fairly short amount of time.

But it didn't make him feel much better. Knowing how Endeavor treated his child, how he drove him to become the villain Dabi, made him angry, still. Toya came up from behind him and hugged him. "How do I do this?" Toya asked, about what to say to his family. His voice was uncertain and wavered. "I want to forgive, still. I even came up with a whole excuse on the spot. I am pretty impressed with it, honestly."

Hawks smiled, and asked what it was. "Dabi stole my appearance and quirk. I had amnesia for a long time, and was somehow given another quirk." He scrunched his eyes, and his arms were covered in haki for a moment. A short one. "I won't risk my body again." He touched his own face. "I won't give this up."

"Do it over messaging first. Then you don't need to hear their voices and emotions," Hawks said. He pressed his forehead to Toya's. Toya made a Facebook account, and an Instagram. Despite it seeming like the youngest generation ditched Facebook, many still used messenger. Toya didn't smile in his photo. He'd need more proof, and the last time they'd seen Toya, he had white hair and blue eyes. He now looked that way again.

With the burns under his eyes gone, he didn't look so exhausted, and his few lower lashes were visible. Hawks had never seen a photo of him as a child, but he knew Dabi had been unrecognizable. By both Shoto and Endeavor. Toya was sweating and his hands were shaking. He was scared. Hawks knelt behind him, hugging him from behind with one hand, and sinking his hand into his hair with the other.

Toya started to type.

-x-

I know this is out of the blue. But I want you all to consider what I'm saying, hear me out. It's been eleven years since I saw you, since I disappeared. I'll just come out and say it. I'm Todoroki Toya. I'm your oldest brother. I've had amnesia for the last decade, and only remembered a couple weeks ago. I know you had a funeral, and shrine and everything, but you never had to. I feel like I should reach out. I took a picture of myself, but it's been eleven years, so it won't be as accurate. Don't tell Endeavor yet. I'll talk to him personally.

I hope you respond. I don't know how to go forward, but I wanted to make contact. Please don't call or video. Thanks.

-Toya

"How's that?"

"It's great. You got it good on the first try."

"I've been thinking about it all day," Toya muttered. Hawks kissed his neck, the smooth nape of it. "You know, we have the place all to ourselves. My haki isn't picking up other people in the room next to us." Hawks smirked. But before they could get further than undressing, there was a reply.

The message was a group chat between him and his siblings. His hand shook a bit as he opened the message.

Toya! Are you really him?! Natsuo asked.

We need more proof. You could be someone against Endeavor. Wow, Shoto sure was suspicious. So Toya explained his relationships with them, and what he knew and witnessed at his long gone home. The beatings. How his hair was once red but turned white. The name of his old best friend. The layout of the house, and some facts about their mother's mental state last he saw her.

Oh god. Where are you? Will you come see us? Fuyumi begged. Toya could just picture her ugly crying at her phone or computer.

I only just remembered. I need time. I'll message with you, though.

Are you alone? Shoto asked. Toya smiled, wondering if he would ask the same question if he knew he was once Dabi, who kidnapped his classmate and burnt their campsite down. Well, that wouldn't come out anytime soon. Or ever. Maybe someday he could confess to somebody other than Hawks, but that day wasn't anytime near. He knew that.

Hawks was ordering take out for them. From Toya's favorite restaurant. But there was a knock on the door. Hawks glanced at Toya, and then went to the front door and looked out the peep hole. It was people he didn't want to see. "It's the Commission chair," Hawks said quietly. "I'm going to give her a piece of my mind and deal with the repercussions later. Start filming."

Toya nodded, and turned his phone on silent to not show messages. Then he set it in the kitchen cupboard, barely peeking through the crack between the door and frame. He went into the bedroom, the master bedroom, and sat inside the closed door.

-x-

Hawks opened the door, and the Commission president looked at him with wide eyes. "So it's true. You are alive." She didn't look too happy, more surprised, which melted away and back to her cold mask. "Why did you not come to us? Where have you been?"

"You never told me the quirk of the man you sent me to assassinate. It sent me far away. I didn't come to you because I'm done working for you," Hawks said, getting right to the point. "You see, my time away has given me confidence and self worth. And I won't work for people who have abused me my entire life."

He wished Toya could hold his hand in support. "That is not how it works. You are obligated to work for us."

"I don't care. I won't."

"Then we'll revoke your hero license and shut down your agency. This isn't funny."

"You're right. It's not funny. I don't care if I'm not a hero anymore. As long as I don't have to work like a trained dog under you. You ordered me to get chummy with the League of Villains, had me kill people to get me to trust them. I should have told you to fuck off then and there." Though he didn't mean that or he wouldn't have met Toya the way he did.

"You are going to work for us. We will take everything." Hawks gestured to his apartment, showing everything was gone.

"Go ahead and revoke my license. Though I'm sure that would look bad for you all. I am the number 2 hero, favored by many. It's a lose-lose situation for you. I won't do your dirty work anymore, even if I never save another person ever again. Now get out."

"This isn't your apartment anymore."

"Alright, then I'll go find a hotel." He turned away. "Oh, and one thing. I've been wanting to say it for awhile. You can all go fuck off," he said with a pleasant smile. He went into his bedroom, picked up the bag of paperwork. He took Toya's hand. And they left. But they only stayed on the roof until the Commission people left.

Then Hawks went back in and fetched the phone, glad to see it had been recording everything. He gave it to Toya, and flew him away and to a nice hotel. The paparazzi was all over the building, begging to see him. He should be touched that they were so glad he was alive. But he just wished they would leave him alone. At least for now. He had to adjust. They both did.

The two checked into a hotel, a high class one that wouldn't give away their presence. Going up to the highest suite, they both relaxed on the bed or couch. It was nice and warm inside. He snuggled under the blankets, his wings still present. After a few minutes of Toya texting with his siblings, he got into the bed, too.

They had nothing but their phones and the clothes on their backs. But with the millions he had in his bank account, they'd easily find someplace else to live. He looked up at the ceiling, Toya laying on his left wing, which didn't hurt, and was soft and plush. "What are you thinking about?"

"I wish I had been a small time hero. Maybe I could have done some good in the end. Though honestly, I don't know if I'd still have wanted to be a hero if I was never approached by the Commission. Poor, innocent, baby Keigo made a huge blunder," the blonde said. Then he turned his head to look at the sympathetic looking Toya. "At least I got to meet you."

"We're only this way because of being sent to the Whitebeards. I planned on killing you as Dabi," he whispered. Hawks laughed, and just said he was glad things were this way between them. "Yeah the sex is pretty good."

"Har har," Hawks said sarcastically. Toya smiled and kissed his cheek.

-x-

"Are you sure about this?" Toya asked for the last time. "Take some time to think about it. Maybe you can be free of them and still be a hero. You should do this only if it pays off for you in the long run."

"Why do you care about the hero society?"

"I care about you. And I'm not as nihilistic anymore." Hawks nodded, glad that was true. When his feather turned the lights out, he immediately broke into sobs in the dark. Toya gathered him in his arms, pressing his face to his neck, and gave nothing but the physical comfort. Hawks was hit the most by the loss.

He'd never had a family before, was never allowed friends. He was always forced to do what others want. When all of those things were switched, it had made him truly happy. Dabi had never done what others told him to do, he'd once had a family, which he might now have back, and he had had friends.

So, he was understanding about Hawks' raw emotions. Toya's recovery arc had taken place at the other world. Hawks needed his recovery arc to start, too. He eventually fell asleep, and Toya just stared out the window for a long time, Hawks laying against his side with one wing beneath the fire user and one above.

It was cozy, and he wouldn't push his lover to take his wings off at night. At least, not yet.

In the morning, Hawks got in his Instagram and alerted the entire world - though only Japan cared - that he was alive and kicking. Toya watched closely from the couch, sipping coffee, seeing the winged man didn't look happy to be on social media. So Toya got up, and gently took his phone from him.

Looking up in confusion, Hawks asked what he was doing. "Let's watch some TV together. It's too early to be stressed like that," he said with a smile. Hawks nodded, and got up from sitting on the carpet by the window. He went to join Toya on the couch. When there was a message on his phone, the white haired man ignored it.

Watching TV wasn't weird. Being deprived of it for months… it didn't feel like they'd been gone that long. It felt like it was all a great, life changing dream. Glancing down at Hawks, when the random natural documentary was over, and the news came in, it was all about Hawks resigning from the hero world.

The Commission deleted his license. When the camera switched to one of the city hall where the agency was based, there were protests there. Hawks phone continued to blow up, buzzing non-stop. Toya finally silenced it. He stroked Hawks' soft hair. "Did you want that?"

"I don't know anything other than being a hero and a pirate. What do I do now?" he asked quietly. "I can't be either, here."

"You can do anything you want. I'm sure most places will give you work, even just seeing your face. You were a dependable hero. Not everyone knew about your undercover assassinations. That's why you shouldn't put that out everywhere. Already, people are protesting your ousting. You don't need to ruin prospective careers yourself."

"Were you really crazy, Toya? Or was it all an act?" Hawks asked suddenly, changing the subject completely. Toya didn't press him to go back to what they were talking about. The former villain honestly said he didn't know anymore. "Really?"

He nodded. "You already knew I could be normal enough to function in the real world. Not just before the League of Villains formed. I was on my own for ten years, and never got caught. I couldn't have been insane 24/7 and not get caught. That's what I tell myself," he explained truthfully, looking at the TV, but not processing what he was seeing.

Hawks took the remote and turned it to a cartoon. They just stayed on the couch for hours, watching random cartoons in comfortable but distracted silence. Both lost in thoughts. Toya leaned his head to rest on the shorter's shoulder with a sigh. They had the whole place to themselves, but it just wasn't the right move to take advantage of the privacy.

Yes, they are back in the MHA world. Poor babies. :(