Slamming another glass onto the counter, Dabi felt the liquid crawl down his throat in warm lingering anesthesia. He didn't even remember when he first got here but the walls of the bar now appeared to be swaying back and forth in a mind numbing nature.

Yeah, usually he wasn't like this but after the last few days, everything just felt so suffocating, so crushing, he simply had to finally drown it out with something, and since there was no one around to murder, that meant filling it with alcohal.

First it was the fight, the one that caused him to put his hands on his best friend simply because he panicked. It was like some sort of automatic response, wanting to hurt the ones that brought up his old dead name, and it didn't help that she did it in front of Hawks of all people.

It's like she was trying to ruin his plans with that stupid move.

He didn't even realize it, the feeling of his slimy fingers across her pretty little neck until it was too late, until she was gasping for air and clawing at his hands to stop.

And for the first time, Dabi didn't feel overjoyed at the struggle. No, the moment he snapped back into reality, the man felt distusing, wanting nothing more than to end his own life and the sight of Hikari in pain.

What the fuck was up with that, huh? Getting so scared and terrified over such a thing? It wasn't like him, it wasn't like Dabi in the slightest. Usually the act of killing was nothing to him.

But all those other times, he wasn't killing her.

How pathetic, the big bad Dabi being afraid of one shitty little bird. How soft and fucking wipped he was by those little perfect amber eyes. He hated it, and he hated himself for being so damn weak.

He even talked to her idiot brother to check up on her, just because he was worried about her, about her opening the old wounds of the past and having to revert back to old habits.

And then, there was that call, that horrible call where Hawks said he was "grateful" to him for taking care of his little sister. It made him feel sick, so much so that the villain had shut himself inside for days, thinking about the implications of that conversation.

What was up with people thanking him, about wanting to reward him when he was in fact doing the very opposite. He wasn't a hero or some sort of savior. Why wouldn't they realize that?

But of course they never would, and that made Dabi sink even further into his own mind, the dark demons of the past suffocating him all at once until he finally woke up today and realized what day it was.

His death anniversary.

That seemed to push the villain over the edge, opting to finally leave his hermit lifestyle in order to drown out the horrible and lingering memories that had plagued him the last couple days. Hikari, Hawks, his death, it all seemed to come one after the other.

And that was the reason he was sitting here, alone at a sleazy bar as he desperately tried to disappear from reality. That's how it would be till the end after all, alone. He sure made sure of that long ago.

Just then he felt someone slide next to him yet the villain didn't take any notice, still staring straight ahead as a girl giggled flirtatiously. "Hey, I couldn't help but notice you are all alone here. What company?"

Yet Dabi didn't even look at the girl, knowing that the voice next to him wasn't who he desperately wanted to see. "Fuck off. I'm not in the mood."

This caused the girl to frown though, scooting in closer as she touched the top of his jacket, clearly not taking no for an answer. "Oh, don't be like that. I just want to.."

Feeling the touch immediately, Dabi couldn't help but flash back to the past, picturing Hikari's light hand once touching the same spot years ago whenever she tried to speak to him.

But this girl wasn't Hikari, so the feeling only instead made the villain unnecessarily angry, the blue smoke between his fingers growing as his emotions heightened.

Growling once, Dabi then aimed his fire filled palms towards the annoying girl, shooting them and she gasped in suprise and quickly ducked under the bar with fear. "Ah!"

The inferno hit the back of the wall a moment later, leaving a burning hole in the old wallpaper before Dabi drunkenly turned towards the shaking girl with a glare.

His voice was deep and dark, filling the entire room. "You're not her, so I don't care what you want. Go away before that wall becomes your face."

Feeling the threat immediately, the girl nodded back, running away in fear as the bartender seemed to notice the destruction and screamed towards the villain loudly. "Hey! You can't do that here! Get out of my bar!"

Dabi half debated a fight at his words, wanting to let off some steam from his own chaos until a lack of excitement registered in his mind and decided against it.

So instead, the villain simply stumbled off of the bar stool before scoffing in the owner's direction as he headed out the door. "Whatever, the alcohol was shit anyways."

Then he exited into the streets, stumbling on his own two feet as the villain got seemingly lost in his own mind, the alcohol only making him far more emotional than ever before.

After what seemed like forever, Dabi found himself sitting on a park bench, his head lifted up towards the sky as he thought about what it felt like when Hikari and him watched the clouds together all those years ago.

He missed it, the simple feeling of being loved, the feeling of someone standing by his side no matter what, the feeling of not being alone. It carved into his aching soul, recalling how simple everything was back then.

And although he'd never admitted it out loud, Dabi missed her.

Even though it had just been a couple days, he missed those perfectly gorgeous amber eyes, he missed her cute little giggles and jokes. He missed the way her wings flapped twice whenever she was flustered and her half crooked smile…

God, he just missed her, so much that it hurt.

But then he recalled their fight, the way that Hikari said she didn't care anymore, and that made Dabi's nonexistent heart twist in a thousand painful ways.

Did she really not care anymore, just like his family, just like this father?

Served him right he supposed, after all the shit he pulled. Why would anyone want to deal with him anyways? He was a mistake, a defect, a monster, just as everyone had claimed.

Hikari's naive nature could only last so long after all, perhaps even she found out what he was really like, how much of a disappointment he was to everything.

It was better this way anyways, Hikari needed to keep her distance.

She needed to stay away so he didn't destroy her.

But even still, a part of him still longed for her presence, to hear her small words of encouragement once more and heal his lonely soul.

Although that's when he heard it, Hikari's voice, just as innocent and gut punching as always. "There you are, finally.."

Opening his eyes ever so slightly, Dabi gaze then focused on her vague outline, her blonde hair blocking the overhead streetlamp like a halo as she waved a hand over his face. "Helloooo? Anyone in there? Or are you too far gone for that?"

At first he thought it was some sort of illusion, the numbness from the alcohol causing his head to spin as he stared at every detail of her flawless face, squinting ever so slightly before reality seemingly crashed into him all at once.

She hadn't left him, she still cared.

Willing any words to his lips, a wave of relief crashed into Dabi before lifting his hands out and lightly touching Hikari's cheek, his voice quivering from the reality. "You're here..you're still here..."

Hikari couldn't help but widen her eyes in surprise at the soft touch and tone, the girl coughing to cover up her own embarrassment as she sidestepped away from his sight. "What are you saying, stupid? You're the one that called me and told me to come."

Dabi only stared in silence though, racking his brain and not recalling ever picking up his phone even once. Did he really call her like that? Was he really that fucked up? Huh, maybe.

Circling around to stand in front of him, Hikari then outstretched her hand towards the villain before wiggling her fingers in his direction."Now, come on. Let's get you out of the cold. I know half your skin is dead but that doesn't mean you still can't catch hypothermia."

Although one look at her hand caused the villain to frown, the man stubbornly remained still as the entire world began to spin. It didn't matter how happy the action made him, Dabi knew he had to turn her away for her own good.

So instead, he only frowned, his uncaring tone faltering with every word. "You shouldn't have come. I don't need…"

Yet Hikari cut him off, seemingly already knowing what he was going to say. "Uh huh sure sure, you don't need my help. I hear ya, too bad I'm stubborn and I'm not gonna listen to a thing you say. Asshole or not, we still gotta look out for each other, right?"

And that seemed to make the intoxicated man cave, putting up no resistance as he allowed Hikari to grab onto his arms and hoist him upwards off the bench.

Although just as he took one step, Dabi felt his body give out, stumbling on his own feet as Hikari very quickly caught the stitched man with a groan and allowed a couple feathers from her pocket to support him.

Swaying back and forth, Hikari whistled at the sight. "Whoa whoa whoa, I gotchu. Damn, how much did you have? I don't think I've ever seen you this bad before."

Dabi didn't seem to hear any of her words though, instead focusing on the warmth and comfort as he uncharacteristically nuzzled into the crook of her neck. "Do you know your scent always drives me fucking crazy? I can't ever get enough."

Feeling her face turn red immediately, Hikari very quickly shoved him away from his current spot before coughing in embarrassment. She knew he wasn't himself but this was something different entirely. She'd never seen Dabi act like this. It was strange.

So much so that the girl frowned at his antics, flicking his forehead playfully. "A-Alright horny zombie man, none of that. I'm just here to help you out, that's all. So unless you want me to leave you as a popsicle I suggest you stop that."

And that seemed to do that trick, the villain choosing to remain quiet as she stumbled with the villain all the way down the empty streets, Hikari ignoring the feeling of his hot breath on her bare neck with every step forward.

Stop it Hikari, he's not himself. He's only acting this way cause he's drunk. Just get him home and leave. That's all you have to do. Don't let it get to your head.

Because it was closer, Hikari opted to take Dabi to the old warehouse she used to reside in before moving into Hawks' apartment, knowing it was far better than that stuffy liberation mansion. That, and also because Dabi's' body was getting heavier by the second.

Stumbling into the makeshift bedroom, the girl neared the old mattress before flopping Dabi's drunk body onto the surface, the villain tripping over his own feet as he fell onto the soft padding

And seeing the great Dabi so lost was quite entertaining, the way he stumbled and slurred his speech face down on the mattress. He almost looked human like this, and kinda cute.

Although that's when she recalled their fight a couple days prior, Hikari's amused smirk fell as she realized she was still upset with everything. Him and his unchanging emotions were just as frustrating as always it seemed.

So instead, Hikari smoothed out her jacket, already halfway out the door and ready to leave, considering the villain was safe now. "Alright, go ahead and sleep this off. Although, I'm sure tomorrow is gonna be real rough for ya. Ah well, not my problem."

Just then, she felt an aggressive hand grasp her wrist, pausing her movements as she looked down to find Dabi's desperate and slightly scared eyes. Why was he looking at her like that? "What?"

Yet that's when she heard him speak, his usual villain demeanor completely lost as he just barely whispered through his lips. "Don't go."

Widening her eyes at the words, Hikari immediately turned around, disbelieving what she was hearing. What he just said didn't sound like Dabi at all. In fact, it sounded rather Touya, and that scared her.

"Huh? What does that even mean? I don't know if you forgot but I'm still pissed at you Dabi. I'm only doing this cause you called me and.."

Yet before she could finish, the villain was already up, swaying on his own feet before slamming his hands over the door frame in front of her so she was trapped inside.

Sighing at the childish action, Hikari only sighed, knowing that he was still acting like a toddler. So demanding and yet so hidden with his feelings, as always. "Dabi.."

Although that's when Dabi spoke again, his words rushed and slurred. "I'm sorry."

The phrase crashed into her immediately, the girl freezing as she finally locked eyes with the man before her. Had she gone insane or did she just hear him apologize?

No, impossible, Dabi didn't apologize, he said it himself. He never regretted his actions, always choosing to ignore them more than anything.

In fact, Dabi didn't acknowledge any emotion. That's why that fight happened in the first place, because he couldn't be honest with his feelings, no matter what they were. He couldn't admit he was jealous or push her away like she asked for.

So hearing this, it caused Hikari's brain to stop completely. "W-What did you just say?"

Dabi's intense gaze never left hers though, clearing wanting her to believe his next words as he rasped back. "It wasn't supposed to be like this. You weren't supposed to mess everything up. I'm not supposed to be feeling this way, I'm not supposed to be feeling at all. That's not me."

And even though Hikari knew this was the alcohol talking, she was also drawn to the idea of Dabi finally being open with her for once, even if it was drunk rambling.

No, she needed to know what was in his head.

So, she answered, head tilting to the side as she watched his obviously torchered gaze. "Feeling what way?"

Shaking his head in frustration, Dabi only seemed to grow even more unhinged at the gentle and ignorant way she had answered. "This way. God, I hate you, I hate you so fucking much. I hate you so much that can't ever stop thinking about you, about how stupid you are for actually still being here, for blindly taking care of me like this me even after all the shit I've done."

His words were strange, Hikari taking note of his smoking palms as he spoke. He was really emotional about this, almost like he was angry for her coming to help him for some reason.

Narrowing her eyes, she only shrugged though, knowing that one little fight wasn't going to erase her feelings, even if she desperately wanted it to. "Hey, come on, yeah it was a dick move that you tried to choke me but that doesn't mean I'm gonna stop caring about you. We grew up together, of course I'm going to take care of you, just like you do for me when it matters."

And that was true, Hikari knowing that he did in fact "take care of her" whenever she needed it, regardless of if he'd admit it or not.

Throwing water to her when she was hungover, saving her from hooking up with those random guys, pushing her out of the way during the liberation attack, letting her vent and complain to him about the smallest things, the list went on..

So doing something like this was nothing to her, knowing that Touya/Dabi had saved her life countless times in the past. That's just how it was, for better or for worse.

Yet her explanation only seemed to make Dabi even more furious, his palms sparking with blue flames as part of the doorframe that was holding her hostage started to sizzle and burn.

And when he spoke, it was far more emotional than Hikari had ever heard from him before, his raspy voice cracking on each word like he was tormented. "Do you even hear yourself? You're always worrying about pointless things. You shouldn't take care of me, you shouldn't give me a free pass because you think I'm some kind of good person, cause I'm not."

His voice cracked even more on the last couple words, causing Hikari to soften her expression at the sight. Maybe he thought he wasn't a good person but she had seen something different. To her, he was always her hero.

Taking a step closer to the obviously unraveling man, Hikari lifted her hand, already ready to counteract his statement. "Dabi, come on.."

Although the man seemed to beat her to her words, seeing the softness around her amber gaze and feeling sick to his stomach as he slapped her hand away immediately.

He needed to make her see reality, before it was too late.

So that's why his next words were cynical, a bitter laugh escaping his lips before the villain could even process it. "You said it yourself, I left you alone after you confessed and puposely brought back some no named prostitute to fuck in order to break you. Did you forget that, did you forget that I put my dick in her just a couple hours after you and I slept together?"

Knowing he was trying to be lewd and disgusting on purpose, Hikari couldn't help but scrunch up her face at the horrible memory. How could she ever forget the first time he broke her heart? How could she forget the words he said or how he laughed in her face?

But as fucked up as it was, that night never did erase the good things Touya brought her, it never changed the fact that he was the person she always thought about while being assaulted or was the one that kept her alive all those years.

No, he meant much more to her than any mesley romantic feelings, it went way deeper than that. And that's why she couldn't ever pull away, even if she wanted to.

Dabi seemed to have other ideas though, the silence seemingly suffocating as he laughed through his pain, finding his words absolutely hysterical. "Don't you get it? You should be angry, you should never want to see me after that. That's why I brought that bitch back in the first place, so you could get out of my life.."

Then his chuckles turned far more dark. "And just after I thought I finally got rid of you for good, I found you again, hanging in that villain's torchure chamber three years later. Just when I thought I could escape, you come back into my life like some sort of disease."

Widening her eyes at his word choice, Hikari couldn't help but scoff, taking another step closer towards the villain until they were only a few inches apart. "If I'm such a disease then why don't you push me away?"

After that, she half expected Dabi to shove her backwards, to say some sort of awful words in order to confirm his own statement or to just leave completely.

But what she hadn't expected was for the villain to stop laughing entirely, his face suddenly serious as he silently thought about that question for what seemed like eternity.

Then she watched as Dabi closed his eyes in some sort of acceptance before letting his head fall forwards, his forehead pressing against hers silently before finally speaking. "That's the question, isn't it? I know I should hurt you again, I should push you away but I'm too much of a damn coward to follow through."

Giving a sad dark chuckle, the next confession seemed to tumble out of his lips without permission. "I guess the pathetic truth is, I don't want to be alone again, I don't want to go back to hearing just silence.."

Letting out a shaky restricted breath, Hikari then heard the villain's voice soften to a small uncertain whisper, the words just barely escaping his lips. "I don't want you to forget me."

Hikari felt a wave of emotions crash into her at that, his fragile tone breaking her down entirely as he finally heard his real thoughts for the first time. Was this always how he felt, was he just afraid of being alone? Of being forgotten?

Biting her lip in order to hold in her own spiral, Hikari remained silent, taking in his uneven breath before finding the courage to lift her hands up to Dabi's face and force him to look at her. "Dabi.."

Although the only thing Dabi could see when he looked up was the light mist of tears coating the bottom of her eyes as they threatened to fall.

And after taking one look at those perfect amber eyes, Dabi felt himself break a little more, knowing that he didn't deserve to be looked at in such a caring and loving way.

Feeling himself ball his fists at the sight, the villain felt his hands start to shake as he roughly pushed past the girl, moving closer into the room in order to get away from the warmth she brought.

"Don't look at me like that, like you alway do. So fucking innocent, like I deserve it. It's torture, the way you look at me. Why are you even still here? Don't you get it? You're too fucking good for me, Princess. Even I know someone like medoesn't get someone like you.

Twisting her brow in confusion, Hikari began to follow the man, trying to process his words but failing. What was he talking about? She wasn't good, she was a villain just like him. "W-What are you saying? I..."

Yet the moment she tried to reach forward, the villain seemed to panic, his eyes wide with fury as Hikari watched blood start to pool under the stitches below his eyes. "Don't you get it?! I'm gonna ruin you, I'm gonna ruin your good, I'm gonna ruin you and I don't even care. And yet you're still here, blindly following me into hell as always."

Standing in absolute silence, the bird watched as Dabi drowned in his own misery, the blood from his stitches trailing down his cheeks in a silent devastating line, almost like tears.

And as sweat, blood and smoking sparks of fire surrounded him, Hikari felt herself slowly move closer, each step unknown to the villain as he tried to look anywhere but her.

Sucking in a heavy breath, the man only sighed, obviously disgusted and devastated by his inability to hold everything in anymore. "Just leave me, that's what you deserve, someone better…"

Yet that's when he felt two gentle hands touch the sides of his face, Hikari's thumbs carefully wiping the blood from his cheeks before once again forcing him to look at her.

And the moment they locked eyes, Hikari knew exactly what she wanted to say. "Dabi, I'm not going anywhere."

Although that only caused the villain to spiral even further, pushing her gentle hands away and stepping back with utter shame and guilt unknown to her.

He hated that she didn't understand, he hated her sickeningly sweet voice and he hated the fact that she was so ignorant to what was really going on.

No, even Dabi knew that her words would change once everything was revealed.

And that very fact pulled him apart, emotionally and physically as more bloody tears worked down his face in a devastating line. "No, you don't get it, you never fucking get it. You don't mean that, I know you don't, not when you don't understand what's going on. After what I've done, what I continue to do, I know it won't last."

Hikari watched the display with stunned silence, the villain very clearly wanting to isolate himself and yet still not leaving the room. Perhaps that meant that he really didn't want her to leave after all, like he was having some kind of internal war with himself?

Not understanding a single thing, the girl remained silent at his statement before hearing Dabi's drunken and short breath, shaking his head with so much self hatred and loathing for what he was saying. "I know that but I'm so damn selfish and I..I…"

Pushing her lips together with distaste for the sight, Hikari balled her fists at his destruction before stepping forward once more, breaking his invisible bubble of shame in order to grab his face.

She had seen enough.

"Hey, stop that."

And Dabi did stop, his crumbling nature frozen as he once again was forced to meet Hikari's gaze.

Except this time, she spoke with clear honesty, something that she always used to do as children, almost like there wasn't a doubt in her mind. "I already told you, I'm not going to leave. It doesn't matter what you say, you will always be the most important person to me. You are my best friend, my first love and I will always care about you, both as Touya and as Dabi.."

And with those words, she wanted to make him see, she wanted him to understand how much he meant to her, she wanted Dabi to know how he changed her life for the better so many times. She wanted him to realize that he was her everything.

Pushing his bloody tears aside with her fingers, the girl then sighed to herself, sucking in a breath of courage before her voice lowered with even more pure truth. "It doesn't matter, nothing matters except the fact that I love you..always have, always will. And it doesn't matter if you don't feel the same, it doesn't matter if you call me stupid for it. That's just how it is.."

And at the sound of those three little words, Dabi felt his hands smoke with overwhelming emotion, his heart beating in his throat as he soaked in the meaning.

Happiness, regret, shame, sadness, everything flashed in his eyes all at once before the villain shook his head under her hands, his voice dry and raspy as he tried to deny her claims. "Hikari.."

Yet Hikari didn't give him any room for doubt, tightening her hold on both of his cheeks and pushing him forward so he couldn't look or run away. "Do you hear me, Touya? I love you."

And that was the moment Dabi broke down completely, those three little words tearing down whatever resistance he had as his own shaking hands found the wrist that was holding him.

Feeling his trembles of uncertainty, she then watched as the villain closed his eyes in some sort of acceptance, somehow both savoring and hating her words before just barely whispering back. "You know, I only ever liked that name when it came from your lips."

Then before Hikari could process it, Touya's hand tightened around her wrist before pulling the girl forward into a silent embrace, the shakes of his body trembling against hers as he held on tightly for dear life.

Almost like he thought she would disappear before his eyes if he let go.

Lifting her arms up, the girl registered the warmth before letting her own eyes crumble at the sight, recalling a very familiar memory of Touya crying in her arms as kids after he accidently burned her with his quirk.

Back then when it happened, the girl was confused, not knowing how to respond as Touya held onto her for dear life on that rooftop.

But now the response almost felt automatic, Hikari mimicking her actions as a child, immediately rubbing small circles on his back as she whispered gently in his ear. "It's okay, It's okay, I'm here for you. I always will be, never forget that."

And even Touya seemed to realize the familiar action and words, his body tensing at the sound before pulling away as his cerlen gaze looked to the floor in uncertainty. "I know it's impossible, but don't leave. Don't forget me like everyone else."

Softening her gaze and the vulnerable request, Hikari felt her lips curve into a light smile, knowing that she would never let that happen. "As if I could do that. You're kinda hard to forget."

Touya took in her response silently, the man truly savoring every last syllable before his stitched hands reached forward, wrapping his fingers around her crystal pendant before frowning. "Why do you still wear this?"

Looking down at the object, the villain ran his fingers over the newly formed crack before Hikari's eyes fell. Sure she could lie about the real reason she wore it all the time, saying that it was because of the commission.

But she knew that wasn't really the case, and lying to Touya about it didn't seem right. She was already lying about plenty of other things to him. Something needed to be genuine.

So instead, Hikari asked honestly, shrugging her shoulders as if to pretend it wasn't a big deal. "I don't know, I guess it's just easier? Hides my ugly quirk so people aren't as afraid."

Taking in her response, Touya's brow narrowed his distaste, before ripping the object from her neck with so much force that the chain holding the pendant snapped in half as it revealed her imperfections.

Hikari's wings couldn't help but extend outwards at the response, the deformed and broken structure flapping once before Touya's intense gaze deepened at the sight. "I like you better this way."

Feeling her cheeks turn a light shade of pink, the bird's wings gave another small flustered flap before taking a step back from his newly serious aura as her heat started to leap out of her chest. "R-Really? You don't think that they are..."

Yet that's when the villain stepped forward, lifting his stitched hands out before pushing her back against the closet wall before standing before her wordlessly.

Then the man leaned forward, pressing against her body as he pushed his hot breath towards her ear and rasped with so much serious intent that it caused Hikari's entire body to shiver. "Everything about you is perfect to me."

Feeling her heart completely stop in her chest, the man then pulled back before lowering his drunken half lidded gaze as Hikari tried to hold onto reality. Come on Hikari, pull it together. He's drunk, he doesn't mean it.

"S-Stop playing around. You can't seriously mean that. I mean, look at them."

Giving her wings an anxious tap against the wall, Hikari averted his watchful gaze, knowing he was staring at the things she hated the most. He obviously was just bullshiting her because he was intoxicated. How else would anyone find her disgusting quirk "perfect"?

Although that's when Touya's lips curved into a smirk, his lips releasing a dark chuckle before shaking his head once. "Oh Princess, you really don't get it, do you?"

Then Hikari felt her face jerk forward as her lips just barely brushed against his, the villain's hot breath seeping into her as he made sure she truly heard his next words. "I never stopped looking."

Widening her eyes at the realization, Touya then moved his head forward, and in a single second his lips were fully on hers, pressing his body against her own as he kissed her in such needy desperation that it took any semblance of breath away immediately.

And the moment she registered the sensation, Hikari melted into his touch, pushing forward and reciprocating the kiss with just as much emotional need as him.

Wrapping her arms around his frame, she felt his hands move down to her waist in order to pull her even closer before moaning between her lips with acceptance at the newfound feeling. "Hikari…"

The sound drove the girl absolutely insane, desperate for more as she quickly grabbed the back of his neck in order to deepen the kiss, something that Touya compiled to immediately.

And as their lips moved against each other, Hikari felt herself on a drunken high of her own, his rushed nature still incredibly gentle at the same time as if he was afraid she'd change her mind and push him away or have some kind of PTSD due to too much force.

But she didn't, knowing that Dabi/Touya wasn't the same as those horrible men that assaulted her throughout the years. He wasn't rough or forceful with his advantages for that exact reason, and although it was sweet, Hikari knew he didn't have to do that.

Because she had already decided long ago that her heart and body was his.

So much so that Hikari grabbed onto Touya's stitched hands before guiding them towards the bottom of her shirt and placing his warm palms on the bare skin underneath as a silent confirmation.

And even still, the villain hesitated for a split second, his hands unmoving as he waited for her verbal consent instead, breath short and sharp. "You're on a dangerous line, Princess. I can only hold myself back for so long."

Although Hikari already knew what she wanted, her eyes growing lustful as she whispered back to him with hidden intent. "Who says I want you to hold back?"

Feeling his palms heat up on her skin with a twitching need, Touya felt himself laugh at her blunt nature, shaking his head at her foolish words. "Believe me Princess, the way I think about you, I need to hold myself back."

The bird only frowned though, already reaching forward before her hand covered his, soaking up the smoke across her palms before giving a warm soft smile. "Hey, it's okay, I trust you."

A feral growl escaped his lips then, fingers twitching with even more warmth as the tension in his mind and control seemingly snapped at her consent. "And that's why you're still so fucking innocent."

Just then, his hands immediately left her side before the villain grabbed onto her tank top, digging his fingers into the fabric before his quirk, along with the sheer force of his strength, ripped the garment apart in a single second.

And as the fabric fell away, Touya's hands didn't lose a single moment, his warm inviting touch immediately returning to the bare skin and roaming her body hungry as he spilled his tongue into the already emotional kiss.

The sensation caused the girl to immediately moan in acceptance, taking in his newly ravenous nature before his lips disappeared from her lips before traveling down to the crook of her neck.

Biting the soft sensitive skin all at once, Touya then pressed his lips against the side of her throat before another animalistic growl echoed back before the villain groaned with lust. "God, Hikari, how do you always drive me so fucking crazy?"

And as much as Hikari treasured this moment, she couldn't help but feel slightly dirty about it, knowing that she was taking advantage of his drunk nature in order to feed her own lonely soul.

She wasn't even being honest with him about everything. In fact, there were multiple things he didn't know about, Hawks, the liberation, working with Endeavor, the list went on. And here he was, saying that she was "good" and and "perfect"

Hikari knew that wasn't the case at all though, her heart twisting with discomfort at all the lies and misinformation she had told him. So much so that sharing this moment seemed rather wrong.

No, he needed to know about something. Maybe not the fact that she lied about the file and her brother but there had to be something, something that she could say to ease her conscience a little.

So much so that Hikari heard her speak out before she could even process it, her voice still raspy from his touches. "I have to tell you something."

Lifting his head up to meet hers, Touya then lifted his eyes in interest as Hikari felt herself take a shaky breath. Sure, she couldn't be honest about everything but he at least needed to know about what was going on with the liberation.

He deserved that much.

Hikari also knew that now was her best option for this kind of thing, knowing that Dabi was far less angry than usual today because of the alcohol. That could work in her favor.

Yet even still, when she finally spoke, it was small and anxious, her gaze looking anywhere but the villain in front of her. "Listen, I haven't been honest with you about Hawks and the liberation and.."

Although before the words could even leave her lips, she watched as Touya's face widened with some sort of unknown panic before immediately reaching forward and covering her mouth with his palm, pushing her deeper into the wall.

Why did it look like he was afraid of something?

Applying even more pressure on the hand holding her captive, the villain then deepened his eyes with plain seriousness, his tone cold and cruel. "Not yet, I don't want to hear anything, not yet."

Twisting her eyes in confusion, Hikari took in the words all at once before trying to think of the meaning. What was he even saying? Why did it sound like he already knew what she was about to say?

Although before she could respond, the hand covering her mouth disappeared as Touya's head fell onto her shoulder with a heavy weighted sigh.

And when it spoke again, it was sad, like he didn't even want to think about whatever she meant by that statement. "Just a little longer, make it last a little longer.."

Then the villain turned silent, his head frozen to her shoulder for what seemed like forever before Hikari called back to him just above a whisper. "Dabi?"

Realizing he had fallen asleep because of his drunken stooper, Hikari sighed to herself before using her feathers to help lift him onto her old mattress as he groaned under the pressure.

Hikari then watched as the villain's chest rose and fell before the girl ran an anxious hand through her hair. It seemed Dabi was still an outright mystery to her, in every way.

What are you so afraid of Dabi, and why is it eating you alive?

Such a telling chapter for Dabi as we finally see a tiny bit of his perspective on things, and it's a lot of shame and guilt for some reason. Touya had the same so I wonder what that's about? What's eating him alive? Guess you'll have to wait and see.

I usually try to avoid Dabi's perspective cause his feelings and thoughts are mostly spoilers but this is the first time we get a little insight on what's really going on with him. Also he's drunk now so I can have him actually be honest and soft for once.

As we get closer to the S2 finale we will learn more and more and how everything clicks into place.

Next Chapter: Part 1 of the past chapter about that engagement party Fuyumi and Natsu talked about. One of the last past chapters in this book so you know it's about to get messy.