"What do you mean we have to leave?!"

"Dabi? What the hell are you saying?!"

"Everybody shut up!"

The members of the League, after their successful break in and out of Tartarus, were reunited in their quarters of the PLF mansion. Twice and Toga were sitting down on the floor in front of the sofa where Shigaraki, Spinner and Kurogiri were slumped more or less elegantly. The latter had yet to say a word since his newly recovered freedom, carefully observing the events unfold. Compress monopolized the armchair near the fireplace.

After their mission had been hijacked much sooner than initially planned, Dabi had seriously thought about how the heroes might have known a part of their plan. The solution had almost immediately jumped to his mind. However, there was still a problem. Dabi had never talked to Hawks about this particular mission. He had had explicit orders from Shigaraki to do so, when he had been throwing scraps of truth towards the hero's path about the former missions to keep him in check. How the bird had managed to get his hands on that precious intel was beyond him, but the number two hero was the only possible explanation. He had thus taken on himself to reveal the deception to his colleagues, and was now standing before them, rubbing nervously his scarred hands. Dabi took a deep breath and began to explain the situation he got them into.

"There is something I should have told you sooner. Something that I fear may have interfered with our latest mission… and maybe, some others as well." He began, while nodding to Kurogiri. The others were looking at him with suspicion, already knowing his idiot ass must had done something undoubtedly stupid just to spite someone or because he was bored. Or both. All in all, a very bad way to begin a speech. Good job Dabi. "The thing is… Hawks is a spy for the Hero Commission."

Well. At least, the cat was out of the bag.

You could hear a hairpin drop before all hell broke loose in that room, which was suddenly much too small for Dabi's taste. Spinner admirably managed to sum up the group's main thought with "What the fuck Dabi?!" Said man winced and sighed. He raised his arm, waiting for silence before continuing.

"I know, that's arguably pretty bad. But there is one thing I haven't quite worked out yet. How did he know? I've never talked to him about the rescue mission." He shrugged. "I've always been very careful with what I told him, I had to be."

"Uh…"

Twice raised his hand, hesitantly and Dabi felt a headache creeping in his poor mind.

"I might have let some intel slip. A bit. A LOT. Sometimes. NOT LATER THAN THREE DAYS AGO."

Dabi facepalmed. There it is, the explanation to his mystery. The members of the League rolled their eyes at Twice in a "Of course it was him" that even Twice understood. The man turned to them in an outraged manner, putting his hand on his heart, tearful eyes looking pitifully at them. Innocence Incarnate.

"What? That's not my fault! How was I supposed to know he wasn't trustworthy?"

"Because he's the number two hero and a newbie in the grand scheme of our plans?!" Shigaraki retorted, his hands tugging at his hair.

"Stop trusting and getting attached to everyone you meet!" Spinner exclaimed, throwing up his hands.

Before it could escalate any further, Compress turned to Dabi. "Why have you never said anything before? It'd have saved us some precious time and resources."

"I just wanted to see to which extent he was willing to go." Dabi explained, while messing up his hair with his hand.

"Well, very far, if he's willing to sleep with you."

Dabi rolled his eyes and flipped him the bird.

All he received in response was a huge grin behind a fractured mask.

Despite everything, one person had kept their mind straight. Their goal was clear as day. Toga cleared her throat to have his attention and ask him a question to which he sometimes had and had not the answer. The question that sometimes kept him awake at night. "But just to make one thing clear… you actually love him?"

Dabi sighed, not really knowing how to guard his heart, to answer without risking exposing himself more than he was ready for and realized… he couldn't. He owed them all some honesty, especially after holding that from them for so long.

"Sometimes, the people you love are the ones you can't trust. It happens, doesn't mean it's not shitty though," Dabi grumbled.

Most of them nodded. They hadn't a great track record of loving families nor happy childhood and the number of people they love and trust could be counted on one hand for some and even less for others. Twisted childhood trauma be like that sometimes like Toga would say.

Shouto was quite exhausted, physically and mentally when he got back to UA. The only thing he wanted to do was crash onto his bed and forget everything and anything that existed. Except denial. Greatest creation in the universe. He had mastered that ability during his short but eventful life. A skill he could put in his resume if he wasn't sure it would turn out to be in his disadvantage.

Let's forget his brother, the villain belonging to the worst criminal group in the country, helped create a diversion so that his "colleagues" would make another powerful villain break out of the most secure prison in the country.

Let's forget he was the cause of the injury of the number two hero, Hawks. Talk about living up to your villainous nickname, the Hand Crusher. One that he would willingly and quite eagerly get rid of if it wasn't proving to be quite apt in his case.

Let's forget he had been willingly meeting with his brother for weeks (months). Let's forget that he had met several villains (his brother AND Geten) and had absolutely made no move to arrest them and put them behind bars. Worst, he had sought his brother up, even when said brother had denied being his brother.

What he needed was a nap. Or a little coma. Anything to keep him from facing the consequences of his actions. Which was very responsible and hero-y of him (he was very aware of it, thank you very much, but that will also go to the Denial Department of his brain).

Seeing Aizawa waiting for him in front of the building was his first clue that it wouldn't happen anytime soon. The second was the look in his eyes. He gestured to follow him and Shouto did so with a heavy heart. They ended up in his teacher's homeroom, facing each other on their desk. If Aizawa was waiting for him to start, he was setting himself up to wait for a looong long time. Shouto was an expert in the staring game as he had perfected his technique when ignoring his father.

"I know Dabi is your brother."

Well clearly, Aizawa was not very good at the staring game.

Shouto opened his mouth.

"Don't even try to deny it, I heard you on the battlefield." Aizawa squinted, not in the mood for his own brand of bullshit. He had enough of Bakugou and Midoriya's on a daily basis, no need to add Todoroki's or rather Todorokis'. They seemed to be a package deal after all.

Shouto visibly deflated. "Are you mad?" He asked.

"I'm not mad." Aizawa paused and then sighed. "Well, I was at first. But I'm mostly disappointed."

"That's worse," Shouto deadpanned.

"I know," Aizawa said, in an equal manner.

They stared at each other, their faces void of any other emotions beside weariness before Shouto visibly deflated.

"Is it going to be alright?" Shouto wondered. So many events had unfolded in the last few months and he had no idea of how to make it better for everyone, so that he and his family could get their own happy ending and the world didn't literally burst into flames. He didn't even know if that was in the realm of possibilities.

Aizawa sighed. "It has to be. Just don't forget you're not alone." He glanced at a file on his desk before looking back at his student. "You and I have a lot to talk about."

Shouto nodded. If no one got him, he knew that his teacher got him at least. And somehow, it was all he needed for hope to fill him again.

Aizawa had listened to Shouto's lengthy explanation about his unexpected reunion with his brother and the following meet-ups, silently making connections between his own theories, his talks with Touya and his observations during his stalking of them. As well as cursing Touya for making a fool of him when the hero had concluded from his spying that he definitely was not Dabi. Ha! At least he had the satisfaction of knowing he was right from the beginning; he had just been misguided at some point because of some pain in his ass petty villain. However, over the last two days, he had lost two things for the price of one. His best friend was once again taken from him and a very important member from the most dangerous villain group of the country had been freed from Tartarus. He felt incredibly guilty because, well, that was what he did. Feeling guilty for things over which he had no influence.

But in what he had been able to control, there was one thing. He had been talking several times to Dabi when believing the twenty-three-year-old man was Touya, the long-lost brother of his student. At the cat café. At the park. At his own office. On the phone. Damn, he had gotten so close to him. He had felt for him. He had wanted to help him get back at his father to help Shouto. He was… too involved. But he had to believe it was the same for the other man. For he had something Aizawa wanted.

It was dark at night and Hizashi was at his second job at the radio. Sat on his couch, Aizawa took a breath and got his phone out of his pocket. He went to the contact listed as Touya Todoroki and rolled his eyes at the sight. He changed the name to Pain-in-my-ass-in-chief on a whim. Anything to make this situation better, at least to him.

We need to talk.

Still up at your age? What about your beauty sleep?

Gave up on that a long time ago.

Answer me.

That's just sad. But realistic I guess.

I don't think that's a good idea Eraserhead.

You owe me at least that.

The next message only came twenty minutes later with a short "Okay." They met a day after that in the cat café, in the guise of a neutral place. Each of them eying the other with mistrust clear in their face. Dabi had kept his Touya disguise or had not put on his Dabi disguise. Aizawa had yet to figure that one out. The young adult had his scars mostly covered and his black hair was hidden by what he knew now to be a white hair wig. He was still wearing a jet-black coat and a white shirt underneath. The criminal had him really fooled.

But really, the sight of them, two grown men in black attire and serious expressions sat in a cute café with a cat on their laps must baffle the passers-by and the other patrons. They must make quite a view. He was glad Midnight did not see them here, or he would never hear the end of it. Or anyone else for that matter. Purely for legal matters of course, as the man in front of him was in fact a criminal and he should not forget it.

"Shouto told me the cat was out of the bag." Dabi began. "That's a pity."

"Perhaps I should congratulate you for managing to keep the secret for so long. It must have been hard, not gloating when I was believing every tiny little crumb of truth among the sea of lies you were spouting."

"I did not lie."

Aizawa lifted an eyebrow, speaking for itself.

"I didn't! I just… told a part of the truth and left the other for … later. That's not lying, according to its definition." Dabi shrugged.

"Oh, so that makes it so much better."

"Well, I guess it doesn't."

"No, it does not."

Their drinks and snacks arrived and an awkward silence took place when both of them sipped their coffee looking away from each other.

Touya took a breath and started. "For what it's worth… it was true you know. Everything I told you about my father. What he did to me and Shouto. That he needed to be kept in check and judged for what he had done. He still does. You have to believe me."

"And what about you? Don't you need to be kept in check? To face justice for what you've done? Murder, arson… I could go on. What you've been through doesn't excuse everything. It certainly will reduce your sentence, but you will still need to face trial and jail."

Dabi gritted his teeth and clenched his fingers around the handle of the cup. He was about to protest when Shouta cut in.

"For now, let me tell you a story. You said you wanted revenge against Endeavor because of all the abuse, right? What would you say if I told you the doctor who helped you turned one of my best-friends into a Noumu?"

Dabi froze and winced visibly. Why? Was it fear? Surprise? Or guilt? Was he even more involved than Eraserhead thought? Interesting.

"Do you even know how he makes Noumus? He took his corpse when we thought him dead. Used him. Experimented on him Desecrated what should have been his grave. Changed him into his little puppet. For years and years." Shouta Aizawa paused; his voice heavy. "His name was Shirakumo Oboro. Remember his name, because it was taken away from him. Taken away from him by the same doctor helping you, to change him into something else. Into Kurogiri."

Dabi's eyes widened and he dropped his cup on the table, splashing coffee around and tainting the tablecloth.

"No! No…That-that's not possible! Kurogiri is not a Noumu, he is … he is…"

"Does he seem human to you? Do you think he was born like this?" Shouta shook his head. "You can't even convince yourself. Don't expect to convince me."

"Shigaraki wouldn't have let them do that to him…"

"It was years or even a decade before All For One got to Shigaraki according to our sources. And even then, he was just a child."

Dabi put his head in his hands, despair written on his face. Knowing what had befallen Kurogiri, no Shirakumo Oboro. Knowing that Tomura had been in the clutches of madmen like All for One and Ujiko since his childhood. Knowing what might have happened to him had he not survived his injuries all those years ago, what might have happened to him had he not woken up after three years of coma and a body covered with scars. He shivered uncontrollably.

"What do you even want from me? To betray them? To kidnap Kurogiri? He wouldn't even want to go with you, you realise that? You are a stranger to him now."

"I'm asking you to save him."

Dabi sat up straight, confused.

"What? How?"

"We are researching ways to turn him back."

"You said he was dead. Like really dead, corpse, and all that shit. His body has been mutated and experimented on and you think your friend can come back from the dead? Are you mental?"

"Coming from you, I find that insulting." Eraserhead deadpanned.

Dabi raised an eyebrow.

"There's always hope." Shouta sighed.

"Not always."

Aizawa closed his eyes before opening them and staring at him, unflinching. "He… he reacted when I talked to him. There is hope. I can't believe otherwise."

Silence took place. Touya remembered everything Eraserhead did for him, for Shouto. Starting the investigation. Believing in him. Being willing to put his career on the line by putting in question the integrity of the number one hero. Touya had thought no one would ever take their side if they ever went to the police or the heroes. They never did. No one ever did. He had tried one time, only to be laughed at. What if he could at least give him one little bit of hope? He deserved at least that.

"I'll see what I can do."

Hawks had had the pleasure to experience the joy of the hospital's cooking. That and it had not nearly been as restful as promised, as swarms of nurses and patients had come to see him and write on his cast. In addition to that, bed-ridden as he was, he couldn't escape the Commission's reproaches, whether in person or by phone. Enough to say he'd rather not go again anytime soon. A few days after he had his hand broken or crushed like his dear brother-in-law had put it so poetically, he had finally been authorized to go home. Yup. His brother-in-law. Todoroki Shouto. Hero in training. Hand Crusher by profession apparently and thus Dabi's brother. Making Dabi Endeavour's son who is called Touya. Fucking hell. Another reason he hadn't liked his stay in hospital had been this clusterfuck brewing in his mind, unable to do anything about it and at the same time, unwilling to put himself in that hornet's nest. The conclusion he had come to was the same as the first one: do not get involved.

Now, the only thing on his mind was to go back home, take a well-deserved shower and go take a nap on the couch while watching TV. Which was what he was about to do until he realised something.

Dabi was there.

Eating ramen and lounging on his couch.

Watching the newest episode of the series they had started together.

The audacity of this bitch.

Hawks slammed the door, attracting the attention of the man. Dabi sat up, putting the bowl of ramen on the coffee table and turned towards him, an earnest expression on his face. Keigo wanted to kiss him, Hawks wanted to punch him. Right now, Hawks was winning.

"So? How was work?"

"I have a broken hand because of you! That's how work was dumbass!" Hawks said, showing his arm in a beautifully decorated cast. Dabi snorted at the sight, earning himself a glare from his currently enraged boyfriend.

"That was an accident!" Dabi defended himself. "And that was not my fault anyway, that was Compress," he concluded and shrugged like that solved anything.

"As if that mattered! I was told false information anyway! All of this was a diversion to get Kurogiri out of Tartarus and I was made a fool in front of the whole Commission and hero community!"

"Yeah, and you ran to tell all that false information to your dear heroes, seems like it was the right thing to do, wasn't it?"

Hawks turned around, intact arm in the air, fuming. "You're a fucker, you know that?"

"Yup! It's what keeps me awake at night", Dabi drawled, with a smirk.

Hawks rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

"Come on, come here, Chicken-wings," Dabi said, patting the room next to him on the couch. A little hesitant first, Hawks then obeyed and sat beside him, his knees against his chest. Dabi looked him straight in the eyes and said the thing that may change their relationship for the next foreseeable future. "I know you are a spy for the Commission, and not for us. I have always known. I told the League after the mission." Shit. He acknowledged he knew. There was always that sort of understanding where none of them really knew where they stood but now… now was the time to talk. And it seemed his cover was blown to his other targets as well. Great. Fucking great.

Well, two could play that game.

"I know you're Touya Todoroki. I know your brother is Shouto Todoroki and the Hand Crusher. I haven't told the Commission. Yet." Unless you give me a reason to, went unsaid but understood all the same. He didn't really want to be involved in that family situation and put the kid in trouble, but if that was his only way out… Well, need must. He reached out to feel his wings behind him, all of them ready to fly to his rescue if needed, pun intended.

Dabi froze. "So, that's how it's going to be?"

"I'm afraid so. If you make me do it."

"If I make you do it? Or if your beloved Commission makes you do it?"

"You have some nerves telling me that when you have already told the League."

"Well, I consider myself rather magnanimous, I could have told them sooner and you'd be dead right now."

"Oh, so I should thank you, is that it, oh merciful lord of greatness?"

"That'd be a start." Dabi shrugged, a smirk on his lips.

Hawks huffed, his eyes rolling at his boyfriend.

Wait. Were they still boyfriends? That was rather an important thing to know, you see, on a day-to-day basis and right now even more. Did he still want to date him? Was he allowed to? Did he still let the Commission have a say in it? Fuck. He loved him so much, but it wasn't wise to stay together. Now more than ever. The question was… was he feeling wise right now or did he want to keep one of the only things that made him happy?

"Are we still… you know…" Keigo whispered, gesturing between them with his forefinger.

"Fucking? I'd hope so." Touya assured. Keigo swatted his head with a wing, a slight smile on his lips. "What? I'm not going to give up one of the few remaining good things in my life, even if you're working against me. Even if you're working with my dad. We can… work with that. Or I can kidnap you, that'd fix the problem."

"Sure, that would do it.' Keigo rolled his eyes, amused. He moved closer to Touya and put his head on his shoulder. "I think that… the two of us, we're made for each other. You know why?" Keigo explained. "We complete each other. I'm the ray of sunshine of your life and you're the star guiding me in the sky."

"Hmm, is that it?" Touya drawled, putting a finger under his chin and letting his forehead touch gently Keigo's.

"Yes, it's like we're two halves of a whole idiot."

"Yes-wait, what?!" Touya backed up like he had been stricken by lightning. The wrong kind. It tended to happen a little more frequently than he'd like recently.

"Well, we're soulmates! You know, there's this theory about a body with four arms, four legs and two heads. The body was separated in two and the two persons that were created are soulmates. That's us! But because we constantly make bad decisions based on bad intel and bad reasons and crappy childhood, we're idiots. Thus, two halves of a whole idiot."

Touya chuckled, amused by the logic of his partner. "That we are, chicken wings, that we are." He looked to the very attractive bed at the other end of the flat, then back to the hero in his arms. "Would you be willing to pretend everything is fine, ignore the world is on fire and find out if that cast is problematic for some bedroom sport?"

"You're ridiculous." Keigo shook his head.

"That didn't answer my question."

Keigo looked around them, as if the answer was in his empty-looking apartment. Empty being the key word. He was alone, no family and Dabi - no Touya - made him feel things… made him feel whole. Looking back to his boyfriend who was trying to school his expression, he knew his answer would choose the direction of their relationship for the foreseeable future. Keigo snorted and smiled widely, his decisions made. In a flash, his wings unfolded and flew him across the living room. "Race you to the bed! The first has the aftermath bath!"

"Cheater!"

The morning after having fallen asleep in comforting arms, Keigo woke up in bed alone. At first, he patted the cold empty room next to him, not understanding why he was feeling so cold until his brain put two and two together. Panicking, he got up from the bed, went looking in every room of his spacious apartment, finding no one, rummaging through his belongings, searching for anything that Touya might have stolen from him. The only thing he found was a paper on the coffee table with something written on it.

Don't bother to go back to the manor, we moved out.

Catch me if you can, fried chicken.

Your other half of a whole idiot -

One thought went through Hawks' mind.

Fuck.