Deviant

Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Academia.

Warnings: Violence, Drama, Peril, Death

Pairings: Midoriya x Amajiki, Midoriya x Shinsou, Midoriya x Bakugou, Midoriya x Todoroki, Midoriya x Uraraka, Rodi x Pino, Midoriya x Rodi x Pino, Midoriya x Sero, Midoriya x Toga

Plot: Life after the apocalypse has drastically changed for those who survived. Contracting with demons is probably one of the least interesting developments in the new world. For Midoriya and Amajiki, it's become a standard way of life, the only existence they've ever known. They must rely on one another to avoid possession, and live whatever semblance of life remains now that the planet has been ripped apart.

Demon Classes:
Lesser - unable to appear in spectral form, only visible/communicative with contracted host
Mid - can appear in spectral form/partial manifestation
Greater - can manifest entirely in the physical realm
Deviant - dangerous to contract with, strong enough to possess host during manifestation
Chaos - can exist independently without contractor, consume weaker demons to sustain themselves and accumulate power

Embodied Demons:
(Midoriya: Shinsou, Bakugou, Todoroki, Sero, Toga)

Midoriya: (Original Pact: Bakugou, Uraraka, Todoroki)
Power - Bakugou + D/D (power/combustion), Toga + G/G (power/darkness)
Fire - Todoroki + D/D (fire/ice)
Water - Asui G
Air - Uraraka G/G (air/gravity)
Earth - Kirishima G/G (earth/shield)
Light - Kaminari G (lightning)
Darkness - Shinsou + C
Enhancements: Jirou M/M (sight/sound), Hagakure G (stealth), Sero + G (binding), Ashido M (poison), Yaoyorozu G (crafting), Iida G (speed), Koda M/M (voice/sound)

Amajiki: (Original Pact: Hawks, Fumikage, Nejire/Mirio)
Power - Usagiyama D, Mirio G/G (power/light)
Fire - n/a
Water - Nejire G, Takeyama G (oasis)
Air - Hawks D, Tsuburaba G/G (air/shield)
Earth - Shindou G
Light - Shimura D/D (light/gravity)
Darkness - Fumikage G
Enhancements: Aizawa G (sight), Kuroiro G (stealth), Shiozaki M (binding), Komori G (growth), Hatsume M (crafting), Kayama G (illusion)

Terminology:
Aura - the lifeforce and energy emitted by all living things, quality and quantity vary
Dual - demons capable of offering their contracted host multiple quirks
Shade - L demons who possess and feed solely off of animals
Husk - the remnants of a human host after possession, if not devoured entirely
Remnant - a common name for a lingering piece of reality before the apocalypse
Revenant - another name for an embodied demon, a demon that has returned to life
Deviancy - when G or D demons become powerful enough to possess their host without consent, some demons may have deviant tendencies but decide never to act upon them
Possession - when a demon takes full control of their host without express consent, and may choose to relinquish control, remain in control, or devour their contracted host accordingly
Reality - the realm where humans exist naturally
Astral - the realm where demons exist naturally and draw power from, Astral mirrors Reality
Haven
- a safe shared headspace between demon and host within the astral realm
The Abyss - the endless void where demons are derived
Hotspot - a place where the veil between The Abyss and Reality is thin, allowing excess energy to leak to the surface, a gate between the afterlife and the living realm
Cherished - the demonic equivalent of bonded soulmates, when contracting with a human cherished pairs typically bond simultaneously with their chosen host to remain together


Ch 15: Dragon

Eri stopped mid-stride, staring up at the sky, her irises dilating into sharp slits. Yagi stopped as well, tilting his face up and listening, waiting to see what was about to happen, what she was focusing on. Hizashi walked on ahead, his eyes on the ruins before them, the greater climbing up a series of collapsed steps before turning back to look down at the streets below.

A sudden gust of wind passed by, and Eri opened her jaw wide and screeched. It sent a cluster of lesser demons scattering in all directions, her vocalizations only fading once the streets were empty once more.

"Eri." Yagi said gently, offering her his hand. "Come now, let's follow Hizashi. You wanted to see the starfall, didn't you?"

She blinked slowly, then shifted her wings and folded them along her shoulders, reaching out and taking the deviant's hand. Yagi watched her with a small smile, tugging her along beside him as he started walking once more.

There was something else in the air, Hizashi could feel it. He breathed it in, taking it deep into his lungs and exhaling as the next gale swept by. A handful of crows called loudly overhead as they darted between dilapidated buildings, roosting atop a skyscraper and shouting excitedly. They could sense something brewing as well.

"Shouta." Hizashi whispered, reaching for his cherished, feeling that familiar ache of the great distance that now spanned between them.

Aizawa felt it, his chest throbbing as he looked towards the sky, and then with a shuddering breath he turned to look behind him, sharing with his beloved his sight.

There was a mighty battle raging in the fields, fire burning all around them, a chaos fighting against two of Midoriya's cohabitors. Hizashi realized he'd witnessed that chaos before.

"Dabi…?" He breathed out shakily, feeling a sudden urgency itching through him, his heart fluttering wildly as he tried to convey his anxiety, his concern for his cherished's wellbeing.

I know. Aizawa growled behind grit fangs. I know, Hizashi. We're trying to run. He's more powerful than anything we've ever seen.

Two stars streaked by overhead, and Hizashi turned his gaze to the heavens, watching as they faded into the distance, simmering on the melting horizon.

He recognized the deviant pair, their presence now familiar in the time he'd spent in the city, long after his bonded had left.

"Where are they going…" He whispered under his breath, and then another star streaked by, and another, Eri stepping closer and twining her small fingers with his.

"Something is stirring." Yagi murmured quietly, Hizashi humming his agreement, his eyes turning away from the horizon to watch the stars fall.

Thousands of miles away, at the hotspot on the island in the sea, Monoma was watching the same starfall. He circled the stone ruins, listening to the waves crashing on either side of the island. The sea was restless, the wind wild with fury. A chaos was ascending. A dragon was about to be born.

He reached out towards the moss-laden stones forming a giant circle around the heart of the island, beckoning the gate to open, welcoming the rift to the surface. As astral bled through to reality, a pair of vivid stars streaked by overhead, soaring onwards towards the sinking sun.

Midoriya scrambled away from the pillar of pitch flames that blasted through the air behind him, beating his wings faster to ascend to greater heights, Rodi following quickly after. Amajiki was ahead of them, scouting ahead with a greenhouse drone, searching for a safe place to rest, to hide.

"He won't stop chasing us!" Midoriya called out over the rush of the wind, reaching up a hand to shield his face from the brilliant sunlight. The sky was a medley of golden hues ahead of them, behind them the same sky was filled with black smoke and ash.

Rodi dipped and swooped lower before rising to Midoriya's height again, his eyes on the deviant pursuing them. "We didn't expect they'd have others with them when they came for us, but we have to keep moving! The further we are from the chaos the better our chances of staying alive!"

"I can't feel Usagi!" Amajiki called down to them with grit teeth, tears filling his eyes. "I can barely sense Shimura. Something's happened, I can feel it! We're losing this fight!"

"Keep going!" Rodi shouted, reaching out towards the sun. "I know it hurts, Tamaki! Keep flying! They'll come to us as soon as they can!"

Shouto. Midoriya called, reaching for his plethora, feeling the strain of the distance between them as he tried to sense their vitals. Katsuki. Hitoshi. Please, someone answer me!

Kurogiri unleashed another pillar of black flames, Midoriya and Rodi parting to dodge the attack, spiraling between the clouds and racing after Amajiki, further and further towards the distant sun.

At the farmhouse, Shinsou and Bakugou were facing down Dabi, the unbound chaos surrounded by rings upon rings of brilliant blue flames. Several fields over, Todoroki was holding his own against Chisaki while Shimura tried frantically to remain upright, Usagi's shattered core beside her. There was another deviant nearby, recently ascended from the abyss. He was hungry and ferocious, merciless in his attacks.

Shigaraki and Hawks stood opposite one another, the fallen angel wheezing as he clutched at his bleeding side, his limbs heavy with exhaustion. Without his wings he was more vulnerable to his opponent's quirk, and there were dark bruises growing steadily across his cracked skin, the prickling, itching sensation nearly unbearable.

"Not so brazen without your contractors are you, bonded?" Shigaraki crooned with a fanged grin, his tail lashing the air behind him. "You're nothing more than their collared pets. Their playthings. It's pathetic. You're all so weak-"

"Shut up." Hawks barked out, baring his fangs and starting forward again. "You know nothing. They mean everything to us. Everything. We won't let you have them!"

Shigaraki's red eyes gleamed as he launched himself forward, Hawks coiling the air tightly around him and unleashing a turbulent cyclone, Shigaraki reaching out and curling his fingers against the mighty gale, their quirks fighting for dominance.

Beyond the burning fields, closer to the setting sun, Sero and Toga were handling Kamiji as well as they could on their own. They worked together as a team, exchanging blows, covering one another's backs. She didn't seem concerned despite the damage they'd inflicted upon her, and as Sero drew away from her once more he could finally see why.

"She's healing herself!" Sero called out in warning, dodging a volley of neon green flames, Toga growling irritably as she returned to Sero's side.

"What should we do?" She asked, peering up at him through the blood covering her face, one of her eyes almost completely swollen shut. "I'm starting to feel my reserves run low, and Izuku is far away from us now." She looked to Kamiji, hissing and readying herself for a counterattack, shifting forward to meet the deviant's next assault.

What should we do? Sero clenched his jaw, looking towards the black skies creeping steadily closer, then out towards the glowing sunset. Shinsou told us to run if things became too much for us to handle, but one of the deviants already followed after Izuku and the others as they fled. If we were to run now, we'd be putting them in more danger.

"Hanta!" Toga called out sharply, and Sero immediately rushed forward to help her, his thoughts too jumbled to decide what to do.

They needed to gain the upper hand somehow. Surely between the two of them there was some way they could win-

A pair of deviants descended upon them without warning, Sero shoving Toga to the side as the first unleashed a crashing tidal wave of power, sending Kamiji soaring backwards with a sharp cry.

"Barrage!" She shouted, the other deviant lifting both of her arms and clenching her fists, letting out a fierce growl. As she spread out her fingers ultraviolet light flooded from her palms and gathered whatever it could - fragments of rocks, shattered trees, farm equipment, and sent it hurtling towards their opponent in a flash.

As she continued her onslaught the first deviant turned to fix Sero and Toga in her sights, the greaters recoiling back instinctively.

"Where are your hosts?" She asked, glancing around for any sign of them, Toga baring her fangs and growling quietly while Sero spoke up hesitantly.

"They're running, there are others here we're trying to defend against-"

"Go to them!" She urged, flashing her fangs, "We'll do what we can here!"

"Who are you?" Toga asked, and the deviant met her eyes briefly before turning back to help her companion.

"We've met before, in the city!" She rushed forward, unleashing another tidal wave. "Go now, while there's still time!"

"Come on!" Sero took off, running across the charred fields, Toga chasing after him.

Kendou had handled other deviants in combat before, and with Yanagi's help she slowly but surely began to break through Kamiji's defenses - inflicting enough raw damage that her self-healing could not keep up.

They wore her down methodically, not allowing her time to recover or flee, until finally Kendou had her by the throat, and the deviant shrieked and choked as she desperately tried to free herself - calling out fearfully for Dabi.

He heard her, glancing to the side, trying to focus on the sound of her voice, her heartbeat and breathing. He wrenched away from Bakugou and cast a wall of flames between them, Shinsou chasing after him as he crossed the fields quicker than the human eye could behold, until suddenly he was at Kamiji's side.

"Release her." He hissed out, blue flames curling against his tongue.

Kendou held his eyes, and with a small twist of her lips she offered him a satisfied smile. "I intend to."

She jerked Kamiji backwards while thrusting her arm forward, punching through her chest and stomach - shattering her core. As her face went slack and her body fell to the ground Dabi roared, the sound resonating across the fields and shattering through the air.

Miles away, a gust of wind whipped across the skies, tossing the hosts like ragdolls for several seconds before they were once again able to level out.

Kurogiri wasn't anywhere to be seen, and Midoriya felt something familiar approaching far below them, whispering under his breath for Jirou as he searched for signs of the demons they'd left behind.

It's Toga, and Sero. Jirou murmured against his ear, and he could feel her relief as she spoke. They appear to be alone. It should be safe now to descend.

Midoriya lifted his wings and banked against the galestream, calling out to Amajiki and Rodi before beginning to freefall towards the ground below. He landed roughly beside them, arching his brow and running the rest of the distance to reach them, wrapping his arms around Toga tightly before pulling back to examine the state of her face.

"Himiko! Thank goodness you're back!" He reached up to touch her bloody cheek gingerly, asking worriedly, "Are you in pain? Can you see?"

"We'll be okay." Sero replied with a heavy sigh, turning away from them to stare into the darkness creeping closer, the greater enhancement shivering as his tail lashed back and forth.

"What's happening back there?" Amajiki asked quickly, "Usagi? Shimura?"

"I don't know. They were in the heart of it." Sero met Amajiki's eyes with a frown, slowly shaking his head. "There were so many of them. Had we known they'd bring reinforcements, I'm sure Shinsou would have warped us to safety from the start."

Midoriya's breath hitched, and he shook his head quickly. "He wouldn't be able to even if he wanted to, not now. Not with us so far away." He looked back at Rodi and Amajiki worriedly, guilt and anxiety twisting knots in his stomach. "What do you think? Should we go back to them?"

"There were two unbound deviants that came to help us!" Toga added, pressing close against Midoriya's side, "We're not sure how exactly they found us, but they saved us from Kamiji before letting us run."

"Two deviants?" Rodi murmured, quiet and thoughtful for a moment before asking, "What did they look like? What were their quirks?"

"Two girls," Toga replied, thinking for a moment before continuing on, "They felt older, one quirk was something akin to power, the other gravity-"

"That sounds like Kendou and Yanagi." Rodi exhaled shakily, his eyes wide. "Pino and I know them. In the city, they looked out for us. They were our friends."

They're the pair that Hawks spoke with before. Uraraka added on quickly, The pair I asked to help us when you and Amajiki were in the bunker.

Midoriya took a breath, exhaling slowly, closing his eyes to focus - trying to reach out for Shinsou once more.

Hitoshi. Midoriya scrunched his brow, trying to force his words to somehow reach the chaos. Hitoshi I need to know if you can handle this alone. Do you need me to come back? Should we stay here?

There was silence, no one answering his call, until Asui spoke up from within.

Izuku. You may not be able to feel it yet, but your reserves are steadily draining. Her tone was calm and even, only hinting at her concern. You need to keep distancing yourself from the fight.

Her voice faded only for a moment before returning.

Alternatively, if you wish to help the others fight, you'll need to return to the hotspot at the greenhouse - or try to locate another hotspot nearby. She paused before adding on, If you were to pass out now, Amajiki's plethora will be up against the chaos and his cohorts alone.

"I understand." Midoriya whispered breathlessly, turning to fix Amajiki in his sights.

Amajiki was curled in on himself, hugging his own arms tightly. "I can't feel her. I can't feel Usagi at all." He met Midoriya's eyes, and his own were filled with tears. "I think she's…" He swallowed thickly, trying to get the words out. "It feels like she's gone."

"We should keep moving." Rodi murmured gently, reaching out to rest his hand against Amajiki's shoulder. "Whatever sacrifices are being made to ensure you two are safe, we can't turn back now-"

Something ripped through Midoriya, stealing the breath from his lungs and knocking him off-balance. He staggered to the side before dropping onto his knees, gasping and grabbing at his chest, his eyes wide with panic. Sero and Toga were similarly frozen in place, eyes wide and barely breathing, both focused intently on the darkness behind them.

Rodi was at Midoriya's side in an instant, reaching out to touch him gently, trying to help him to his feet. Amajiki could feel something ominous growing, something tangible in the air, his skin prickling with nerves as he watched Midoriya's reactions with concern.

"Izuku, what is it? What's-"

"Katsuki." Midoriya choked out brokenly, "Oh god no, please-"

Dabi lifted the deviant higher into the air, his eyes burning points of flame, Bakugou coughing and wheezing as he was lifted by his core, his embodiment in reality beginning to twist and distort.

"You came for me!" Shinsou shouted, advancing closer once again, "It's me you want! Shatter me!"

"Silence." Dabi snarled, tossing Bakugou to the side, and the blonde bounced across the fields before slamming into the rear of the farmhouse, the roof collapsing in on top of him. Dabi took a step closer to Shinsou, electric blue venom dripping down his jowls, his jaw fully unhinged while hundreds of fangs protruded from his gaping maw. "You have no idea what you've done!"

He unleashed spiraling turquoise flames from his open palms, knocking the deviants surrounding him to the ground. Kendou managed to shield herself from the blast just in time, but her companion was not so lucky. As Dabi unleashed another wave, Yanagi was engulfed in blue fire, the deviant tearing at her own skin and shrieking in pain as she burned.

Kendou snarled and clawed at the ground beneath her, fighting against the onslaught of flames to rise to her feet and go to her cherished. "Reiko! Rei!"

"You'll see." Dabi hissed out deeply, flames curling around his feet, "You'll understand just what it means once you've felt it for yourself."

Hitoshi! Shinsou could hear Midoriya shouting against the back of his mind, his voice desperate, shivering. Hitoshi, please! Is Katsuki okay?

Don't come here. Shinsou warned, his tail slamming angrily against the ground behind him. Do not come here, Izuku. Stay away. Run.

You need me! Midoriya protested, and Shinsou could feel his fear, his regret. I shouldn't have left you! I should be helping all of you fight!

Your death won't help us, Izuku! Shinsou growled deeply, and as Dabi turned to face him he bared his fangs, falling into a defensive stance and hissing like a wild beast. Stay away!

Midoriya's breath hitched and he lifted his hands to hide his face, sobbing and shaking his head. Toga watched him worriedly, wrapping her arms around his waist and purring quietly, trying her best to soothe him, Sero stepping closer to press a kiss to Midoriya's crown.

"We know you want to help." Sero whispered, his voice soft. "There's nothing we can do. They're just…too strong."

"There has to be something!" Amajiki growled out, turning away from them to start pacing, his crimson wings fluffing behind him as he tried to think of something, anything that could help. He froze in his tracks a moment later, turning and grabbing onto Rodi. "The Greenhouse! Shouji, and the Aoyamas-" He held onto Rodi's arm tightly, searching his grey eyes. "Is there anything in their programming that would help us attack? Or defend?"

Rodi arched his brow, slowly shaking his head. "The A.I. systems that live within the Greenhouses aren't meant for such things. I could try to reprogram them, but there's not enough time, and failure could be catastrophic. We could potentially lose all access to that greenhouse, as well as any others we come across…"

"It won't matter if none of us survive." Midoriya whimpered, clenching his fists, lifting his head and glaring towards the fires in the distance with gleaming eyes. "We have to go back. We can't just abandon them. They need energy to fight. I have to be there to sustain them." He wiped at his face, looking up into Sero's eyes. "If I can make it to the hotspot, could you defend me? Like you did before, when you ascended?"

Sero was quiet for a long pause, then he nodded hesitantly. "With endless reserves of energy to draw from, I could definitely put up a good fight."

"Kirishima?" Midoriya called, the greater rising to the surface. "Kaminari? Uraraka? I need you to help me. Please?"

You may die, Izuku. Uraraka whispered sadly, her fingers curling against his shoulder and nape. I don't know what I would do if I lost you…

"Please." Midoriya begged softly, tears streaking down his cheeks. "I'm scared. I'm so fucking scared. I don't want to die, but I can't let it end like this." He turned to meet eyes with Amajiki, then Rodi, stepping closer to wrap his arms around both of them. "I can't just run while everyone is shattered and devoured."

"I want to fight too." Amajiki said, his brow pinched, Rodi giving a little nod.

"I don't know what good we can do," He exhaled shakily, Pino reflected in his eyes, "We'll try our hardest to help where we can, and survive this. Together."

"I love you." Midoriya whispered brokenly, his hold growing tight. "I love you both so much. I'm so glad that we met."

"I love you too." Amajiki whispered, tugging Midoriya into a soft kiss.

Rodi watched them quietly, then he tugged both of them against his chest, his breath hitching as he murmured against Midoriya's forehead. "I wish I had been able to spend more time with you. With both of you. If this is the end, I have no regrets."

"It's not the end. Not yet."

All eyes turned, fixating on the figure standing behind them, Aizawa instantly rising to the surface, stepping forward to meet his cherished.

"You came." Aizawa said softly, and Hizashi offered him a sad little smile, stepping closer to bump their foreheads together lightly.

"You've gotten yourself into a mess." He chided gently, looking past Aizawa to the humans nearby. "All of you. What were you thinking, incurring that monster's wrath? Don't you know who he is?"

Midoriya glanced towards Sero, asking hesitantly, "I didn't get a good look at him as we were fleeing…"

"Pino and I had never felt his presence before. He just suddenly appeared in the city that night." Rodi murmured quietly, slowly shaking his head. "Shigaraki, Chisaki, and Kurogiri we'd encountered several times. Their brawls were common occurrences within the city." He lifted his gaze, meeting Midoriya's eyes. "Their abilities were nothing in comparison to this."

"Who is he?" Amajiki asked, taking a step closer to Hizashi, Aizawa and his cherished quietly watching his approach. "What do you know?"

"That thing," Hizashi responded with a quiet sigh, "He is responsible for shattering the last dragon. In all appearances, he plans on ascending to become the next dragon himself - tonight."

"A dragon?" Amajiki frowned, looking to Rodi and Midoriya. "What does that mean?"

"It's the most powerful tier of demon to have ever walked the mortal realm." Aizawa replied softly, his eyes on his beloved. "A dragon was responsible for ending your world, over twenty years ago."

"A dragon caused the apocalypse?" Midoriya whispered in a rush of breath, arching his brow worriedly. "What of the war? The nuclear bombs-"

"A dragon has been responsible for every catastrophic, world-ending event in your history." Aizawa replied, turning to fix Midoriya in his sights. "Humans refer to the destruction left in their wake most commonly as extinction events."

"They devour everything in their path." Hizashi agreed with a little nod. "They are indisputably the ruling sovereigns of our world, and once they ascend from the abyss and enter reality-" Hizashi's eyes gleamed with eerie, unnatural light, "-they risk destroying the entire planet, and ending all existence as we know it." He flexed his fingertips, Aizawa reaching out and taking his hand. "Their hunger and greed knows no bounds."

"Is there anything we can do to stop it?" Amajiki asked, his breath trembling. "Is there a way to stop a chaos from ascending?"

Hizashi paused briefly, meeting eyes with Aizawa, and after another moment it was Aizawa who spoke up instead. "If there is a way, it's likely something only another chaos would know."

"We have to go back." Midoriya forced out between grit teeth. "Hitoshi may be the only one capable of stopping this! We can't let that chaos ascend!"

Todoroki cried out sharply as he jerked back his arm, his entire body aching, his heartbeat loud in his ears. He shook his head, trying to fight against the spots in his vision, staggering backwards and collapsing to his knees as Chisaki's body fell limply to the ground, steam pouring from his fractured core.

Hawks was nearby, kneeling beside Shimura, the two deviants speaking together quietly.

"Keep him safe." Shimura whispered faintly, her fingers curling against the fabric of Hawks' jacket as she held his eyes. "You have to keep him safe."

Hawks watched her with a calm, even gaze, offering her a little smile. "Don't worry about the kid. I've got this. I'm not gonna leave him on his own."

"Do whatever it takes." Shimura whispered, hissing between her teeth, her core fragmenting more and more as she struggled to take breath. "That thing must be stopped-"

"Stop worrying so much." Hawks chided gently, taking her hand and squeezing her fingers, her skin already cold beneath his gloves. "Go wait with Usagi. Leave the rest to me."

Shimura hummed softly, coughing for a moment before taking one last breath. "We'll see you soon."

Hawks held her as the light faded from her eyes, as her core began to disintegrate into glittering glass shards, the fallen angel watching over her carefully for a few lingering moments before directing his attention to the other demon nearby.

"We've got to go back." He growled out while pushing himself to his feet, wheezing as he clutched at his side. "Kid, can you hear me? We've got to help whoever's left-"

Todoroki lifted his head, meeting Hawks' eyes, flames lapping against one of his cheeks, his expression indiscernible. The two deviants watched one another for a long moment, then Hawks offered out his hand, helping Todoroki to his feet.

They hobbled together side by side across the charred ground, soot and ash falling steadily from overhead, leaving the carnage of their battles behind. Kamiji and Chisaki had been completely shattered. Shigaraki and Kurogiri were nowhere to be found.

Despite now being alone, Dabi was still easily holding his own, overpowering all opposition. As he drew energy into himself and unleashed his next attack, neon blue fire split open the dark, smoke-filled skies.

Midoriya felt the wave wash over him like a bomb, a shockwave searing through him unlike anything he'd ever felt before. He continued on, pushing harder and harder against the turbulent wind, Amajiki trailing just slightly behind him, Rodi flying at his other side.

I know you want to go to them- Uraraka called over the rushing gale, -but you must retain your distance! For now the chaos will be distracted with handling the others. If we are lucky enough, we may be able to reach the hotspot without being spotted!

Midoriya's eyes were on the churning clouds high above, the electric blue cutting open the grey and black swirls caught on the crosswinds. The air was hot, as if he were standing too close to an open fire, and for the briefest of moments he thought he caught a glimpse of the chaos in the center of a distant field, surrounded by smaller shadows.

I'm here! I'm going to help you! Midoriya instilled, clenching his jaw tight. I'm almost there, just hang on a little longer! We can do this! Together!

Shinsou felt it, the closeness of his contractor, the swell of energy as Midoriya neared the hotspot. He took a deep breath, flexing his fingers against the pressure in the air, and suddenly Sero and Toga were at his side, and Dabi unleashed another wave of fire across the decimated fields.

Todoroki lifted his arm, deflecting Dabi's fire with his own, throwing out his other arm and erecting a wall of ice between the two chaos, shouting across the distance still separating them, "Hitoshi! Rip him apart!"

Midoriya landed roughly, tucking in his wings and rolling before eventually coming to a stop, pushing himself up and coughing as he breathed in ash, thick layers of soot smeared across his sweaty face. Amajiki and Rodi circled for only a moment longer before landing beside the ruined farmhouse, and as Midoriya neared the rift leading down to the hotsprings he spotted Bakugou amongst the wreckage of the collapsed house.

He scrambled across the steaming ground, calling for Kirishima's strength, the greater surfacing and helping Midoriya push beams and debris out of the way, until finally the human could reach Bakugou's side.

"Katsuki!" Midoriya shouted, shaking his shoulders roughly, trying everything he could to bring him back to consciousness. "Katsuki? Katsuki, answer me!"

Let us carry him- Uraraka urged worriedly, her quirk tingling at Midoriya's fingertips as she and Kirishima lifted Bakugou easily into Midoriya's arms. Midoriya allowed them to manipulate him as they liked, breathing in and out shakily as he fought back his panic, feeling his plethora working together in tandem to do whatever they possibly could to help.

As soon as they were within range of the hotspot Asui manifested fully, pushing back the heat while dissipating smoke and raining ash, replacing it with cool, crisp rain. Nejire was already doing the same, summoning rain and groundwater to rise to the surface and begin to cool the earth, while Takeyama filled the area surrounding the farmhouse with waves of healing light.

Tsuburaba and Kirishima were on high alert, both shielding their contractors on full defense. Mirio and Shindou were on guard as well at the perimeter of the farmhouse, keeping a close eye on their surroundings while the lesser demons worked together to harvest energy for their cohabitors and hosts.

Rodi stood near the edge of the hotsprings, looking off towards the field where the demons were making their last stand, Pino manifested fully beside him. She took his hand, squeezing his fingers tightly, and together they watched the battle unfold.

Amajiki watched over Midoriya carefully, his attention divided by the demons surrounding them, his eyes drifting towards where Hizashi and Aizawa were speaking together quietly nearby.

"-they'll be here any time now." Hizashi murmured quietly. "I honestly don't know if she will be able to help, but from their previous altercations in the city I think she may be willing to fight against him on her own, regardless of our involvement."

"She can't be controlled." Aizawa replied with a frown, his brow creased as he crossed his arms against his chest. "None of them can, not until they've gained sentience beyond animal instinct. It took centuries before Hawks was able to truly think for himself and act as more than some wild, ravenous beast. Fallen angels aren't meant to walk this realm-"

Amajiki shifted closer, and Aizawa and Hizashi looked up from their conversation, Aizawa meeting his contractor's eyes. "What are you talking about? That little girl, that angel in the city…she's coming here? Why?"

Hizashi was quiet beneath Amajiki's gaze, and Aizawa waited to see if his cherished would respond while letting out a quiet sigh. Hizashi furrowed his brow for a long moment before his expression smoothed, then the unbound gave Amajiki an answer, his fingers twined with Aizawa's.

"Angels and Dragons have been at war since the dawn of time." Hizashi tilted his head slightly, glancing off towards the horizon. "As a dragon was directly responsible for her family's death, Eri may see Dabi as a threat and attack him on her own, without provocation." He frowned a little, shrugging lightly. "At least, that's the response we can hope for."

"That child has not been free from the abyss long enough to clear her mind." Aizawa said with a soft sigh, Amajiki watching them both carefully. "When demons ascend, the overall transition tends to be rather fluid in nature. For an angel who has fallen, to ascend from the abyss and return to reality," Aizawa shook his head, "It's almost impossible to retain one's sanity. Especially for a soul so young."

"You said for Hawks," Amajiki murmured, "it took centuries for him to regain his mind?"

Aizawa nodded lightly, "From what he had confided in me, yes. That is my understanding of his ascent."

Amajiki arched his brow, reaching up to rub his chest, reaching out for Hawks, for Shimura and Usagi, only feeling one of his deviants give a faint response.

Hawks felt Amajiki's call, but he was too weak to answer, doing everything he could to simply hold the barrier with Todoroki and deflect against Dabi's onslaught.

He wasn't certain what it was, what he was feeling in the air. Shigaraki had struck him in his core earlier, and he could sense his reserves were leaking despite his attempts to seal the cracks. It was leaving him feeling dizzy and disoriented, but he continued to assist Todoroki however he could. For now their shield was holding, though they had no way of knowing how long.

As Midoriya's strength returned, Shinsou, Sero, and Toga did everything they could to wear Dabi down slowly but surely. After several opposing volleys had passed in what felt like a small eternity, they were finally given reprieve - and much needed backup.

Kaminari was there first, firing off branches of lightning towards the chaos they were opposing, cracking open the skies with bolts of vibrant yellow, rolling thunder rumbling mightily overhead.

Mirio and Nejire were right behind him, the power greater racing past Shinsou to launch a fierce attack while his cherished beckoned copious amounts of water from the ground and air, weaving tightly swirling waterspouts around Dabi and effectively hurling the chaos into the air.

Shinsou raced forward, drawing as much renewed strength from his bond with Midoriya as he could. He leapt towards Dabi without hesitation, beckoning his wings mid-air and surging forward with a raging onslaught of shadow, his form twisting and surging as his figure shifted into something grotesque.

Midoriya gasped aloud as Shinsou recalled his wings, shivering at the sudden loss, crouching over Bakugou and rubbing back and forth over his chest gently, glancing up to meet Takeyama's eyes.

Kayama watched her cherished quietly, looking from her to Midoriya while offering, "She's doing everything she can to help." She knit her brow, reaching out a hand and hovering over Bakugou's exposed core while adding tentatively, "He's still with us for now, but he's very weak."

"What can I do?" Midoriya asked, his voice trembling as he pet over Bakugou's chest carefully. "Please, there must be something I can do."

"Let him feed." Kayama replied, frowning a little as her eyes drifted over the deviant's battered body. "It will be a strain to handle fueling your plethora while simultaneously feeding him, but it might be the only thing that can truly help heal his core."

Midoriya nodded, dipping his head, his fingers numb as he pulled down the edge of his collar and exposed his throat. He cupped the back of Bakugou's head, shifting to press the demon's lips against his racing pulse.

Nothing happened, no response. Midoriya grit his teeth, tears biting at his eyes. "C'mon, Katsuki. You have to drink, please!" He tightened his hold, his fingers curling in Bakugou's pale, soot-stained hair. "Please, I don't want to lose you. I love you so much."

There was a heavy silence, then suddenly wind stirring, white runes covering Midoriya's skin and surrounding Bakugou in a wide circle, Kayama and Takeyama recoiling away from the sudden bright light.

Dabi's attention shifted, Shinsou using the break in concentration to unleash another attack, energy prickling through his core and soaring through his veins. For a few fleeting moments he almost thought he'd gained the advantage - until he realized what it was that Dabi had focused on.

Oh no-

In a flash Dabi was on top of them - standing at the edge of the hotspot while Amajiki and Midoriya's plethoras did whatever they could to stop his advance.

Shinsou was there a fraction of a second later, blocking Dabi's attacks with Kirishima and Tsuburaba's help, Mirio and Shindou working together to try and drive the unbound chaos to the ground.

Todoroki and Hawks caught up as quickly as they could, stepping close enough to the hotsprings that Takeyama's healing waves slowly began to stitch together their lesser injuries. Hawks was still too dizzy, his thoughts too muddled. He wasn't fully coherent, most of his reflexes running on autopilot. Something was different than before, and he found he couldn't quite place it. Something felt almost familiar. Something was decidedly wrong.

Dabi howled as he tossed aside the lesser demons attempting to swarm him, clawing at the ground to try and reach the humans only to be narrowly thwarted over and over again.

Amajiki and Rodi had planted themselves between Midoriya and the enemy, Pino, Uraraka, and Asui helping Kirishima and Tsuburaba to defend. Kaminari, Sero, Toga, and Nejire attacked whenever there was an opportunity, doing their best to keep out of the way of the higher ranked demons involved in the fight.

Midoriya could feel his breath as if it were a tangible, living thing. It coiled from within him in bright, glowing tendrils, branching out and curling around Bakugou's core, filling his shredded ribcage and deflated lungs with light. Midoriya watched with wide eyes, solely focused on what was happening before him, and as soon as Bakugou exhaled a breath and cracked open his ruby eyes Midoriya leaned into him and offered up his throat.

"Katsuki-" Midoriya managed before a whine cut off his voice, Bakugou's fangs piercing through his skin easily before the demon began to drink. After several mouthfuls Bakugou's fingers threaded through Midoriya's hair and tugged his head back slowly, Midoriya's breath hitching as Bakugou rolled on top of him and pinned him against the ground, drinking greedily, a possessive growl rumbling in the back of his throat.

Midoriya clung to his shoulders, panting quietly and staring up into the sky, watching the rain falling down from the heavens with warm tears slipping down his cheeks.

I'm so glad you're alright. Midoriya whispered through their bond, clinging to Bakugou like a lifeline. I'm so glad I made it in time-

Bakugou parted his lips, breathing against Midoriya's neck shakily, his tongue darting over the bloody marks he'd left behind. He found Midoriya's hand, lacing their fingers before he murmured against his contractor's skin, "I love you too, Izuku."

Dabi watched their exchange over Shinsou's shoulder, the two chaos entwined in a deadly embrace, Shinsou's claws ripping into Dabi's chest and shoulder while Dabi's claws tore into Shinsou's throat.

Todoroki could barely stand, Sero at his side offering him support, Hawks stepping closer slowly, his eyes wide with disbelief. He hadn't been able to properly see Dabi until that exact moment, and when he did his breath caught tightly in his throat.

He didn't react for several drawn out moments, then as Dabi ripped free from Shinsou's grasp and reached out for Midoriya again Hawks stepped closer and whispered under his breath, "Touya?"

Dabi stopped, frozen in place, a shiver coursing up his spine. He turned his eyes towards Hawks, his massive claws still extended, blue fire lapping hungrily against his skin.

Shinsou readied an attack, but Hawks called out to him desperately, begging him to wait. He stepped closer slowly, closer and closer until he was standing directly between the two chaos, his entire frame trembling. Dabi's eyes never left him, not once, venom dripping from his fangs and trickling down his jaw, his vocalizations caught somewhere between a hiss and feral growl.

"Touya?" Hawks tried again, his voice louder than before. He held Dabi's eyes, and then carefully he pressed closer, reaching up to touch the chaos' bloodied face.

As his expression cracked and tears overwhelmed his sight he felt Dabi's burning hand glide across his exposed skin.

"Keigo?"

"You're here!" Hawks sobbed, ducking his head, his body convulsing as he wrapped both of his arms around Dabi's neck. "You're here! Oh gods you're really here! I didn't-! I never-"

Amajiki felt as if he couldn't catch his breath, his chest aching, a terrible weight causing him to nearly stagger. Rodi steadied him worriedly as Amajiki tried to catch his breath, glancing back and forth between contracted demon and host.

Dabi tilted Hawks' face up, searching his eyes, carefully wiping at his tears. The longer they held one another, the less threatening Dabi's presence became. His claws and fangs receded, his figure steadily shrinking into a more human-like chrysalis, the immense aura he had exuded before now compressed into a much more bearable state.

"Keigo. Keigo." Dabi whispered softly, petting over his cheeks and forehead, his expression soft as he held Hawks' eyes. "Oh beloved, you came back to me. I knew you would. I knew you would."

"What is happening…?" Amajiki whispered, rubbing at his sternum, a heavy cold sinking into him as if he'd been submerged beneath ice. "What is this? I don't understand…"

Dabi glanced towards him, and Amajiki tensed and took a step back, Hawks shifting to draw Dabi's attention once more, finally recalling his wings. The crimson remiges that had sheltered Amajiki returned to their rightful place, and as his wings flexed and spanned against the rain Dabi reached out to touch them, rubbing Hawks' pinions between his fingertips reverently.

"You found your wings." Dabi murmured, and Hawks let out a broken sob and a laugh.

"As Icarus finds the Sun." Hawks murmured gently, ducking his head, hiding his face against Dabi's shoulder. "End this. I can't have you tearing each other apart."

Dabi exhaled a heavy sigh, his eyes turning to Shinsou, the chaos watching one another closely for several long, quiet moments before gradually Dabi relented.

"As you wish." He murmured, wrapping his arms around Hawks to keep him close, the demons surrounding them exchanging hushed words back and forth, trying to make sense of what was happening.

Bakugou held Midoriya against his chest, Midoriya watching Hawks and Dabi with a curious little smile, asking in a hitch of breath, "They're cherished, aren't they?"

"I don't know." Bakugou replied quietly, turning his eyes towards Todoroki and Sero, letting out a tired little sigh. "If everything is settled now, and the fight has ended, we need to make our way towards the closest waygate."

"Waygate?" Midoriya asked, looking up at Bakugou in confusion, Todoroki turning his gaze towards Bakugou as well.

"Are you strong enough to call for them?" Todoroki asked, and Bakugou hummed thoughtfully before giving a little nod.

"With Izuku's help I should be able to reach them. It would be best to attempt such before dawn."

Shinsou stepped closer to them as they spoke, careful to keep an eye on Dabi while reaching out for his contractor. "You're alright?" He asked quietly, and Midoriya nodded and wrapped one of his arms around Shinsou's waist, allowing the chaos to bring his other hand to his lips and bite into his wrist gently while slowly starting to drink.

Shinsou didn't take much before withdrawing, allowing Todoroki and Sero to take his place. He turned towards the demons surrounding him, then centered himself and tapped into the raw energy flooding from the hotspot beneath them, drawing on his quirk and unleashing his energy in a wide arch - effectively healing those under contract within range.

It amplified Takeyama's healing tenfold, and between the two of them they undid what damage had been done to their respective plethoras. It took some time, but gradually everyone was healing and recovering their reserves steadily, the rain smothering the remnants of Dabi's fires and beginning to clear the heavy smoke from the night sky.

Hawks and Dabi spoke quietly at the edge of the hotspot away from the others, the fallen angel sheltering them from the rain with his wings, Dabi petting back and forth over his soot-stained skin reverently. Amajiki couldn't understand what they were saying, not from such a distance, but he felt the cold inside of him turn into a dull, numbing ache as time continued to pass slowly by.

He reached out for Usagi and Shimura again and again, still in disbelief, and each time he felt a void. A terrible emptiness unlike anything he'd ever felt before.

Midoriya stayed with his plethora, Bakugou and Todoroki keeping him warm and safe while Shinsou, Sero, and Toga handled taking care of their cohabitors and harvesting energy. Eventually Shinsou left the hotspot in search of something, and he returned with a demon they'd only interacted with briefly before, Kendou silent and unresponsive as Shinsou carefully led her towards the hotsprings to rest.

Pino went to her, sitting beside her and watching over her closely, gingerly taking one of her hands and offering what comfort she could.

Rodi watched all that was happening around him, almost detached from reality, completely exhausted while still trying to make sense of everything that had happened that night.

They'd lost Shimura and Usagi from Amajiki's plethora. The two deviants had been with Amajiki since he was very small, and though Amajiki hadn't broken down yet Rodi knew once he truly felt their loss he would become a wreck because of it.

Kendou, who had traveled a great distance to help them in their time of need, had lost her cherished. The demon responsible was now resting amongst them, reunited with his own. Rodi wasn't certain how to fully process that. It didn't seem fair, all the destruction and terror that Dabi had caused. How were they to accept his presence now?

Between their plethoras, Midoriya and Amajiki had managed to destroy two of the demons that had come for them, but the other two had seemingly disappeared. As of now, they had no way of knowing if they were still being hunted or if they would never encounter them again. It was an unknown factor, a danger lurking in the shadows. If they tried to come for the hosts now, would Dabi handle them? Was Dabi still an enemy, or now that he was with Hawks could they dare consider trusting him?

The waygate… Rodi exhaled a shaky breath, turning his eyes towards Midoriya, stepping closer to where he sat with Bakugou and Todoroki on either side. The deviants looked up at his approach, Midoriya offering a tired little smile, reaching out his hand and taking Rodi's before squeezing his fingers gently.

Midoriya held his eyes, petting over his fingers for a few moments before asking quietly, "Rodi? What were you thinking about?"

Rodi was quiet for a moment, then he met Bakugou's eyes, asking the demon hesitantly, "What was it, that thing you mentioned before? A waygate?"

Bakugou drew a deep breath, then exhaled slowly, turning his face slightly to nuzzle into Midoriya's dark curls. "A waygate-" he murmured, "-is a gate where demons can be directly called to and drawn from the abyss. For those of us who are founders, we are able to contact our fallen cohabitors directly." He looked to Todoroki briefly before continuing on, "When a demon within our plethora is lost, we are still connected to them. The contract remains valid so long as our host is alive. As Midoriya's powerhouses, we have the ability to call our allies to us from the abyss should they fall in battle."

"As Amajiki's powerhouses are incapable of doing so, given their current abilities and injuries," Todoroki looked to Mirio and Nejire, then towards Hawks and Dabi, "As their allies, especially so recently since they were returned to the abyss, we should hopefully be able to contact them, and draw them back to the gate."

"Once they're on the other side," Bakugou continued, "Amajiki can reach out to them and pull them through to the other side, returning them to reality. They won't be the same as they were before, they'll be lessers instead of the deviants they once were, but over time they will be able to regain the powers they once held. So long as that is what they want, and Amajiki wants, his plethora will be whole once more."

"If it's not what they want?" Amajiki asked as he stepped closer, all eyes turning towards him.

"If they do not wish to fulfill their end of the contract, they will offer you an exchange." Bakugou replied quietly, tightening his hold ever so slightly, Midoriya looking up into his eyes. "It is your decision to accept it, or to hold them to their contracts. If you refuse to let them go, you can forcibly draw them from the abyss. As lessers, they cannot refuse you. They aren't strong enough to do so."

Rodi turned to glance over his shoulder towards Pino and Kendou, asking hesitantly, "Would there be any way to reach Yanagi at the waygate? Could we call her back into this realm?"

"We can try." Bakugou replied with a little nod, "Though it will be decidedly more difficult, as our connection to them is practically non-existent." He was thoughtful for a moment, then added with a raised brow, "You, on the other hand. You might be able to reach out to them. Given your friendship, they would be considered your allies. Have you considered offering either of them a contract before?"

"No." Rodi said softly, turning away his eyes. "Pino and I have never held the desire to contract with other demons. She's the only one I've ever trusted with my soul."

Bakugou hummed a little, giving a light shrug. "That's your decision to make. If you want to help them, that may be the only option you have left."

Shinsou was listening to their conversation quietly, his arms crossed over his chest. He turned his attention to Hawks and Dabi one last time before lifting his wings and raising his voice so all within the vicinity could clearly hear, "Alright. It's time for us to move. The closest waygate I can sense is located at the island in the sea. I have just enough strength to warp us there, and once we've arrived we can rest and recover completely."

He looked to Sero and Toga, who had just returned from the interior of the greenhouse with supplies for the human hosts. Sero gave a little nod, and Toga smiled and made her way closer to Midoriya, kneeling down beside him and offering up one of the duffle bags in her arms. "We gathered food and medical supplies! There's blankets, and fresh clothes. It should be everything you need while the rest of us heal and replenish our reserves!"

"Thank you, Himiko." Midoriya said quietly, reaching out and petting her cheek, the greater purring happily and nuzzling against his hand, content to curl up and rest against his side.

"It's going to be a bit rough, warping all of us at once with his reserves running low." Sero said, beckoning Amajiki and Rodi closer. "Call everyone back, Shinsou only has the strength to do this once."

The demons surrounding them returned to their respective hosts, until it was only the humans and the embodied demons that remained. Pino drew Kendou closer, Rodi reaching out to the unbound and carefully taking her arm, helping her stand. Amajiki's eyes were on the two pairs still speaking together quietly nearby, first Hizashi and Aizawa, whispering softly and holding one another close, saying their goodbyes. Secondly, a small distance away, Hawks and Dabi were still speaking together, exchanging light touches and huddling close. It didn't appear as if they were going to part anytime soon.

"Aizawa." Amajiki called softly, and the greater leaned closer to give his cherished a kiss before pulling back, returning to his contractor's side and withdrawing to the astral realm. Hizashi lingered for a moment longer, then his visage flickered and faded away, leaving not a trace behind.

Amajiki waited several moments longer, giving Hawks and Dabi what time he could, before he called out to the deviant warily.

"Hawks? We need to-"

Dabi's eyes were on him instantly, and Hawks flexed his wings against the air, rising to his feet, petting over the chaos' chest gently. He said something else Amajiki couldn't hear, then he stepped away from Dabi's side and crossed the distance to reach his host, coming to stand before him silently.

He didn't speak for a long time, then he lifted his wings towards the grey sky and said quietly under his breath, "Tamaki. I need you to let me go."

Amajiki didn't understand for a moment, then his breath caught in his throat. Shinsou watched their interaction quietly, Todoroki and Bakugou exchanging a glance, still standing protectively beside their host. Toga frowned a little and nuzzled into Midoriya's chest, curling her fingers around his wrist, her tail tapping against the ground irritably. Sero let out a quiet breath and reached up to card his fingers through his dark hair, his eyes drifting from where Hawks stood opposite Amajiki, to the chaos waiting impatiently for his cherished's return.

"What are you saying?" Amajiki asked, his breath trembling. "You can't be serious, you can't mean that."

"I do." Hawks said softly, ducking his head a bit. "I need you to release me from my contract. I need you to do this for me." He lifted his head, meeting Amajiki's eyes. "Please."

Amajiki's breath hitched, and he shook his head, taking a step closer. He reached for Hawks' hand, and the fallen angel watched him with a sad, fond little smile. "You've been there for me since the beginning. You were always beside me, always."

"Now it's time for me to go." Hawks whispered, reaching out and combing Amajiki's damp bangs away from his eyes. "You're strong now, you're so strong. You've grown into a gentle, caring young man capable of handling himself and protecting those you love. The others residing within our plethora, they will protect you and guide you as I have until now." He looked to Bakugou, giving him a little nod. "Shimura and Usagi will be back with you soon, I know that. I can feel it." He looked to Amajiki once more, adding softly, "You know me. You know how much you mean to me, how much I care for you. This isn't something I ask of you lightly, Tamaki."

He took Amajiki's hand, falling down on one knee, looking up into his eyes, his irises reflecting the falling rain.

"Do this for me, Tamaki. Give me back my freedom, and I will offer you fifty years of your human life in exchange."

Midoriya's eyes widened at hearing Hawks' offer, his brow pinching and his heartbeat drawn taut in his throat. Fifty years…? Midoriya blinked and shook his head, trying to understand Hawks' meaning. Can he even offer up something like that? How could he add fifty years to Amajiki's life?

Amajiki didn't respond, his shoulders trembling, and so Hawks took his other hand and spoke up again.

"You have less than a year." Hawks whispered, his voice barely audible above the rain. "A year, Tamaki. Let me give this to you. Let me grant you a full life, a lifetime you can spend with Izuku and Rodi. A lifetime to explore this beautiful, broken world-"

"W-What about you?" Amajiki choked out, his breath caught on a sob. "What about you? H-how can I-" He ducked his head, shaking it back and forth, "How can I do this without you? I can't lose you-"

"I'm here. I'm right here." Hawks whispered gently, squeezing his trembling hands. "In the same way Hizashi is free, and yet his bond with Aizawa remains unbroken, so my adoration for you will never fade." He kissed the back of Amajiki's hands, his lips trailing across his dirty knuckles. "If ever you should need me, you can call me by my name. My true name."

He lifted his face, searching Amajiki's eyes.

"I have loved you as a father, as a sibling, as a precious friend." He smiled and fluffed his wings, his flight feathers brushing against Amajiki's shoulders and cheeks. "Give my life back to me, Tamaki. Give me my freedom, and allow me to save your life."

"Okay." Amajiki sobbed, tears slipping down his red cheeks, nodding as he forced himself to speak. "Okay, okay."

"Thank you." Hawks whispered, and as he rose to his feet he pressed a kiss to Amajiki's forehead, then tilted his face up and pressed their lips together, slanting their mouths together perfectly. He lingered there, petting Amajiki's jaw and throat, kissing him slowly and sharing his breath, until finally he drew back from his contractor.

As he met Amajiki's eyes his glowing irises were burning fragments of the golden sun. Amajiki watched him quietly, sniffing and blinking away tears, clinging to Hawks' wrist tightly.

"My name is Takami Keigo." He whispered, and Amajiki arched his brow and laughed, warmth and acceptance bubbling up inside of him, burning away the cold that had crept into his chest before.

"Keigo." Amajiki repeated back with a smile, finally nodding his head. "I knew your name couldn't possibly be Hawks. Who names their kid something like that? There's no way!"

Hawks smiled and laughed as well, pressing one last kiss to Amajiki's forehead before pulling away, and as he did so the connection between them severed - their contract null and void, the agreed upon exchange made. Hawks returned to Dabi's side, and Amajiki watched him go with a small whimper. Midoriya was beside him immediately, pressing close against his trembling side, wrapping his arms around his companion and holding onto him tight.

"It's okay." Midoriya whispered, Amajiki laughing through his tears and nodding. "It'll be okay."

"I know." Amajiki replied brokenly, squeezing Midoriya's arm and watching as Hawks and Dabi faded away into astral in a cascade of vibrant light. "I know it will."

Yagi and Eri stood together with Hizashi at the edge of the decimated barn, rain pouring down upon them, Eri's eyes little more than sharp points of crimson light, a low growl clicking eerily in the back of her throat.


Thanks for reading! More to come!