Hawks finds himself lost in thought as he lies sprawled out on his sofa, legs entangled with Dabi's. He runs his fingers over the buttons of the remote and sighs.
"Don't think too hard, bird brain. Wouldn't want you to scramble your brain." Dabi's voice breaks Hawks away from his day dream and sticks his tongue out at him.
"Says the one who looks half fried."
"It's a fashion statement."
"You look like overcooked bacon." A pillow hits Hawks square in the face and he starts to laugh, "Can't handle the truth I see."
"Maybe you should join me in the breakfast club then, I'll turn you into some scrambled eggs." Hawks shakes his head and looks over at Dabi, who's trying, and failing, to hide a grin.
"Okay, first. Have you even seen the Breakfast Club? Second, that doesn't even make sense. How would I turn into scrambled eggs? I have wings, not an egg quirk." Dabi leans over and draws Hawks into a hug.
"Let's not delve into technicalities."
"I mean, you could cook me with eggs. Maybe a quiche? Quiches are good, they go great with bacon." Dabi's warm chest rumbles against Hawks as he hums, "Or like maybe a frittata. Oh, Dabi, you know what really sounds good right now?"
"You being quiet for once?" Hawks pulls away from Dabi and gently hits him with one of his wings.
"No. Denny's." Dabi glances over at the clock above Hawks' television and smirks at Hawks.
"At three in the morning?" Hawks stands up and stretches, the tips of his wings brush against the ceiling and he makes a note to himself to get a place with vaulted ceilings once his lease runs up. He wonders if Dabi would officially move in with him or if they would just continue with their current arrangements.
Now that Hawks actually thinks about it, Dabi would really never be able to have his name on a lease. In domestic moments like this, he always forgets that they can really be nothing more than each other's dirty secrets.
"Dabi, my bro. That's the best time to go to Denny's. C'mon, let's go. I'll pay." Dabi sighs and peels himself from his spot on the sofa and pulls on one of Hawks' jackets, much to his satisfaction of seeing Dabi in his clothes.
"Don't wanna do another dine 'n' dash?"
"I'm a hero. I still can't believe you made me do that."
"That's what happens when you forget your wallet. I have a reputation to uphold, what would people think if I paid for something?" Hawks locks the door behind them and they make their way down the quiet hallway.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe a self respecting human being?" One of Dabi's hands slithers around Hawks' waist and pulls him closer.
"Self respecting, huh," He chuckles, "That's a good one."
Hawks stands on top of a building, enjoying the feeling of the wind whipping around him. He stares down at the city before him and a small frown tugs at the corner of his mouth.
He can't help but to bring his thoughts back to the night before. He's always been the type to brag about his partner- but now he suddenly finds that he can't. No matter how much he's bursting from the inside to tell the whole world, he can't.
In a way, it breaks his heart. He knows that Dabi deserves some sort of recognition for what he's endured. For both of their safety though, things have to remain on the down low.
Besides Miruko, he doesn't even know if the League knows. He's sure Toga probably has sniffed around and knows something is up between the two of them. Nothing escapes Shigaraki's observant gaze, maybe that's why Shigaraki has been acting extra... intense lately Hawks mulls over.
He spreads his wings and takes off, the wind whistles between his feathers as he glides over a small park. He waves at some kids and one of them shouts out to him to do a barrel roll. Of course he complies- earning cheers from them as they jump with happiness.
This is why he continues to be a hero. Not because of the unnecessary popularity polls, the ridiculous rumors, bloodthirsty paparazzi or the mundane talk shows that ask the same question every time.
No.
Heading out and bringing smiles to people's faces and actually going out to help those in need is the real reason to be a hero. Hawks may have never held All Might as one of his role models as a child but he can't deny that the retired hero had a true heart and the right ideas when he was on the force. An actual true hero Hawks thinks as he flies back to his office.
He spies a folded piece of paper on the floor of his office and he picks it up, curious on who left a note for him.
I know everything.
If you want to get out of this unscathed, meet me at the lake after work.
Don't tell or bring anyone.
I will know.
Hawks feels his heart plummet and his hands start to shake. How could anyone know? He's been so careful. A cold wave of panic washes over him as he numbly sits down at his desk. Only one way to find out.
To meet this person and see what they want.
His wings flutter irritably as he faces the lake and takes in a deep breath, watching the air puff out in front of him. He feels sick, since reading the note- his stomach has been doing flips and twists and all he wants is to lie down and forget the rest of the world exists outside of his apartment.
"Hello." A soft and timid voice startles him and he turns around to see his boss's intern.
"You?" She nods and twists her hands nervously, refusing to make eye contact.
"Um, I suppose I should explain my quirk first. When I make physical contact with someone, I can see everything that they've done in the past twenty four hours." She pauses with a blush. He stares at her incredulously and then it hits him like a ton of bricks. The first time he met her was the morning after he and Dabi slept together for the first time. He feels his cheeks heat up and he turns to the side with a cough.
"Oh jesus."
"I should also say that that's the reason why I was taken on as an intern. Your boss seemed to think that you were, uhh, withholding information from him." Hawks wishes that he had a bench to sit down on, but beggars can't be choosers and slowly sits down on the ground. Hands covering his face. He hears the leaves under the intern's shoes crunch as she shifts uncomfortably.
"I didn't tell him anything though."
"Why would you wait this long to tell me?" He mutters from behind his hands.
"People have been keeping a close eye on me. Probably to make sure something like this doesn't happen." His face shoots up from his face and stares at her with wide eyes.
"Did anyone follow you?" She looks around and shakes her head.
"I don't see anyone that looks familiar."
"Then how are you able to be here?" She smiles at him.
"Easy. I asked Miruko to help!" Her smile falters, "I'm sorry if the note sounded ominous but I needed to get your attention and to take it seriously."
"Well you definitely got my attention. So whatcha want?" She cocks her head to the side before smiling again, he notes with a hint of sadness.
"I don't want anything from you Hawks. I just have some advice for you. You need to stop seeing him, your job and maybe even your life is on the line. Is it really worth it? I don't want to see you crash and burn because of this. Please, for your own safety, just stop." Hawks stands up, nearly towering over the slight woman. He shakes his head.
"I'm sorry but I can't do that." She dips her head with a frown.
"I see."
"Look, I'm just saying- maybe it's time to find a different place? We could change our names and no one would ever know." Dabi sits on his bed and crosses his arms.
"Somehow, I don't think that'll work, everything about you screams for attention. Plus, you got your job and the League would never just let us up and leave." Hawks paces in front of Dabi and lets out a huff.
"They could open up a second headquarters!"
"I doubt Shigaraki would be down for that." Hawks runs his hands through his hair and starts to pace faster. Dabi stands up with a sigh and grabs Hawks gently by the shoulders.
"What's going on? You're acting like a chicken with its head cut off." Hawks takes a moment to stare into Dabi's eyes and gathers the taller man into a tight hug, tears threatening to spill.
"Something happened at work. We need to leave. Please." Dabi stiffens and Hawks grabs a fistful of his shirt, twisting it.
"One of the interns at work... she can see the past and she knows."
"Are you fucking serious?"
"She didn't tell anyone."
"Do you expect me to believe that?" Hawks noticed long ago that when Dabi gets angry, he doesn't yell like most people do. Instead, he gets quieter. Right now, his voice is barely above a whisper and Hawks feels that panic from earlier in the day set in again.
"Dabi, please." He shoves Hawks away and grips the side of his head with both scarred hands, Dabi walks away.
"Please what? We should've never fucking done this shit to begin with."
"You don't mean that." Dabi says nothing but shoots Hawks a look over his shoulder that's so full of hurt and fear, Hawks can feel his heart about to break into two just from that look alone.
"Hawks I-" He doesn't give Dabi enough time to finish his sentence, he closes the distance between the two of them and gently pries his hands away from his head. Hawks cups one of Dabi's cheeks and Dabi leans into his touch, closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath.
"I hear Hawai'i is good during this time of year." Dabi snorts and kisses Hawks on the forehead.
"I don't know why you're so obsessed with Hawai'i. It's expensive as fuck, why not somewhere a little more reasonable like Florida?"
"Would you believe me if I said that I have a major fear of alligators?"
"I'd protect you from those over grown lizards." Hawks leans in closer towards Dabi, resting his head against his shoulder.
"My hero."
"Don't let an-" A knock at the front door cuts Dabi off and they stare at the door in silence.
"Hawks! Open up." A booming voice commands, "We have the place surrounded." Before either men could move, the door is kicked open and a handful of law enforcers file into the small apartment. The woman in the middle coldly glares at them.
"Hawks, you are under arrest for insubordination and for fraternizing with the enemy." Two police officers roughly grab at Dabi as a different officer moves towards Hawks. Dabi starts to struggle against the two officers as they try to put the quirk cancellation handcuffs on him.
For a short second, they make eye contact and Dabi looks away. A flash of brilliant blue fills the apartment and a wave of scorching heat follows.
Hawks shouts of pain add to the surprised yells of the officers; he reaches out his hand, blindly feeling for Dabi, smoke veiling his sight. He struggles to breathe from the thick smoke and the azure flames start climbing along the walls of his apartment. He feels his skin start to blister and the feathers in his wings begin to burn from the hungry fire.
Hawks' head starts to pound and he falls to the ground, desperate for any pocket of clean air. He feels himself starting to choke as he continues to look for the other man. His eyes sting and with little energy he has left, he sends some of his remaining feathers to take the officers and whoever might still be in the building to safety.
In his blurred vision, he sees a fuzzy silhouette- dark against the blinding sea of blue flames, approach him. He's effortlessly picked up and Hawks feels the rough textures of Dabi's scars.
"Touya." He mumbles into the crook of his neck. His vision starts to darken quickly as the man carries him out of a broken window.
His last thought is that he finally found the answer to his age old query: He may have flew too close to his personal sun, but he sure as hell doesn't regret a thing.
Author's Notes
*Insert surprised Pikachu reaction image here*
Wow! I'm so happy but so sad that this story is over, it's bittersweet. Thank you so much for reading this story and just for everything in general! Everyone's comments helped encourage me to continue to write this and I really can't wait to write the second part of the story!
Thank you so much again!