Claws pieced together from the fabric of night slashed through the empty air above his head, buffeting his feathers as he ducked. He rolled to the side as the next clawed hand followed up on the last attack, and swiftly pushed himself up from the stone ground as the sounds of battle echoed around him in the small space.
Deep=set cuts and grooves paved their way across the floor he circled, scars that had manifested across the span of the last few months. Where thick blankets of moss had been forming, there were now heavy footprints and slicks of mud from where they'd run across its once untouched surface. And, despite their best efforts to be courteous to the small space, there were a few holes in the ceiling of the small arena from stray attacks that had gone a bit too far off the mark.
Another long-range slash was clawing its way towards Tokoyami. This time, rather than dodging, he braced himself against the wooden railing and prayed it didn't give out from behind. Manifesting shadows over his arm, he caught the clawed hand that had been targeting him. He felt the two shadowy hands that belonged to separate entities contest each other for power, almost equal in size, and added his own power into the exchange to force it back.
When the second enemy claw aimed at his seemingly exposed side, Tokoyami bent his knees closer to the ground and caught that one as well, bringing them both in front of him. All the while, a mockery of his own laugh, formed from fake vocals, followed him every step of the way.
"Did I finally get ya cornered?"
Oi, Fumikage, she's wide open! Lemme at her!
Dark Shadow, please, I'm having a hard enough time as it is… Our hands are full! With a grunt of exertion, Tokoyami drove the greedy hands into the ground beneath him and let go in the split second of time that the maneuver granted. This time, instead of dodging to the side or running away to where they'd continue to chase him, Tokoyami ran through the small space between the two inky outstretched arms. When they redirected, aiming to wrap around him, he jumped off of the ground. And rather than come crashing back down, he stretched his own shadowy talons above his head, where they grasped onto the rafters and lifted him weightlessly over the makeshift battlefield. He followed the momentum, swinging from the ceiling, and followed through with the motion until he let go and sent himself flying the rest of the way into the carbon copy of himself occupying the other side of the gazebo.
Tokoyami had meant to properly bring his opponent down, but had miscalculated just how close they were in the cramped space. He crashed ungracefully into the other Tokoyami, who tumbled backyards with a surprised squeal that had no right coming from a beak that looked so much like his own. These were the chances they took every time they snuck away to this location. Considering they'd yet to be caught or approached regarding these covert operations, he had to assume that even after all this time they were still in the clear.
Nevertheless, he wasn't exempt from ridicule in the two-person space.
"What was that!" Toga guffawed from underneath him. Tokoyami shook the loose feathers from his head, but before he could properly orient himself he was roughly shoved aside and caught off balance. He rolled flat onto his back, his cloak trailing after him, and he stared up at the rafters he'd been clinging to just seconds prior. "Had I been given more space, that would've been an excellent maneuver on my part," Tokoyami grumbled. If he listened, he could hear the wooden structure groaning to keep itself standing following yet another one of their training exercises.
Next to him, Toga had called back the hazy form of her borrowed quirk. The shadowy claws reached her before growing into its full shape – that of an altered version of Dark Shadow. The uncanny apparition hovered over Toga as parts of her disguise began to fall apart. Night Bite – that's the name Toga had given to the quirk. After watching this quirk adapt to fit her image over the course of months, the distinction was well deserved. There was something… serious about the quirk, as though taking on the responsibility of staying at Toga's side had created something more cautious and mature than what her pseudo-host could muster. Compared to the amalgamation of undeveloped shadows that had previously composed the sentient being, the being that stared him down accusingly for knocking down Toga was something different.
"Seemed to me like you were getting desperate," Toga sang, flexing her hands and watching the way Night Bite's moved in turn. "I can't blame you, though! I'm getting a lot better at the whole hand-eye coordination thing."
Tokoyami perked up at that. This far into their training, he couldn't deny how excited these developments made him. "Oh yeah? Are you getting closer to understanding how she moves?"
"Mmm, sorta? Since it's not really something a normal human could do, it's hard to follow at times, but I think we're getting better at staying in sync!"
She'll never get as good as us, though! Dark Shadow huffed.
Tokoyami laughed under his breath. Of course not, but it's worth mentioning that she's a fast learner.
Dark Shadow poked his head out from under his hood as he sat up. Only because she's got the best teachers!
Toga pushed herself off the ground, brushing the dirt streaks from her pants. She'd started wearing clothes not unlike his own to these training sessions – real clothes that didn't melt away when her quirk disappeared. Though the black activewear and boots weren't exactly part of Toga's routine wardrobe, he figured she did it to keep from breaking the emersion. Or to keep him from getting embarrassed – either reason worked just fine.
Before Tokoyami could get up the rest of the way, a goopy hand was extended towards him. "Does this mean we're done for the day?" Toga asked innocently.
Tokoyami accepted her hand, rising to a stand beside her. "Considering the fact that the hour's already done and your quirk is fading, I'd say yes."
Toga sighed wistfully as more feathers melted from her head to reveal the blond messy buns underneath. "I swear, it goes by so fast…"
Dark Shadow hovered over Tokoyami's head. "Time flies when you're having fun," he chuckled.
Night Bite backed away, staying close to Toga. Even when her façade of Tokoyami continued to disperse, the quirk stuck around a bit longer, as if to keep watch. He'd never heard the quirk speak, though Toga promised him that she had long conversations with the apparition when he wasn't around – a fact he still found unnerving, even if it was ultimately harmless. Knowing what Toga's own quirk was capable of, he couldn't help noticing that their time spent together was less about what Toga could do with Tokoyami's image and more about what she was personally capable of when it came to the distinctly different Dark Shadow she created with every use of the power. He'd always known her quirk to be a form of admiration for those she copied, playing into the idea that she wanted to be these people. But with him it felt like the opposite, more as if she was excited to be something entirely new and have this ability to show for it.
Toga gave her quirk a reassuring pat on the head as it began to vanish. Night Bite nudged Toga with its short beak in a way not unlike how Dark Shadow would show his affection. Then she was gone, and the last of the gray sludge dripping from Toga evaporated to reveal her true self.
Tokoyami couldn't help noticing the way Toga's arms sagged to her side, her smile strained. Their time in this place wasn't finished. He could feel a talk on its way.
Usually he'd dismiss Dark Shadow after a long training session, but he kept the quirk at hand because he knew Toga liked seeing him – and their training wasn't that strenuous compared to other opponents on the grounds. He walked over to the edge of the gazebo where the thinning ray of sunlight peered in from above and sat down in its warmth.
Toga followed, mouth pursed with an unspoken question, and perched herself on the railing above him. She swung her legs idly, and Tokoyami scooted to the side to avoid getting hit. Not ready to hear what she had on her mind, he spoke first – to which Toga let out a sigh of relief.
"Toga, training with you thus far has been… an illuminating experience. This might be the closest I'll ever come to understanding a sentient quirk that belongs to another," Tokoyami began.
Toga brings her legs up onto the railing, blocking the sun from reaching Tokoyami. "Even though we both know that it's yours?"
Tokoyami shook his head. Maybe a month ago he could've argued against her copying ability creating such altered results, but that was no longer the case. "Night Bite is something else. The form you've molded her into, the thoughts and habits she encompasses… they're entirely unlike my own. When we started, I had no idea what she might turn into. When I face your quirk, I don't see anything of Dark Shadow. I see a… what is it…" Tokoyami trailed off, becoming uncertain.
"A sparrow." Toga was so quick to answer that Tokoyami took a moment to process it.
"Excuse me?"
"A red sparrow," Toga clarified, even though the shadowy entity was comprised of dark shades.
It made sense, appearance-wise. When Tokoyami faced Night Bite, it had a short, straight beak and the "feathers" that stuck out from the back of its head were shorter and neater. Anyone else would just see another monstrous shadow creature, but Tokoyami looked through the crawling flesh of patchwork darkness and sharp talons to see something more representative of the person using it.
Tokoyami's expression softened thoughtfully. "You sound quite certain about that. What significance does a sparrow hold to you?"
Toga chewed nervously on her finger, deep in thought. Tokoyami wished she would stop the habit he's been noticing more and more, but did nothing to speak up about it. Instead, he waited until she was ready to talk.
"My first time tasting blood was from a young sparrow. It was dead already, and I should've felt sad." She leaned her head back against the wooden beam, staring into the patch of sky visible behind the high wall of hedges. "Ahhh, but it was so cute, and it smelled so good! I can still envision its little red wings, so cold and still. Ever since then, I couldn't suppress my quirk's urge. Even at night, I could see that sparrow. I could feel it, pluck, pluck, plucking its way through me. And I could understand why its hunger was so insatiable. Maybe I get carried away sometimes. Maybe people see me and think of the potential to be normal I threw away so that I could embrace my quirk. But I don't regret my decisions, not even for a second."
"And why's that?" Tokoyami asked.
And Toga smiled. Her fangs peeked out, but nothing about it was threatening. She just looked content, which was the most anyone in her situation might want. "Because I have the League, and they're the closest thing I've ever had to a real family. You guys accept me just the way I am. Even if Dabi calls me weird and Spinner gets flustered so easily when I stand next to him, I feel welcomed here. That's something that I never had before, and I like it. No… I love it. I love so many things and so many people, and I can express that here!"
Tokoyami mulled on this newfound information. It made sense, in a way. There were days where he couldn't tell if there was any similarities at all between the members of the League, and others still where he swore the League was so much more than an ordinary villain group. But even then, no matter how much the League worked with him and gave him a feeling of inclusion, he could never feel the same way. Because he wasn't given the choice. Because he did have family and friends that were waiting on his return. Tokoyami wanted Toga to continue having a place where she felt welcome and appreciated, but not at his own expense.
Tokoyami shifted to look up at Toga. "I'm happy for you… truly I am."
Toga bit her lip, beginning to squirm under his steady stare. "A-and that includes you! I could never really be myself around my old friends, but with you it's different! I have this dream in mind that… that's probably stupid, but someday I'd like to be out in public, turning into the people I love most while holding their hands and being totally satisfied. I wanna be the most me I can possibly be! I can laugh with Ochaco and hold hands with Izuku. And you'd be there too, Fumikage! Because you understand me more than anyone, even the parts I hate. You know I'm not a monster."
Tokoyami closed his eyes, offering a contented hum and a small, meaningful nod in response. Though there were some flaws in her dream, it didn't sound completely out of the question. One day, when he was reunited with his classmates… maybe there'd be a way to properly introduce Toga. To give her a chance at what she wanted without the overbearing tension of hero vs villain weighing down on them all.
But that won't actually happen, will it? The world Toga fights for has already left too many bad feelings. Even if Midoriya and Uraraka are the forgiving type… I don't think their heroic ideals will ever accept someone like Toga.
Tokoyami's words came slowly, like he was feeling out each one before voicing it to the world. "You also know. That I'm not a monster, that is. I never imagined that anyone would want to be me. To know what it's like to inhabit these mortal coils."
Dark Shadow hovered between the two of them, following the conversation. The quirk, for all the hardships they'd endured together, was caught drifting from one ideal to another.
"Well, that's different. Even before I knew I could use other people's quirks, I never felt like I could properly imitate you," Toga said.
"I am a complex soul," Tokoyami agreed, sighing dramatically. He figured she'd take the opportunity to tease him in some way.
Toga continued seriously. Her hands clenched at her side, drawing Tokoyami's attention once more. "It's not just that. When I'm you, I feel stronger. Because the Fumikage I know is loved by both sides, and you fight hard for those people. For your old classmates, your friends, and even for people like us. And then when I started learning about Dark Shadow, and I realized that I had Night Bite with me, I realized just how special it all was. It's a feeling that I don't want to let go off. Even when I'm you, I'm still my own person, and I've never had that before…"
Toga buried her head into her arms, crossed as they were over her legs. Tokoyami couldn't read her expression from this angle, so he stood up in one fluid movement, bringing himself close. "What is it that plagues you, Toga? If there's something I can do to remedy your sorrow, then I'd do it."
Toga lifted her head, but kept her line of sight steadily downwards. "I don't want this to end. These past few months have been the most fun I've ever had. But, you see, we won't be able to keep doing this if I don't have any more of your blood. And… and I'm running low."
Oh.
"Oh." Tokoyami hesitated, taken aback by the implication. Back in Overhaul's headquarters, he'd willingly given away so much just so that he might save Midoriya's face from being misused. He'd thought at that time that the decision might seal his fate, thoroughly destroying whatever reputation he had left. But that hadn't happened – at least to his knowledge, anyway. If doing this training had turned into a sort of positive outlet for her possessive nature, then was it truly so bad? Despite his initial understanding of Toga, he'd reached the point where he couldn't reject her ways. Not when they'd worked so hard together.
He took a deep breath. "If that's all you want then… I'll think about it."
Toga immediately lit up, her eyes stretching wide in surprise. "You will?" she gasped, brimming with excitement. She'd probably never had somebody agree to this. Granted, she hadn't been given a definite answer yet, but anything was better than the flat-out no she'd been dreading.
We will? Dark Shadow pressed, equally surprised.
I don't know, Tokoyami internally confessed. I feel like no matter what my answer is in this, I'm betraying somebody.
Toga slipped easily off the railing and closed the space between them with a delighted bound. She took ahold of his hand with enough earnestness to catch him off guard, forcing him to take a step back.
"Thank you, thank you!" Toga cheered, clutching his hand between them.
"I-I haven't given you an answer, though!" Tokoyami stammered. He let Toga keep ahold of his hand, even if he didn't quite understand where this burst of emotion was coming from.
"But you're thinking about it! And that's more than I could've asked for." When she finished getting her excitement out, she naturally let go of Tokoyami's hand, which he graciously returned into the folds of his cloak. "Don't let me keep you here, though. I'll just wanna pester you until I get an answer. Until then, I gotta conserve what I have left!"
Tokoyami looked to the flight of stone steps that led out of the hidden space, where the shadows of evening were beginning to deepen. "Will you accompany me back to the mansion?"
Toga rocked back on her heels. "I'll stay here a bit longer, but you go ahead!"
Tokoyami nodded, bidding her farewell as he made his uncertain departure.
He was stopped one last time.
"Hey, so, since we're done for the day… are you gonna be meeting up with Jin?"
Tokoyami paused just shy of the first step, feeling his stomach lurch. "No. I mean, I'm not sure. We haven't done much of our study sessions lately."
Toga stayed in the center of the gazebo, admiring all the claw marks they'd etched into the foundation during their time here. "Oh. Well, if you see him, let him know he's doing a good job, okay? I feel like he's getting buried in work, and I wanna make sure he's having just as much fun here as I am!"
"Yeah. I'll do just that," Tokoyami promised, ascending the narrow staircase.
They parted ways as they always seemed to, with lengths of darkness stretching between them. Tokoyami glanced back once, only to see the shadows of the gazebo moving ever so slightly.
Leaving her behind, Tokoyami navigated through the familiar maze of tall hedges and blooming flower bushes. Though their training sessions had become a routine part of their respected schedules, each one blurring into the next, other notable examples of learning from others during their time here had been… unsavory, to say the least.
Using his time to learn about Toga's quirk, spar with Spinner, and improve his own quirk alongside Dabi had been time well spent, that much was certain. Through it all, though, a weight had been pulling him down further and further, to the point where he feared he might just fall. Which was strange. No – irrational! There was no reason to feel this way. But he did. Dreadfully so. Because at the end of each day, a pressing knowledge followed his every actions.
Tokoyami's hand drifted down to his pocket, where a quiet listener remained still, and he thought about the tentative answer he'd given to Toga.
Hawks will know about this.
Tokoyami's hand curled into the fabric of his pants. I don't care anymore. He's already learned enough dirty secrets for a lifetime. What more could he possibly hope to gain?
If this is hurting you, then just throw out the feather. You'd feel better.
But if I did that, then he'll take me for a traitor.
Toga had been right to assume that Tokoyami was still going over lessons with Twice. After all, it'd only been a few weeks since his last time sitting in on such things. But the last few he'd attended had been far different from their previous interactions, and since then he could no longer stomach the lessons. What had once been an arrangement between the two of them, reading over books in the common space, had quickly changed into something he had no control of. Considering his last and final time learning alongside the man, he couldn't help wondering if there was something he could've done differently in all this. Because right now, whether he liked it or not, Hawks was the one teaching Twice.
It wasn't exactly a secret, but nobody ever wanted to talk about it. Few people truly trusted the Wing Hero… but if they asked Twice, they'd get an entirely different story. And despite Tokoyami's own misguided doubts, he trusted Twice. So when he'd been invited to one of the little tutoring sessions that Hawks put on for him, he found himself unable to turn it down.
So Tokoyami began showing up to these classes, which were scheduled sporadically throughout the week, always at different times. Since there was no set pattern, it was more unlikely for random outsiders to chance upon them, even though the lessons took place in the same otherwise vacant room each time.
Twice had been so excited to have a classmate. It made Tokoyami regret that he'd only been able to attend three of the meetings… but he just wasn't able to sit there and pretend that everything was okay.
His first time dropping in had been uneventful. He'd crept into the makeshift classroom halfway through the session and had remained glued to the wall closest to the exit. Just… watching. It was all fairly standard teaching, with the first lesson he'd attended being a breakdown of what the current PLF stood for. It was all fairly basic, surface-level material that anybody who followed the MLA's old code of conduct could've happily explained. It also showed how much Hawks had done his homework. Even though the book of the Meta Liberation War had been gaining traction for a while now thanks to its numerous reprintings, Tokoyami had no memory of Hawks ever hinting towards any sort of allegiance to the cause during his old internship. Either he'd been very good at keeping such controversial opinions to himself or this was all very new teachings for Hawks.
Tokoyami had dipped out right before the class had finished, leaving Twice to pick up his homework before he could start up a conversation. Though he'd hoped to leave unnoticed, he could feel Hawks fixated on his back the whole way, while the feather in his pocket twitched inconspicuously.
His second time visiting the classroom, he'd shown up on time with a notebook and pencil on hand. He was greeted and invited over to the low table where Twice seated himself each time. Tokoyami had sat and studied with the pair, listening to Hawks' lecture on the PLF's leadership structure.
And in a way it was amazing. Truly amazing that such a space existed within the mansion and was being treated so seriously. After all, it seemed as though Hawks had never taken his position as a teacher seriously before now. To that end, it felt like a mockery of all that he'd struggled to learn.
His last time being a part of that class environment had left a taste most foul in his mouth. And it had nothing to do with the teachings themselves or Twice's studiousness. It was all personal.
Tokoyami could still envision himself so clearly, listening to every word that left Hawks' mouth as though it held some ulterior motive. He searched for hidden messages, analyzed each comment, all in a desperate attempt to glean something useful from the hero. But outside of the steady flow of brain-numbing lectures, there was nothing there for him.
So he'd sat there, waiting for the time to pass with pencil gripped firmly in his hand. The page set before him remained blank, and he kept his eyes locked on the empty lines as tidbits of history went over his head. Hawks was talking about… something to do with past influences in the MLA. He was so far into this lecture that he couldn't be bothered giving it the undeserved attention. So much for his good study habits. Middle school crunches for quizzes be damned, he could fail this class in particular.
The whole time, Twice was seated next to him on the floor like a star student, jotting down every piece of information as if his future depended on it. At some point, he must've noticed Tokoyami's stern, downcast expression, and in doing so began hurriedly scribbling on a scrap piece of paper. Tokoyami noticed the scrap paper enter his field of vision and discreetly dragged the meager message under the table. He opened the carefully folded note, where a few quickly drawn characters were etched out: are you okay?
Tokoyami had to think about that. Like, really think about that. Because for some reason it felt like such a truly difficult question to answer. There was so little room for open honesty in the place he found himself in. vulnerability wasn't something that could be so easily exposed – not in these times.
So he'd sat there, fixated on the note, until a shadow passed over him and snuffed the heat from his body.
"Passing notes, are we?" came a cheeky voice.
It'd given Tokoyami a right start, breaking his focus and forcing him from his thoughts. He'd leaned back, catching himself with a hand on the ground, and a red feather had slipped right past to snatch the note from his grasp.
"Give that back!" Tokoyami shouted, sitting up and lurching across the low table to rip the feather from the air before it could return to its master. I've already given you enough. You can't take anymore!
Despite how nimbly the feather moved, his reflexes were faster, and he gripped the feather in his trembling fist.
Hawks backed off, eyes stretched wide in a rare expression of genuine surprise. Could he finally feel the animosity emanating off of him, and feel the way in which he wasn't quite welcome?
Just as quickly, he slipped back into an easy smile while holding his hands up in an offer of misplaced peace. "Easy, there! I'm not that strict, I promise," he laughed, retreating back to his drawing board. "I've just never had so many students, so I thought I might actually pull off acting like an actual teacher for once."
Tokoyami released the feather with a shuddered breath, letting the red tuft retreat while he eased back down to the provided floor mat. "So that's… all it is," Tokoyami sighed wearily. At the same time, a new thought emerged. Ow, that stings. What just…? Tokoyami drew his hand close to his body, so that he could ensure that he still held the note. Opening it, he was rewarded with the crumpled note. Then he saw the splatter of red that now adorned the paper, and traced it to a small, thin gash across the palm of his hand. Shit, how did this even—?
It's not a paper cut, Dark Shadow mused. Tokoyami looked up to watch the released feather fall back into place amongst Hawks' wings. He pocketed Twice's note and folded his fingers back into a fist to stem the bleeding.
He hadn't even realized that Twice had been looking over his shoulder, nor how long he'd been at in. Tokoyami heard him whisper in the quietest of voices. "Sorry, I… I didn't mean to get ya in trouble."
Before anything worth saying could leave his beak, their attention was brought back to the lecture at hand.
"Now, pop quiz!" Hawks declared, enthusiastically slapping the whiteboard with his ruler. As if their exchange hadn't just occurred. As if Tokoyami wasn't looking upon him now with a distinct feeling of burning betrayal. "Who were the key figures that inspired the modern principles of anti-hero ideology?"
Incident pushed to the past, the lesson continued as normal.
"Ooh, ooh! I know this!" Twice said, raising his hand while desperately hoping not to be called on. Hawks pointed to him for the answer, and Twice "It was Destro for the way he inspired the new legions of quirk users, and Shigaraki's Master for his power in the beginning of anti-hero foundations. They both laid groundwork that went on inspire generations of villains, anti-hero groups, and meta enthusiasts."
"That's correct!" Hawks beamed. "Destro's original ideas set the groundwork for much of what the newly assembled Paranormal Liberation Front and its followers stand for. As for All for One, his longevity is more literal, considering that his goals span generations and are spread all across Japan in the form of followers, money, and power.
Tokoyami flipped through his notes, sparse as they were. He'd read this information during his own studies. Since this class was initially meant to help Twice, he found no reason to answer these questions. But Hawks looked like he was already about to move on, furthering their discussion on Destro's humble beginnings.
"Let's not be so hasty, now," Tokoyami said, tracing his finger across an old passage he'd written down weeks ago. "There were three great villains of the past, not two. Granted, Destro and All for One's fame have prevailed more intensely due to their associated groups and the reestablishment of old powers, but they weren't the only influencers."
Hawks blinked slowly, never letting his smile drop. "Yes, of course. There was also the Peerless Thief, a vigilante renown for stealing from heroes who profited from the newly established systems and redistributing it back to the people. He was a powerful symbol for those who found themselves on the bottom of society… buuut since he worked alone, his influence was more indirect. So while you'll still hear people parroting his values of combating corruption and injustices, he isn't associated with any outstanding groups. We can see how his values were adopted into other notable groups…"
That's how the lesson had gone. He'd shown up, sat next to Twice, and waited patiently to be rewarded. But by the end of it had ultimately learned nothing new. Because this wasn't for him. None of what Hawks did was, and the scratch on his hand was proof of that.
It would've been fine had they left it at that.
But on this occasion, when Hawks ended his lesson by closing his books and wiping the board clean (once Twice had taken a picture of it) he still had something left to say. "Hey, so I don't wanna make things awkward or anything, but I guess… how do I say it? 'Thanks for showing up,' maybe? Uh, that almost sounds kinda mean, though. What I actually want to say is that… I'll admit that I've never really been the best teacher—"
It's a bit late for that, don't you think?
Twice also found the comment funny, laughing as he packed away his things and stood to his full height. "You're gonna make me fail this class! No, don't be that way, you're doing a great job!"
"—but I really do care about the future of those that are willing to learn and do better."
Tokoyami couldn't help feeling that the clumsy message of plausible sincerity was coming from somewhere else. Was he speaking with Tokoyami in mind? Did Hawks truly care about those who could do better – or only those that could do good? He looked Hawks warily up and down, wondering what else there was to be said.
Twice, meanwhile, was heartened by the vote of confidence. With a friendly salute and a mound of new homework to do, Twice thanked him for the lesson. "I'm just glad we could make this work! I know how busy you can get, but these meet-ups have been really helpful! I think even Sanctum is starting to notice my improvements. Screw that guy, I'm way better than him!"
Hawks arched his eyebrows in amusement. "Are you gonna tell him that?"
"Nope!" Twice decided. "Let me know when we're having the next one. You coming back with me, kid?"
Tokoyami had begun following, only to slow his pace and trail behind. "In a bit, Twice; you go on ahead."
Thinking back on it, the lesson itself hadn't been all that bad. Even though he clutched onto a sense of bitterness thanks to the sharpness of Hawks' feather, it was almost forgivable so long as Twice was still getting something meaningful out of the exchange.
But Hawks' parting message had left something to be desired, and feeling an intense need to sate his detestable curiosity had chosen to hang back.
Tokoyami had stepped out of the classroom that day and waited for Hawks. When the hero was finished closing down the room and turning off the lights, he had nowhere to go except towards his old intern.
"Oh… hey. You're still here," Hawks noted, his friendly façade slipping away as he sensed that something was up. There were few people that Hawks was so openly guarded against, and at some point that had included Tokoyami.
"Yeah. I just wanted to know something," Tokoyami began tentatively. "What you said back there, at the end of the lesson… was that true?" His voice came out as a desperate croak, the words catching in his throat despite his best efforts to remain stoic in the face of adversity. "Did you ever actually care?"
Hawks didn't bother with the encouraging smiles or upbeat personality. There were no cameras trained on him, and with Twice gone he could slip back into that serious side of him that always showed itself when he was stealing his resolve. "Of course. I still do," he said, almost mechanically. An automated response directed towards another audience. "The PLF is important to me and deserves all the support it can get."
Tokoyami ran a thumb across the crusted scratch on his palm, his brow furrowing in building frustration. "Hawks. You know that's not what I mean."
The hero stiffened, and Tokoyami watched as the crimson feathers that surrounded him went rigged. His amber eyes flicked momentarily to his carefully outstretched wings before sternly locking back onto Tokoyami.
I don't know what you take me for, but I'm not a fool, Tokoyami thought. He could see the listening devices attached to his wings like greedy parasites siphoning information everywhere he went. Skeptic could very well be listening in at this moment, meaning that any words that passed between them would need to be open knowledge.
So, as always, Tokoyami bit back everything he wished he could say aloud, delivering instead whatever minced words he could still afford to offer. "I just meant that… when you teach these classes. And you stand in front of these students that you've sworn yourself to teach… do your impressions ever change? That is to say, does taking someone under your wing change the way you regard them?"
Do we mean anything to you?
Hawks finally had smiled in that moment. But it was a sad one. Maybe even pitiable? Whatever it was, it felt wrong to see on his face. If this was supposed to be apologetic, he was doing a wretched job. But as Tokoyami had quickly discovered that day, he would receive no such comfort. Not from him. "My line of work doesn't normally have room to give one person preference over another. Heroes make hard decisions all the time. Every life is important and, well, we can't pick favorites. All I can really do is hope that my work here will make a difference for the Front. So I'll keep doing what I'm doing, and you'll do the same, yeah?"
When Tokoyami had found himself in that moment, caught between two realities, Hawks had stepped forward, bridging the gap between them to face him head-on. He'd placed his gloved hand on Tokoyami's shoulder as if trying to be reassuring, but by that time there was little to be done about the hurt that Tokoyami felt welling in his chest. "And hey, you're already a good enough student as it stands, so you don't actually need these classes. You were curious; you wanted to see how I operate, and that's understandable. I know you lieutenant types aren't that quick to trust, but everything's fine! So just don't worry about it, alright?"
I'm not asking to be your favorite, I'm asking if you actually care!
Tokoyami had ripped his shoulder free from his grasp and stepped back. For a fleeting moment, he'd worried that Hawks might persist and reach for him again. Tokoyami didn't want his outstretched hands anymore, nor whatever half-baked sympathy he could possibly offer at that point in time. He knew when he wasn't wanted. Just because he was helping Hawks and passively feeding him information, didn't mean he should expect the same from him. It was a one-way street, and Hawks was making it clear that getting too close to him… asking the wrong questions or even doubting him… could result in a less than satisfactory outcome.
Tokoyami wanted to understand – and to an extent, he did. If Hawks was revealed as a traitor while surrounded by these villains, he'd be killed. But if Tokoyami was outed for his role in this? Well, the PLF could stay mad, but it wouldn't put him in danger the same way. Nevertheless, that didn't erase Hawks' treatment of him. It'd be easier if he just told me to stay out of this, but that's not the case either. He involved me in his schemes the moment he gave me that feather.
And that brought Tokoyami back to the present. As per Hawks' wishes, he never came back to those classes. In fact, he avoided Hawks whenever possible. But there'd still been times when he'd catch his eye in a hallway, as if to remind him to keep doing what he's doing. As for the feather Tokoyami was supposed to keep with him, he slowly started becoming more selective with where he brought it. A part of him quietly hoped that one day he'd leave it on his bedside and come back to find it gone. At least then, a burden would've been lifted, even if it meant that Hawks had finally given up on him. He wouldn't have to question it any longer.
But the feather remained, day after day, residing in his pocket. Even if Tokoyami couldn't bring himself to confront the hero, the feather had to mean something.
Tokoyami made his way through the last of the gardens, his cloak sweeping across new green grasses and his fingers trailing over blooming carnations that bobbed their heads in the mild breeze. He took a deep breath of the sweet air, and despite his troubles found the will to relax. In the near distance, he could hear the familiar hum of upbeat acoustic music as the day faded into evening.
Are you gonna join them tonight? Dark Shadow asked.
Tokoyami thought about it, but shook his head instead. Not tonight. I'll catch them next time.
He kept walking, but he would be amiss if he didn't acknowledge how enjoyable that group was. The little band of PLF supporters that he'd chanced upon a few months ago had more than welcomed him. Since that night, he'd returned time and again to practice the guitar and play his morose chords. They were a laid-back band of people, and he'd learned to take comfort in their friendliness. Living amongst the other people inhabiting the mansion had become normal. Maybe not perfect, or even the most ideal, but it was the most at ease he'd been at in a long time. There'd been moments where he wondered if he'd ever felt so comfortable in his own skin.
And then he'd feel the cold press of the band around his ankle, or he'd feel the Doctor's communicator in his pocket, or that damn red feather would stir ever so slightly, and he'd be reminded of where he was all over again. Heaven or hell, who was he to decide?
Dark Shadow, for one, just seemed disappointed that they wouldn't be joining the others for music. He squirmed in Tokoyami's thoughts, pouting all the while.
I'd rather take a moment to rest before we meet up with Dabi tonight, Tokoyami reminded.
Ah, right! He seemed pretty excited, huh?
Tokoyami smiled while ascending the central staircase, following the familiar path to their quarters. He's always excited at the prospect of improvement. These lessons mean a lot to him.
Returning to his room, he took the time to eat and prepare for the next bout of planned training. He closed the feather in an empty drawer and, seeing that the night was not yet dark enough to meet up with Dabi, laid his head down to rest. He talked back and forth with Dark Shadow. Then, when the stars finally began to emerge, he roused himself once more.
Only something felt different. Tokoyami raised a hand to his neck, only to discover that it was bare. Looking down, he retraced his line of sight back to his pillow. Resting upon it, impossibly battered and worn, was his trademark red choker. He picked it up for inspection, and found that the clasp that held the wrapping together had finally broken completely. He held it in his hands while Dark Shadow flitted around him, trying to get a better look.
"It's fine, you can still fix it!" Dark Shadow encouraged.
Tokoyami shook his head sullenly. "The leather won't even hold up anymore. If I stitch anywhere, it'll only fall apart further."
"Maybe we can repurpose it? It means a lot to you!"
Tokoyami ran his thumb across the weathered material. It was true that he'd worn it for years. It'd been an homage to a hero he'd greatly admired as a kid. But over time, the accessory had become more of an extension of himself. Most people wouldn't know about the hero he'd once emulated if he brought up the name. And, in a way, maybe that was fitting.
With a disappointed sigh, he gently placed it in the drawer next to Hawks' feather. "I don't know. Maybe I'll come back to it. Or I could request a new accessory from Trumpet."
Dark Shadow sulked at the decision, resting his inky head on Tokoyami's shoulder as he closed the drawer. Tokoyami gave the quirk an instinctive pat on the head before rising from the bed.
"Anyway, we'd best head out. Dabi should be up there by now." He donned his cloak and slipped into his boots without another thought, setting out for the second time that day to train. Same as he had countless times before, he whisked his way past the closed doors and empty rooms where the rest of the League resided. Tokoyami passed through the ornate wooden doors that guided him into the rest of the mansion and traced his path along several flights of stairs en route to the roof.
He could never forget his first time climbing all the way up there, only to find Dabi looking out to where Hawks was already vanishing with his bloody prize. But that wasn't enough to sully his love of such a high place. He'd never thought about it before, but at some point during his time at Dabi's residence he'd come to enjoy the feeling of standing on a rooftop overlooking the rest of the city. With the power of flight, that had only intensified.
So naturally, when Tokoyami stepped out onto the roof and filled his lungs with the mild night air, he felt a certain tranquility overcome him.
And, of course, Dabi was there, always waiting for him while standing too close to the edge.
The dark yet unmistakable silhouette turned ever so slightly and raised his hand partway in greeting.
Tokoyami stepped into place beside him, caught between the star-filled sky and the network of sprawling driveways and fountains that awaited them several stories below. There was never any one specific thing to look at. After all, they were only actually here for the open air this place offered.
Dark Shadow milled around him, claws flexing and closing in anticipation.
"I know we've been working at this for a while now," Tokoyami began, trying to search Dabi's darkened face for an expression. There were only a few lights on the ground and whatever shone in from people's windows to light the way, getting darker as the night went on. He kept his night-vision goggles on him, although he hadn't decided if he needed them just yet. "But you seemed particularly insistent on meeting tonight. Has something changed?"
Dabi teetered on the edge as if feeling out how the abyss might feel when he inevitably falls. "Hm. Maybe not. Can't I just be excited for something?"
Tokoyami scoffed at that. "I didn't know you had the capacity for such things. And yet, some days I swear you just want to see how much I can struggle."
Dabi shook his head. " 'S not it. With the way you make progress, you haven't struggled in a long time. It's no secret that you picked up on the whole 'flying' thing way faster than me."
"Call it second nature, I suppose," Tokoyami said dryly.
"That's how it started anyway. But I think I can out-fly you now," Dabi confidently declared, poising himself on the roof's edge.
"Really, now!" Tokoyami remarked with mock incredulousness. "What a truly bold statement you've inflicted me with! Why, I simply must show you the error of your ways."
"Then try me," Dabi dared before taking the plunge off the edge of the building.
Tokoyami watched him go. The first time he'd watched Dabi walk off the roof, he'd been struck by fear for his life. But now he knew better, and waited one second. Two. And then the air came alight with blue fire.
That was Tokoyami's cue.
"Black Fallen Angel!"
Dark Shadow wrapped his arms securely around Tokoyami's midriff and stretched his claws out to either side as improvised wings. He felt the solid ground disappear from under him and stepped out into the open night. Cool air rushed through his feathers and windows blurred beside him as he focused on the trailing blue light.
Tokoyami and Dark Shadow flitted between rooftops, plunging and climbing through the open space, testing their speed and precision. When Tokoyami voiced a silent command – slow down, hover, land here – Dark Shadow was quick to listen. It'd taken practice, and both parties had learned to adapt to what they were capable of while learning the flying process. But throughout their nights spent focusing on the newfound ability, they'd achieved each goal time and time again. They'd reached a point where their ability to fly this way held almost the same level of speed and finesse that Dark Shadow would normally possess in standard combat.
Of course, it wasn't just them that had achieved such greatness in flight.
While Tokoyami and Dark Shadow tested themselves, their focus never drifted far from the blazing meteor that was Dabi. He'd never seen the man so passionate – maybe even happy? – to be doing something for himself. Dabi took sharp turns through the air, rising and falling as if playing chicken with the ground. Anyplace his feet touched became a melted mess, and there'd been times where Tokoyami had had to follow him closely to snuff out his flames, lest he turn the gardens he enjoyed so much into a bright blue conflagration.
Tokoyami observed him from above even now, hovering in place.
Dark Shadow wormed his head out from under Tokoyami's cloak to watch Dabi.
He looks like he's having fun!
I think he's just showing off. "Dabi!" Tokoyami called down, demanding his attention. "I challenge you to a race!"
He knew Dabi wouldn't back down from such a proposition. A blast of condensed flame brought the fire-user to Tokoyami's height, at which point he stabilized himself on twin flames as consistent as a gas-fueled stovetop that allowed him to stay aloft in one place. "What, not impressed?" he sneered, prideful of his accomplishments. "Fine, then. Name your terms and I'll destroy them for ya."
Tokoyami traced a finger through the air, creating their path. "One lap. Whoever can fly around the Liberation Fountain and make it back to the rooftop will be declared the winner."
"And what do I get for winning?" Dabi asked, already prepared to launch himself forward.
"A sense of accomplishment, I suppose?" Tokoyami mused.
"You get to call yourself the fastest flier!" Dark Shadow cawed.
An eager smile broke out across his stapled face. "I think I like the sound of that."
Dark Shadow retreated back into his cloak as Tokoyami started the countdown.
"3…2…1…Go!"
Dark Shadow shot forward like an arrow shot true, diving towards the fountain on steady wings. The air whistled past them, target set. Directly behind him, Dabi's flames had blazed back to life. He gained speed quickly, building his flames up as much as possible before he could run out of fuel.
Dabi pulled ahead right as they reached the fountain, and Tokoyami leaned away from the uncomfortable heat emanating off his opponent. Nevertheless, he wouldn't be deterred, and with a well-placed maneuver Dark Shadow made a sharp turn around the fountain before soaring back to the roof with little speed lost. Dabi, meanwhile, required a wider turn that slowed him down for a split second, placing him behind Tokoyami once more.
From there, it was a straight shot to the roof. The end was well within Tokoyami's sight, drawing ever nearer. He didn't even want to think about how hot the air was turning behind him.
We'll win!
They ascended the last few stories to reach the very top of the mansion, and Tokoyami stretched his arms up to meet it as the gap between them and the finish line closed in.
From behind, closer than he'd anticipated, came a shout of exertion. Or maybe even dismay, as if the source of firepower couldn't stand to lose.
The heat that'd been steadily catching up since the fountain overtook him, searing the air with an incredible blast that melted the windowsills and shattered glass panels. Dabi flew past Tokoyami in that final stretch like a bullet shot from a gun, wreathed in flames as he pushed himself that last little bit. Had Tokoyami not been blinded by the inferno, he would've seen Dabi tumble onto the rooftop in victory. A bit too ambitious.
Blue flames engulfed the air above Tokoyami, the end result of Dabi's determination. He could feel the intense heat through his fireproof cloak.
Dark Shadow yelped in pain and surprise as the intense light eviscerated the wings they'd stitched from darkness. Tokoyami's outstretched hands, once seeking victory, were now desperate grabs to hold onto something as his disrupted flight devolved into an unintended plummet from grace.
"Dabi!" The name tore from Tokoyami's throat, and even he couldn't tell if it was desperation or anger that fueled the cry. He couldn't even see the rooftop through the blue fires burning steadily atop it. As his altitude began to slip away, time slowed down, and he thought of how he'd need to catch himself before he splattered on the ground.
Then the fires above were waved aside, and a dark figure tore through them to reach his arm down over the side of the building. The sensation of falling came to a sudden end when a rough hand reached through the smoke like a snake lashing out at a target. And grabbed onto his wrist.
Tokoyami slammed into the side of the building, scrambling for purchase, but he wasn't falling anymore. Above him came a grunt from his haphazard savior, who was hanging halfway off the side of the building just to keep hold.
Tokoyami looked up into Dabi's face but… despite being so close, it was impossible to read what was there.
And yet when he spoke, it was quiet and confident. "Don't worry, I got you."
Dabi pulled Tokoyami up over the edge, and they rolled onto the roof with twin sighs of relief. With the fires quickly dissipating, Dark Shadow materialized with a disgruntled shake of his head.
"That wasn't very nice," the quirk chided. "You promised from the start not to get too close to us when we're flying, because we both know what happens."
Dabi took a moment to catch his breath while splayed out on the roof before rolling into a disheveled sitting position. "Haahh… yeah… my bad. Sorry that happened."
You are?
Tokoyami pushed himself up slower. He inspected the wrist that Dabi had dragged him up by. It was still warm, but there was no mark left behind. Despite the ruthless firepower he'd been putting out mere moments prior, he'd displayed more amount of control in that moment than he'd ever seen before.
"I didn't burn you, did I?"
Tokoyami shook his head. "No." Never. "I was just surprised, is all."
Dabi released a relieved sigh. "Good. Now I don't have to feel bad about winning."
"As if you ever would," Tokoyami chuckled.
Tokoyami wanted to make light of their time here. Dabi had proven to be a difficult and sometimes even ruthless teacher in the past. He still could be, of course, but so much of their recent training had hinged on their mutual understanding of each other. That was to say, it was nice. And he valued it more than he cared to openly admit. But with the time spent working together came knowing things that he probably wasn't supposed to.
Dabi stretched his arms wearily over his head. Even in the low light, Tokoyami watched the way his degrading flesh pulled uncomfortably. He could see which staples were coming loose and smell the lingering stench of combustible skin. One would think that he'd get used to seeing these traits by now. But he wasn't.
Because it was getting worse.
"Hey, Dabi, that last burst of flame you used… it wasn't too much, was it?" Tokoyami asked tentatively. He always had to worry if he was crossing a boundary when asking these sorts of questions. But he could usually get away with it – the worst that might happen is that Dabi stays mad at him for a day or two.
Not this time, though. Dabi pulled his arms back into his lap and leaned forward, as if curling into himself might mask the idea that something was wrong. "Why would that matter? I still have enough firepower left in me."
Tokoyami frowned. That didn't sound right. "Enough for what…? Your fires are already strong. And hotter than ever, now that I think about it. Isn't that enough?"
Dabi turned to him, his expression hardened. "Haven't I taught you anything?" he just about spat. "There's always a greater power worth reaching for. Our effort right now is to get stronger."
Tokoyami gave his quirk a reassuring pat on the head as discomfort spread between them. "You would say that, wouldn't you? But I can't imagine mastering something as strong as, say, my supermove Ragnarok over fine-tuning my base abilities. That'd be too exhausting, pushing myself over and over rather. I might just… burn out." A side-long glance said all it needed to.
"And what's wrong with that?" Dabi shot back, looking up from his hands. He sounded… almost panicked? "Why not live each day like it could be your last. Hell, it's a miracle we made it this far!"
Tokoyami winced. Isn't that a bit too on the nose?
Dark Shadow let out a rare growl directed Dabi's way. The man leaned back, arching his eyebrows in surprise. "What's got you so upset?"
Tokoyami shook his head. "I've already decided. I don't want to die for reasons beyond my capabilities. I can't… I can't do that again. I would rather live my life for the both of us, Dark Shadow and I, and have whatever comes after be a side-effect of that."
Dabi tried to look past Dark Shadow, but the quirk separated them. "'Do that again'. You're still hung up on that yakuza incident, aren't you? Look, I know it's too late now, but none of that was supposed to happen."
I wasn't specifically recalling that time, but I'd be amiss if I didn't acknowledge the long-term impact that whole thing left… "It couldn't have been help. I knew I was getting myself into trouble and did it anyway. It seems to be a reoccurring issue for me."
"That wasn't supposed to happen, though," Dabi argued. "Besides, if I'd been there things would've been different."
Tokoyami hummed in contemplation. "I'm not so sure. I hid a lot from Twice during that mission. And Toga, well, she's still reaping the rewards from that time, but I wonder if she ever feels guilty." A bitter laugh escaped him, "We got into a lot of trouble, after all. By now, it's starting to feel like clockwork with her. Whatever foul truths shall we uncover next, I wonder?"
Dabi furrowed his brow and settled his head into his hand, looking troubled. "Sure, it wasn't an ideal outcome. Those two had a lot of explaining to do."
"Is that so?"
"No shit!" Dabi barked. "That day, when the rest of the League came to pick you guys up, Shigaraki was furious. And dammit, I was too! You can't even remember a thing, do you? The drive to the hospital, everyone yelling. I've watched you get into some deep shit that I would've much rather have kept you out of. I wasn't there that day, and you nearly died.
"Nearly?" Tokoyami echoed, as if that was the most unbelievable part of the story being told. He didn't know he'd cared so much, even back then. But looking back, Dabi had shown as much consideration as he was probably capable of.
The charred flesh of Dabi's face pulled taut in an unsightly grimace. "What, am I wrong? You're sitting right in front of me – don't think you can pull a fast one on me!" His tone suggested he was making light of the odd direction the conversation had taken. And truthfully, had Dabi not made such an unnecessary comment on death, Tokoyami would've happily taken his knowledge to the grave. But he didn't want to keep something like that from Dabi. Not anymore, in any case. He'd thought about it so many times. And he'd come close to spilling his guts about all that had happened when he was in Overhaul's headquarters several times before. But here, tonight, Tokoyami felt that if he didn't say anything now, then it might never be said. And he didn't want to keep that from someone who might actually care.
Tokoyami shook his head sadly. "Dabi, just because you know about the injuries I bear from that fight, doesn't mean you know about the worst to happen there."
Dabi shifted to get a better look at him, and Dark Shadow retreated into the folds of Tokoyami's cloak. "What—what are you talking about?"
Tokoyami took a deep breath, preparing himself for the words that had previously gone unsaid for so long. "In fairness, I don't think even Toga or Twice knew about the extent of the incident. Hell, we weren't even in that place for very long, so what could've possibly been worse than the bloody outcome that everyone saw? And maybe I could've said something back then, but it wouldn't have changed anything. But Dabi, you probably deserve to know. Even though the League dragged me back into the shadows of the world to patch my wounds and oversee my recovery, nobody had been there for the worst. Because I had died. With nobody to help and no allies to bear witness. I suppose it might've been my fault for daring to go where I wasn't permitted. I was upset and panicked and… I might've even done something unforgivable. So when Overhaul found me, he sealed my fate. He killed me the same way he killed Magne. The only difference is that he decided to bring me back."
Tokoyami glanced up from clenched fists to see Dabi, hand over mouth, looking absolutely wretched.
His voice came out a hoarse whisper. "That – no, that wasn't supposed to happen."
"I'll admit, it wasn't my finest moment," Tokoyami agreed evenly.
"You never said anything!" It sounded like an accusation.
"How was I supposed to? I don't see you going around proclaiming your death," Tokoyami shot back.
Dabi winced, as if such a specific comment couldn't have been any more targeted. "Because I didn't have to! Someone else had already beat me to it. But that doesn't make any of what happened to you okay! If I'd known… if I'd known that yakuza son of a bitch—!"
"Reserve your anger, Dabi," Tokoyami coolly advised. Despite the heavy revelation he'd just imposed, he felt largely unchanged. Weren't these things supposed to feel like lifting a burden? "You can't possibly have much more to spare on my behalf. There might come a day when I can properly reconcile with my tumultuous thoughts, and if that's the case then I hope I might do it on my own."
"I didn't wanna drag you through something so hellish," Dabi miserably admitted. "It might not feel like it, but I'd never want to put you through something I thought you couldn't handle."
"Then you must have a lot of faith, considering all I've endured."
Dabi shook his head adamantly, as if to deny it. "If I could change things, I would've! Joining the yakuza as a temp, showing up during Hood's attack against the heroes, getting wrapped up in the fight with the MLA – you think I wanted you to go through any of that?! Fuck no! I didn't have any control on the matter, alright? And I hate to say that, but it's true."
"Then work on control," Tokoyami sternly insisted. If there was something to be learned here, he wanted to put it forward. "Restraint, consideration, foresight – all of it. If something can't be solved with brute force, then shouldn't there be another way? I like to think that maybe, just maybe, I've learned something from my time here. I don't want the future I still have left to slip out from between my fingers just because I couldn't cup my hands. Because when you've faced death already, it's easy to feel like living doesn't matter the same way anymore. I can't ever fall into that trap. I can't become hopeless."
Any residual heat left from the previous flames had entirely died out. There was no more room for fires on this rooftop. Despite how worked-up Dabi had become over the course of their conversation, cooler heads really had prevailed in the end. If this opened up any doors for self-reflection, then Tokoyami would welcome it.
Dabi grumbled something under his breath before turning back to him. "Were you always this obnoxious? You're always saying shit, and I'm just supposed to sit here and listen like it doesn't affect me. Or you drop some horrible knowledge or show up in the worst places imaginable. And you know what happens then, right?"
It felt like Dabi should've been getting angry. Instead, he acted more exasperated than anything else. Tokoyami couldn't keep the amusement out of his voice. "Oh yeah? By all means, elucidate me."
"I have to try and fix things! Or protect you or do something! And I don't think you understand that I'm not good at doing any of those things. Do you have any idea how hard to have to work just to not burn your sorry tailfeathers?" Dabi threw his hands up into the air, not sure what to do with them anymore. "I still don't even know how you ended up in Fukuoka! Even when I tell you not to do something I know will be dangerous, you still find a way."
Tokoyami scratched his head, embarrassed. "Fukuoka was different, though. Despite what I'd said about wanting to be there… I don't think it was actually my decision."
Dabi stiffened. A thought must've occurred to him. "Tokoyami, I'm never going to know all of what you've gone through, and that's alright. You don't have to spare the grisly details or indulge me with your worst fears. But you also don't get to give me advice without accepting any I have to share in turn, got it?"
Tokoyami blinked slowly. "Alright. I'm listening."
"Don't get hurt from throwing yourself in other people's baggage. It won't ever work out," Dabi started off. He got up from the ground and walked to the edge of the building. Tokoyami swiftly joined him at his side as he continued. It only felt right. "Live a good life if you still can't. I think you deserve that, wherever it takes you." Tokoyami remained quiet. "And finally… I think I owe you an apology for all the times I got you hurt. I've pushed you a lot these past several months. But you've been pretty hard on yourself, too, and that doesn't make things any easier. So if you ever get the chance…"
Dabi turned on his heel, teetering on the edge before pointing a stern finger into Tokoyami's face. "Fly away. Don't let anyone use you ever again. Trust me, it's just not worth it. Don't be the face of the PLF's liberation, or let the heroes make you a martyr. And you stay the hell away from Mr. Ujiko, or All for One, or anyone else out there. Do you understand?"
Tokoyami stepped back from the heated words, almost stumbling off the roof himself. "I…" How could he even properly convey how late it was for all that? Somehow, he imagined that Dabi had to know that all this was already in place, and nothing he said now could stop it. "I understand. I'll try my best Dabi."
Empty words though they may have been, it was enough to calm him down.
"Good. Now get some rest. You've really worn me out for one night, Kid." Dabi turned away to retreat from the roof's edge, but not before instinctively giving Tokoyami a pat on the head – something that almost anyone in the League would give to Dark Shadow, but never dare do to him.
Tokoyami watched him go, feeling absolutely perplexed at the exchange that had just transpired.
Man, you really got him worried, Dark Shadow said, observing the obvious.
How was I supposed to know that a guy like him could care so much? Tokoyami thought, ruffling the feathers on his head.
You're gonna give him gray hairs at this rate, the quirk snickered.
It's a good thing he dyes it, then… but more to the point, that was never my intent. Tokoyami wished he had something more to say as Dabi retreated from the roof, but he didn't. Enough had already been said for one night. Maybe another time, after a round of flying, they could talk some more and clear up some other things. It was a nice thought, anyway.
Hey, Fumikage, you know he was telling us just now that we should leave this place, right?
Once the Doctor is dealt with, perhaps. But by then I wouldn't even know where to go. And besides, I think… I want to make sure that no matter what happens, that the people here are safe.
Tokoyami seated himself back onto the edge, sitting with his legs dangling over the open air. And he watched the stars travel across the sky while thinking of what this world could possibly hold beyond this place. More than this location, though, he wondered what might become of the League members should anything befall them, and what he could do to help them moving forward. Because despite their faults, they were sincere. And maybe Dabi was right to warn him against getting so involved, but that couldn't even be helped anymore.
So he took this time to think for himself, rather than anyone else, until drowsiness forced him to turn in for the night.
The next day, the Heroes invaded, and nothing was ever the same.