Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Hawk’s first day out of the hospital wasn’t nearly as great as what he had painted in his head. Six months of intensive care and therapy to get to the point where he could finally be discharged, any joy he might have felt was tainted by the knowledge he had lost any possibility of returning to the sport that was his life. He had declined Rumi’s- very insistent - offers to stay with her in her small city apartment. Instead, He bought the cheapest house he could find on such short notice removed from Tokyo, in the small virtually unknown town of Musutafu.

A large lot and well-maintained traditional house that had belonged to an old school teacher that had recently passed away, the house had sold at a ridiculously low price. Previous potential buyers claimed to sense a dark presence in the home, possibly linked to the fact a lady had just died- albeit peacefully- and the relator had been quick to accept Hawks’ offer. Despite Rumi’s pressuring not to buy a house that is “literally haunted you, idiot,” Hawks had signed the papers from the comfort of his hospital bed. He never believed in ghosts and could care less about angry spirits; he just needed a place to live for a while.

It was a long drive out to the Hawk’s new place, and he didn’t have the patience to keep a conversation going. Not when for the first time since the Gymnastic Commission had scouted him out off the streets, he had nothing to strive for. He knew she was trying her best to help things return to normal, but Hawks didn’t have the energy to return her efforts. As they pulled into the driveway and Rumi opened the gate to the house, the deep-seated tiredness that plagued his waking moments lingered in the achingly slow half dragging steps.

“I and a couple of others moved your things in after you bought this creepy ghost building. Seriously, out all the houses, you had to choose this one.” Rumi’s arm rested at her hip; annoyance lanced her voice.

“Afraid of the dark Carrots?” Hawks gave her a weak imitation of his signature smile.

“Please, the dark is afraid of me, for real though this place gives me the goosebumps. Like when we were setting up, all we could smell was smoke. We thought we had burned the place down or some shit, we checked the electricals and everything but nothing.” Rumi’s hazel eyes locked in on his own “if you don’t text me at least once a day, I’m gonna have to assume the boogie man got you.”

He snorted. She really was an overprotective rabbit. “Don’t worry so much. I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay the night?”

Hawks waved her offer aside. “Nah, it will be nice to have some actual alone time without someone checking my pulse every hour.”

He could tell she didn’t believe him, but something he always appreciated about Rumi was she knew when to leave things alone. She gave a gentle punch on his uninjured shoulder and made her way back to her car.

For the first time in months, Hawks was finally alone. It felt like he could let go of the breath he was holding since this had all started. It was as liberating as it was terrifying.

He let his hand trance the walls, from the wooden entrance to the tatami flooring the home looked as if it belonged in a museum on traditional Japanese architecture. For a slum rat to a mansion, it was hard to believe he owned the place.

The rest of Hawks’ evening consisted of ordering fried chicken and watching trashy TV dramas, enjoying the simplicity of eating his favourite food without trainers fussing at him to watch his diet, and mourning the same thing. On the couch, realizing all he had worked for slipping away, he didn’t think much of the light creaks and groans easily drown out by the sounds of the latest celebrity scandal.
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Over the next several days Hawks was quickly becoming annoyed with the random quirks of having an old house. Windows opened and closed without cause, noises kept him awake at night, cleaning up piles of ashes that appeared scattered in odd places. It was strange but made him scratch his head more than anything, unlike Rumi. When Hawks mentioned the weird things in the house, she would panic and try to convince him to get out before a demon took his soul.

Honestly, though, Hawks found them endearing. It kept the house interesting.

That is until Hawks came home to a very broken TV. For the most part, the things that gave Rumi the creeps could be explained away by the wind or blamed on the house’s age. A shattered TV, though, could not be, not when nothing else damaged or stolen.

This meant war.

He had not given much thought to the supernatural; that was more of Rumi’s thing. He didn’t even believe in an afterlife and found comfort in the idea that you would fizzle out of existence one day. But, when logic couldn’t explain why he couldn’t keep up with the Kardashians, Hawks was ready to do just about anything.

Reaching for his phone, he dialled up Rumi’s number. She answered only after a couple of rings, “Girl, you free tonight?”

“I mean I had a date with my couch” in the background Hawks could hear the telltale sounds of sport music.

“How do you feel about summoning the dead?”

“Ha, so now you believe, I’ll hop right over just let me pick up some things.”

“Sure, the doors unlock just let yourself in and bring some chicken nuggets.”

Rumi just laughed.

Less than an hour later, Rumi came barging in, kicking the door open, arms filled with miscellaneous items. Picking through the things Rumi had brought Hawks couldn’t help but wonder where his friend had found a white noise machine and holy water on such short notice.

Holding up the rainbow board, “Where did you get a Pride ouija board at 10 o’clock at night on a Tuesday?”

“Have to show the Pride somehow,” she snatched the board out of his hand, “and careful with that, I’m borrowing this from coach’s husband. He is really into conspiracies.”

Rumi’s coach Izuku Midoriya, a staple figure at the athletic stage, held the title of Japan’s number one gold medal winner. A constant presence at all the track events, he was no stranger to Hawks. But his husband, Hawks’ mind went blank-
“Shouto Todoroki owns a Pride Ouija board-” just as the words slipped out, the room’s lights flickered wildly before drowning the place in the inky darkness. Rumi let out a soft gasp, reaching blindly for her phone and turning on the flashlight.

“Maybe the ghost is behind the times?”

“Or you know, old house bad electricals” Hawks gave her a deadpanned glare. Rumi was the type of person who would willingly fight a bear but refused to listen to reason when it came to anything supernatural.

“How should we go about this? Cause now that I think about it, maybe a faulty outlet caused the TV to explode.”

“How could you say that after lights just gave out?”

Hawks shrugged. It made more sense to blame science than change his entire perception of life and what comes after.

“I’m thinking we start with the spirit box then move on to the board. You know to start with the easy stuff before risking the board.”

“Whatever you say, rabbit.”

Rumi grabbed the small unobtrusive box; Hawks had to admit he had never heard half the things Rumi had brought for their supernatural get together. So to say he did not expect the box to produce the most offensive ear-shattering noise imaginable would be the year’s understatement.

“What the hell, Rumi?”

Placing his hands over his ears and feeling his shoulder protest at being raised, he saw Rumi fiddling with the setting. Her face scrunched in a wince that mirrored his own. “It’s supposed to allow spirits to communicate with us by using quickly changing radio channels or something like that.”

“Do even know what you are doing or…”
“Just because I believe in ghosts it doesn’t make me an expert---”

A garbled noise emitted from deep within the static. Too garbled to be words, but also too distinct to be ignored.

“Freaky”

“Shut up bird brain,” Rumi shushed him with an irritated wave of her hand “hello oh, mighty spirit of the abyss, my name is Rumi Usahiyama, and the idiot here is-” she paused to let him introduce himself.

“Hawks,” he said simply.

“If you are in the room with us, please repeat our names back to us.”

Nothing but the annoying static was the response.

“Wow, Rumi this is convincing-”

Oh, that was too good, words that vaguely sounded like,
“Did the ghost just say bitch?”

“So now you believe in ghosts.” Warm annoyance painted Rumi’s face as he laughed for the first time in months. He might think this whole thing was ridiculous, but he could appreciate a chance to pester his friend.

“And we are done with the soundbox.”

“Come on, Carrots, I feel like we were getting somewhere.” Humour lingered on his voice as he teased his friend.

“Well if it has something to say, it can do it with the board.” Turning off the little box with more force than what was necessary, she grabbed the rainbow board. Setting up the tiny board was more challenging than what he thought it would be. But after a quick fried chicken break and several wikihow pages later, they were ready to talk to some ‘ghosts’.

Sitting around the kitchen table, they each placed a finger on the triangle moving piece. Feeling like his life had finally reached a new level of disappointment, Rumi began the ritual they had found on the internet.
In a low voice, “if there is anyone in the room with us, please make your presence known, by moving the board piece to yes” Rumi called out.

Beneath his finger, subtle vibrations ran through the board piece, as it moved in a jerking motion. Hawks glanced up to Rumi’s face, which had gone milky white. A primal fear was reflected in her eyes, the instinct of flight or fight bared opened in her shoulders’ tightness and how her body recoiled away from the board. At that moment Hawks knew Rumi had not moved the piece to

“Yes.”

Chapter Text

“Yes”

“Hawks that’s not funny” Rumi’s breath hitched words breaking in a high pitched inhale of air. In all the years he had known her, Hawks had never seen Rumi truly scared. He may not believe in ghosts or even that the piece had moved by another force other than some twitchy fingers, but Rumi’s fear spread over to him.

“Wasn’t me Rumi, but if we have its attention. Hey, ghost--”

“Kei, please don’t,” ignoring Rumi’s panicked look, he continued.

“Why did you break my TV?” If they were going to waste their time and lose all dignity, he wouldn’t mess around. There were so many other things he could be doing right now, and watching Netflix was top on his list, but thanks to the supposed ghost, his pity party for one was ruined.

They watched the pointer move to spell out.

T-R-A-S-H

Rumi snorted, “Ha see even the ghost thinks you have terrible taste.”
Some colour had returned to her face, but her muscles remained thick with tension. For having her worst fear realized she was handling it well, or now faced with the real thing and sharing jabs at Hawks had washed away the initial terror.

“You can’t just say that, though. You shouldn’t disrespect the ghost.”

“It broke my TV. I don’t need to respect it.”

“Maybe we should turn on the spirit box again? You know, let it speak to us.”

The pointer moved.

“NO”

That answered that. Whoever or whatever was moving the board piece had some attitude Hawks could get behind. He watched as some of the leftover tightness drain away from Rumi. For his first and likely last spirit summoning, the whole event was not going as planned. When he saw these things in horror movies, they were generally much more spooky. With wind flickered candles, gusts of airy breaths and lasting chills, but surrounded by his trashy thrift store lamps, the comforting smell of chicken nuggets, and oddly warm room Hawks found this whole thing rather funny.

“How come? That thing was expensive, you know.” With the final tendrils of fear gone, Rumi had returned to brash self. Illuminated by the glow of lamplight, Rumi’s eyes shone in an irritated reddish light. Coupled with her long pale hair and projecting ‘fight me vibes’ Hawks pitied the ghost.

A-N-N-O-Y-I-N-G

“The ghost has spoken, praise be the spiritly wisdom.” He was glad the entity had found the white noise as nerve grating as he had.

“Shut up, Birdbrain. If I can’t return it, I’m going to charge you. “She shot him glare that promised she would stop bringing him chicken nuggets if he didn’t shut up. “Mr. Ghost, can you please tell us your name?”

Hawks let out a soft laugh. A little late to complete the introduction, but it seemed the ghost wasn’t one to care much for decorum. While Hawks realized this whole situation should be more terrifying, but the longer they went on, the more fun he was having. He could imagine how silly they looked; two people huddled over a rainbow ouija board roasted by a disembodied something. Hawks found his annoyance for the whole ordeal slowly being replaced by curiosity. If there was someone else in the room with them, he wanted to know who his unexpected roommate was.

D-A-B-I

“Dabi? Like cremation?” Hawks and Rumi shared a look. It was not the fear-inspiring noble name one expected from a spectral being.

YES

“Real spooky there, edge lord.”

The lamps spluttered, filling the room with angry dancing shadows. The flames from the single candle licked higher, lapping up the area between them. The room’s temperature skyrocketed, sweat beaded down his face at the sudden boiling heat. The comfortable atmosphere was erased as Rumi let out a soft yelp, the fear that had simmered down resurfacing.

“Ya ya, you done with the hissy fit?” He titled his head unamused with the antics.

F-U

“Hawks would you please stop pissing off the spirit.” Rumi’s wide eyes turned to give a hard look.

“Sorry not sorry. I’m still mad at it.”

Rumi sighed. Hawks didn’t know why she was so freaked out. What was the worst thing that could happen? If a fancy light show was the most the ‘Dabi’ could do, Hawks didn’t have anything to fear. They waited until the room had returned to normal before trying to ask more questions, but no matter what they tried, the ghost refused to answer. Taking their fingers off the board, Rumi let out a long shaky breath.

“You can’t blame that on the wind.” Standing up, Rumi stretched her long legs. Reaching her hand out to help him up.

His body was stiff after sitting in the same position for so long, and his shoulder throbbed unconformably. The muscles complaining loudly as he tried to rub out the knots that had formed.

“I mean, it was interesting.”

“Your kidding, right? How dense can you be, a ghost literally just cussed you out.” Rumi pointed a slender finger at him. It was fun seeing her so worked up over something that didn’t bother him. So what if there was a ghost in the house. He was only doing this because it decided to smash his life’s single source of entertainment.

“So, what are you going to do now, Hawks?” Rumi questioned.
He could tell she was fishing for him to ask to stay with her. To leave this house and preferably never return. If he had a working brain cell, that’s what it would tell him to do. But tonight, he was slapped in the face with evidence of the supernatural. He couldn’t deny that something weird had happened tonight. Was it a spirit or something else he didn’t know.

Hawks had always been too nosey for his own good, and this was no exemption. He wanted to know more about what was going on, and it wasn’t like he had anything else to do.

“Well, for starters, I’m going to put all the lamps back. Then tomorrow I have to buy a new TV.” He knew it wasn’t the answer Rumi wanted, but it was the only one he had to offer.

“Ok, I’m going to head home then. I have to return the board to Shouto tomorrow, but I don’t think I’ll be sleeping much tonight. Call me if things get freaky, ya?” Gathering up the last of the items she brought, paused before heading out. Giving him a look that was a mixture of concern and exasperation, Rumi turned on her and left.

It was strange to be alone and yet knowing that he wasn’t.

“You know none of this would have happened if you didn’t break my TV.”

A door slammed in one of the empty rooms in response. Hawks let out a huff of amusement, clearing away the rest of the things out of the living room. He left the remaining mess for tomorrow; he went to bed.

That night he had the weirdest dream he had in awhile. A scene like reil of an old vintage movie played through his mind. Grainy and absent of colour he walked through the forest of sakura trees that surrounded the property. Sunlight cleared away cold shadows, and in the middle of the clearing stood a boy with hair kissed by fire and skin erased by light. He called out, but the boy only raised one elegant hand, flipping up his middle finger and dispersed as Hawks woke up.

Turning over without bothering to open his eyes, he checked his phone. Ten missed calls from Bunny, and several text messages he didn’t bother to read before he dialled up Rumi. Eyes still heavy with sleep, she answered before he had a chance even to say hello.

“Keigo, you need to get out of there. We fucked up, like big time! We forgot to dispel the spirit before closing the board.” Rumi was breathless. The fear in her voice cleaned away the drowsiness.

Wide awake, Hawks felt the intense heat before he saw the electric blue eyes peering at him from the inky darkness of the shadowy figure at the foot of his bed.

“Ya I can see that.”

Chapter Text

“Ya, I can see that.” He locked eyes with the thing at the foot of his. It was too early to deal with this. All he wanted was a cup of coffee. The spectator could wait until he felt more alive.

“You can see it? Hawks, you need to get out---” the noise of a phone falling to the ground cut of Rumi’s words.

“Rumi, what’s going on over there?” Sitting up, he wondered what his friend had gotten into this time.

“I punched a cop.”
“You did not. Rumi, we talked about this.”

Her voice sounded more distant. “Don’t worry about it. I’m with Coach.”

That did not make him feel any better. Rumi was never afraid of any authority figure, and while it was great in their university years, Hawks seriously worried about his friend’s lack of self preservation skills. Not that he was one to talk, example right now. But to make matters worse it sounded like she had also gotten Midoriya involved. Poor guy, Hawks couldn’t imagine he had gotten so much as a speeding ticket before.

“Listen, I’m getting arrested, but I’ll meet you at the hole in the wall boba as soon as I can ok.”

Before he could answer, the call cut out. It was not the first time Rumi did something that got her in trouble with the law. She had a strong sense of justice and never hesitated to do the right thing, even if it caused her problems. He had mad respect for her.

Turning his full attention back to his unwanted guest, throughout the conversation, the entity hadn’t moved from its spot at the foot of the bed. But the amusement glinted in the azure eyes showed he had likely overheard the conversation and found it funny. Taking a good look at why he would have an expensive visa bill that month several things drew in his attention.

Examining the dark mass of smoke, Hawks’ first impression was spot on. Dabi was indeed a total edge lord. Hair Hawks could only be described as the colour of smoke-darken skies, an unnatural black that came from shitty box dye. Not what the movies would have led him to imagine, all lanky limbs coupled with several piercings and frayed clothes that could have come straight from a HotTopic catalogue. Dabi didn’t inspire a sense that horror movie music was about to start playing. The one aspect that did genuinely haunt Hawks was the melted flesh hanging from his jaw and charcoaled skin, creating a mirage of grisly third and fourth-degree burns that painted the remains of the ghost’s image.

“Nice boots, you steal them from a stripper.” Hawks leaned his head on his hand, giving Dabi a wide teasing simile.

The temperature in the room spiked upwards, similar to the other time Hawks had insulted him. Moving the mess of a jaw in an attempt to form words, however, no sound escaped the wrecked lips.
“Ooof cat got your tongue.” Hawks gave an audible fake gasp. “Sorry, was that rude?”

This time there was no scorching wind or blazing heat, the heavily lidded eyes blank of emotion gave Hawks a quick glance over before giving him a half shrug. Dabi raised a pale hand, that was oddly absent of any fire damage and pointed at the lower half of his face as if to say “ya kind of,” before phasing out of sight.

Hawks gave a soft snort. Common sense might tell him he shouldn’t tease a ghost but hey what was life without a little risk. Getting out of bed, he made his way to the shower. Hawks gingerly pulled off the thin sleeping shirt, turning to examine his back in the mirror. An ugly crossword of surgical scars, thick angry ropes of swollen tissue shredded the once majestic tattooed wings on his back. It was tragically ironic that the accident that stripped the sport that made him feel like he could fly had also clipped the wings Hawks was so proud of. Stepping into the shower, he let the water wash away the thoughts.

After what he was sure would raise his hydro bill, he paused at the steamy glass. Written with the fog on his mirror was “BEAT IT.” He huffed a small laugh, and Hawks had to restrain the smile from forming on his lips. How much more cliche could this ghost get?

Dressing quickly, Hawks craved the bean juice.

“Dude, can you not be creepy.” Dabi stood next to the counter. A cup sat near the edge.

They locked eyes. “Don’t do it.”

Looking him dead in the eyes, Dabi lifted a slender hand and sent the glass yeeting to the floor.

“And you did it.”

Hawks sighed, “Come on, man, first my TV now my dishware. What’s next?”
The corners of Dabi’s mouth lifted into a grin that would traumatize the Cheshire cat.

Forced to clean up his favourite cup’s remains and ignore the asshole in his kitchen,Hawks opened his fridge. Inside was a good representative of his mental state, empty inside. Good lord, he needed to do groceries, wilted green onions, an egg and several cans of coffee were definitely not the Commission approved diet Hawks had while competing. Grabbing the egg, he could at least make a very lame scramble that would tie him over until he met up with Rumi.

A soft rustling, like leaves clashing in the middle of a wind storm, caught his attention. Turning to where Dabi had been perching, Hawks saw only an empty void. His heart gave a small hiccup if this burned bastard was determined to behave like he was on a naughty cat video there was no telling what he might break next. He scanned the room quickly, the egg still in hand and spatula brandished as if it could do any harm. Next to the tacky multicoloured flamingo lamp, which Rumi hated, but was Hawk’s favourite, Dabi’s hand raised in a gestured that promised another murder of Hawk’s possessions.
Without thinking, he flung the egg he was holding directly at Dabi’s face. Which, of course, sailed right through him landing on the ground with a resounding splat. The two starred where the egg had met its early demise and then at each other.

Heat that had nothing to with Dabi rose into his cheeks, and the hand that ruined his breakfast met his face in the ultimate gesture of defeat. His fuck up was not made any easier by Dabi, who was doubled over in soundless laughter.

“Ya ya, laugh it up.”

Today had just started, and he was already over it. Before anything else could happen, he grabbed a can of coffee and made for the door. It wasn’t a long walk to the nearest train station but after everything that had happened this morning he didn’t want to risk another disaster. A cab was a safe bet, and unless by some divine providence some other supernatural decided to emerge, it was the only way Hawks had a chance to arrive at the meeting point with Rumi with a functioning brain cell.

Fleeing from his own house and leaving the laughing ghost behind, from the doorway, he called out. “You better not break anything else, or I’ll exorcise your ass.”

Time to go see how much trouble Rumi was in. Comfortably seated in the car, he let himself seriously think about just what he had gotten himself into. So lost in his head, he didn’t see the women watching him from underneath the cherry tree.

Chapter Text

All in all, the taxi ride was not enough for Hawks to clear his head. It wasn’t every day you found out that A. The afterlife existed, and supernatural entities were real, B. Hawks was roommates with said entity. Despite being an unwelcome addition, obviously had no issues with making Hawks the butt of his jokes.

He paid for the ride and pulled open the door to the boba place he and Rumi had found on a 3am drunk adventure in their early university days. At the entrance sat two suitcases, the largest of which bore multiple faces of Japan’s old number 1 athlete, All Might. Hawks huffed a small laugh, there was no question who that suitcase belonged to.

Gathered at a small table near the back of the store sat Rumi, with a slightly bruised cheek but looking no worse for wear, talking animatedly with Midoriya. Sitting next to the wave of moving hands, was none other than Tokyo’s detective constable, Shouto Todoroki. Shouto had been the first to notice Hawks’ presence, giving a small nod but otherwise remained silent. The guy never let any thought or emotions pass through those heterochromatic eyes, the air of cold indifference shot more shivers down his spine and freaked Hawks out more than any ghost could.

“And did you see how in Indeigium’s last run he used a new spring technique, I wonder if you moved your ankles to a slightly more forward position if you would be able-” Midoriya vivid explanation of the newest sprinting method, or whatever these two running addicts had been discussing was cut off as the group’s extroverts noticed Hawks making his way over.
“Hey, Hawks, it’s been a while. How are things going?”

Rumi shuffled over to make some space for him. “Pretty good. Nothing much to tell, unlike you guys. What’s this I hear about being arrested?” He asked, poking Rumi’s side.

“It really wasn’t anything. We just saw this group of teenagers beating up a kid and told them off.” Rumi looked oddly pleased for someone who less than an hour ago had been in police courtesy.

“For some reason, I feel like that isn’t the whole story.”

“Well, they didn’t like some of the words said. Tried to get one over us. Cops were called, and punches may have been thrown. Honestly, it wouldn’t have been a big deal, there were lots of witnesses to say that the group was wrong, but it turns out one of the kid’s brother is a cop.”
Hawks sighed, “So you punched him too, right.”
“You got the right bird brain.” Rumi gave him a wide grin raising an arm up dramatically for a high five. And naturally, as any best friend would, he couldn’t leave her hanging.

“Did you at least apologize to Midoriya?”

“It honestly wasn’t a problem.” Colour bloomed across Midoriya’s freckled face as his arms frantically waved in front of him. “Besides, it was the right thing to do. And we were lucky Shouto was in the office, so he was able to get us out without a warning, so really it’s fine.”

With looking up from his boba, Shouto spoke for the first time since Hawks had arrived.
“Fuck the police.”
Hawks’ mind blanked as Rumi let out a sharp bark of a laugh. Whatever Hawks had been expecting the multicolour man to say, it was not that.
“Shouto, you are the police,” Midoriya responded without skipping a beat. But at the side look, Shouto gave, Midoriya’s face erupted in scarlet before equally as quickly hiding behind his hands. This, of course, only made Rumi laugh harder.

Once the group had calmed down, Rumi pulled out the Ouija board that had been the start of all of Hawks’ problems that morning. Wordlessly, as if this was a completely ordinary occurrence, Shouto placed the board into the bag at his feet, making Hawks’ need to know ever stronger to why Mr. Detective owed such an object, to begin with.

Being the curious bird he was, he had to ask, “what do you even use a rainbow ouija for?”

Blue and grey eyes bore into his face completely stoic “to talk to the abyss,” at the same time, Midoriya answered, “He is trying to ask the pharaohs if it was aliens or mammoths that built the pyramids.”

This time even Hawks couldn’t contain the laugh bubbling out of his mouth; meanwhile, Rumi was clutching her sides. Tears pooling in the corner of her eyes as she lost any modicum of control she had over the rolling laugher.

Shouto, for his part, looked completely unphased, not bothered by the scene his words had caused, “were you able to get what you needed done?”

“No if anything, I think we made it worse. You see,” wiping the tears from her eyes, Rumi jabbed a thumb in his direction “this idiot bought a house with a ghost for a roommate.”

Shouto let out an airy hmmm. “Interesting tell me about.”

“Well he has really nice boots” Hawks recounted all that happened that morning, leaving out the bit about the egg. He was pretty sure they would use the board to contact Rumi next if she had another fit of laughter.

“You aren’t supposed to take your fingers off. Opens the door.” Shouto nodded sagely as if that explained absolutely everything.

Then it should have been bolded on the wiki how page, Hawks thought. If a portal to the netherworld could be opened by two idiots with a rainbow board, you would think it would have been written in bold neon glitter, something you couldn’t miss.

“You know who might be able to help, our high school teacher’s son is really into the same things as Shouto.” Midoriya added. “We would love to stay and help, but we have a flight to Vancouver later tonight.”
Rumi drooped, the big sports festival had been something she had been looking forward to all year. But for reasons she would not disclose to Hawks, Rumi had cancelled at the last minute.

“We’re hunting for Ogopogo afterwards.” Midoriya just patted Shouto’s leg absentmindedly, the look on his face spoke that this was likely a regular occurrence.

“We can give you Shinsou’s number, you can ask if he knows anything that can help. We won’t have cell service for the next couple of weeks, but feel free to send an email if things get worse.” Midoriya placed down some cash to pay for the drinks, and the two stood to leave. “ Hawks, where did you say you moved to?”

“Musutafu”

“Small world. That’s where Shouto grew up.”

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After Midoriya and Shouto left for the airport, Rumi sent a text to the person the couple recommended to help with their Spirit problem. Almost immediately, she had gotten a response saying he would be over later that night. With nothing better to do before they made another ghost busting attempt, Rumi and Hawks decided to order takeout to eat when they got back to Hawks’ place. On the way, Rumi drilled him over everything that had happened that morning with the ghost.

“For the millionth time, that’s all Rumi that happened.” Opening the door, Hawks was met with Dabi’s ruined form standing by the couch in the living room.

“I know, but it feels like I still can’t quite capture what it looks like.” Rumi’s eyes scanned the room, passing over where Dabi was standing without pause. The ghost and Hawks locked eyes, and Dabi's Glasgow smile grew. Rumi couldn’t see him.

Dabi raised a finger to his lips, and Hawks returned a sly smile. Play along.

“Oh ya, it was really spooky, Rumi.” He said adding exaggerated flare to his words, placing the fried chicken down on the counter.

“Do you think it is in the room with us?”
“I don’t know why don’t we ask? Hey, demon, it’s me, Hawks. If you are in the room with us, please turn off the light.” Hawks watched Rumi’s eyes widen in alarm.
“Hawks stop, what if it is. We made it pretty mad last time-” Rumi yelped as the lights went out.
Next to the light switch, one finger poised, was Dabi.

Was this how he had made the light show last time? Turning on and off the light switch? He gave Dabi a raised eyebrow, quietly asking the question he couldn’t speak out loud without letting on he could see exactly what was happening.

Dabi gave him a shrug, and it took everything Hawks had not to laugh.

“If you’re dead and you know it, flick the switch.”
“Hawks I am begging you please don’t-”
Dabi gave him a glare, but the blues displayed coiled amusement. Flicking the switch on and off with ever rapid speed, Hawks lost his battle with laughter, and Rumi looked ready to bolt.

“If you think lizardmen rule the wor-”

A knock at the door interrupted him, startling all three in the room. Dabi phased as if unsure whether or not to stay in the physical realm, interesting what could scare a ghost? Hawk made his way to the door opening it, holding Starbucks and a mess of purple hair a boy stood at his entranceway.

“Hello, I’m here for the cult stuff.”

Chapter Text

“Hello, I’m here for the cult stuff.”

A boy with a shock of wild purple hair and tired eyes stood at his doorway. Apparently, someone had neglected to tell Hawks their ghost guru was likely still in high school.

“Dude isn’t past your bedtime, and isn’t today Monday? You should not be at a random guy’s house this late.”

The child promptly ignored Hawks, brushing him to the side as Shinsou stepped in uninvited. Dabi, who still had a finger raised above the light switch, shrugged as if to say he was just as confused by this turn in events as Hawks.

“It’s fine. Literally, only five people have this number. Besides, the text message you sent didn’t exactly inspire ‘I’m about to get kidnapped vibes.’” Using the hand that wasn’t holding coffee, Shinsou reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone. Tilting the screen to show Hawks the message-

Howdy! We have a problem with the spirits. The Broccoli man said you could help XD.

Below were their names and address, stating the rough time Shinsou would arrive. Despite Shinsou’s acceptance that Hawks and Rumi weren’t criminals. If Hawks ever received a message like that never would he think to follow the vague instructions.

“Rumi, what the actual fuck.”

Hawks turned to his friend, who didn’t even bother to look even slightly apologetic.

“Incognito.” Rumi raised both hands as if the message had been perfectly normal, and Hawks was the weird one.

“Sounds like a bad drug deal. I can’t believe you came with a message like that didn’t anyone teach you stranger danger?”

Shinsou only took a sip of coffee.

Hawks pinched the bridge of his nose. One of these days, he would be able to sit down and watch his choice of TV without being interrupted by all these shenanigans.

“Ok, want to tell me what’s going,” Shinsou asked as he placed empty coffee on the small living room table.

Hawks and Rumi shared a glance, where to start? So much had happened over the last couple of days. It was throwing Hawks for a loop; he was just not in a place to deal with.

Rumi spoke up, saving him from trying to explain something Hawks didn’t believe in until all this slapped him in the face with evidence. “We used Shouto’s ouija board-”

Dabi frantically flicked the lights, finger dancing across the switch.

“Not now,” Hawks gave the ghost a steely glare, but looks can’t kill what’s already dead. The flickering stopped with the lights off. Turns out, the ghost was a petty bitch.

“Fuck, that makes things complicated. I hate that thing, it’s literally the only board that actually works.” Shinsou turned the flashlight on his phone as he walked over the switch. Looking like he could care less about the grotesque ghost centimetres away from him.
“Move”

Hawks didn’t know what was more surprising that Shinosu could indeed see Dabi or that Dabi actually moved.

Bending over, Shinsou pulled out a phone charger from his back pocket and plugged it next to Hawk’s flamingo lamp.

“Why are there eggshells over here?”

The blush stung his cheeks as his face flared with heat. He pointedly ignored the inquisitive looks Rumi shot at him. Dabi shooed away from his spot next to the light switch, stood at the edge of Rumi’s couch. Joining in on the questioning look, ‘Ya tell them, what happened, Hawks?'

Looking away from the judging eyes, he turned his attention back to the teenager, “how do we go about this.”

“So basically I summon my ghost, and he will talk to your ghost. Then we see what happens.”

Rumi looked around the room as though if she looked hard enough, the ghost would appear, face green at the thought “great more ghosts. Can you sense where ghost number one is now?”

Shinsou’s violet eyes met his, and the mutual agreement was made not to tell Rumi that said ghost was hovering beside her.

Shinsou’s face scrunched, nose wrinkled with concentration. The room buzzed with the thrumm of electricity. Rumi’s hair rose with static creating an eerily white halo and made the hairs on Hawks’ arms stand on edge. Spooky, the wild energy for some unknown reason put Hawks more on edge than the intense heat Dabi released when annoyed.
A blonde teenager dressed in black leather, the new ghost materialized next to a drained looking Shinsou. Though the new ghost appeared to be of a similar age to Shinsou, the old fashioned headphones spoke of technology that had gone out of fashion decades ago.

“Pikachu meet Birdman and Rumi Usagiyama.”

“Hey, why does Rumi get a proper introduction?”

“Because I actually respect her, and no joke, she looks like she could kill me with just her legs.”
“It’s true,” Rumi nodded sagely, “My thighs are thicc.”

The Shinsou’s ghost turned to Dabi, “Hi, my name is Denki Kaminari.”
Dabi’s face turned oddly blank as blue eyes met eclectic yellow, his body tensed next to the whizzing cheerfulness. It was the most reserved Hawks had seen him in the brief encounters.

“Hey, don’t be shy. What’s your name.”
Dabi pointed at his face indicating that it was not due to shyness that he wasn’t speaking.

“You flop at ghosting. Just change your form, man.”

Now it was Dabi’s turn to look like an idiot, dumb surprise laced his features, and a laugh forced its way out of Hawks’ mouth. For the drama and money wasted because of this bastard became worth it for the look on his face.

Shinsou turned away from the two spectors, “So while the idiots do their thing, let’s talk.”
The look of bored indifference remained plastered on Shinsou’s face as if speaking about the weather, an average day that didn’t warrant much interest. Damn, Hawks knew his life had gone from interesting to not, but it annoyed him that the only exciting thing that happened to him in months didn’t phase the teenager.

Rumi let out a soft snort at Hawks’ growing distress. “I like this kid” and slung an arm over the purple hair teen. “So, as you have noticed, we have a problem that needs to be dealt with.”

He waved a hand at his crazy friend, “can we please stop making this sound like a hit or any other illegal activity.” Hawks said as he perched on the other edge of the couch.

“Hey how come I can't see any ghosts?” Rumi asked.

As the only person in the room with a genuine fear of the supernatural, Hawks could tell Rumi was feeling anxious about being the only not able to see what was going on.

“It's because he-” Shinsou tilted his head in Hawks’ direction “owns the house. If the spirit has learnt to properly manifest only a person with a close connection to the property can see them.”

Rumi perked up and pulled out the cursed black box Hawks had come to associate with what hell must be like.
“Does that mean we get to use the spirit box?”
Hawks almost hated to crush the eager light that radiated from his friend. Thankfully Shinsou spared him with a quiet “Fuck the spirit box.”
Hawks was just glad that a professional ghost talker also thought the box was dumb.

3 to1 spirit box haters.

Rumi, as the one pro-box voter, however, sagged sadly, “I am no longer a fan of this kid, I couldn’t return it. So Hawks, I will be expecting those 50 bucks back.”

Great another ghost expense.

Shinsou shrugged, “it’s not the weirdest session I’ve done, but I do have to get home soon. So let’s get this started. So first things first, your ghost sucks at ghosting.”

For some reason, it rubbed Hawks the wrong way, and his chest puffed up with a held-in breath. Sorry, his crispy ghost wasn’t all that cool, apparently.
“Hey, now, he spooked us pretty good.”

Shinsou rolled eyes “second thing-” ignoring Hawks’ comment like he hadn’t spoken at all. “don’t talk about time. Ghosts have a weird sense of how long they have actually been dead for, it’s better not to cause panic. You’re lucky that your ghost does realize that he is dead, so we don’t have to waste time with that.”

The flush returned to his cheeks at Shinsou’s words “hold on he isn’t my ghost--”

“Thirdly,” Shinsou continued. “I don’t think he is the only ghost here. Have you had other encounters?”

Well, if one wasn’t enough. Hawks couldn’t recall any other experiences besides Dabi, but then again, he hadn’t exactly explored the property outside of the main living quarters.

“Hold on, are you saying there are more ghosts in the house.” Rumi said in a low voice, but their resident spirits didn’t seem to notice as Kaminari distracted Dabi with explanations on ‘how to ghost.’
“That’s exactly what I’m saying”
“Hey! So Rumi gets her questions answered,” The indignity of this was getting on Hawks’ nerves.
Rumi leaned over to pat his leg, nodding away his annoyance.

“The good news is that only one seems to be----”

Shinsou was interrupted by a new voice. One that lofted through the room like thick dark smoke.

“So, I have to ask Birdy. Do you eat anything besides fried chicken?”

Metal of piercings glinted in the dim light, and a mosaic of tattoos weaved across exposed skin stretched up to cover areas of his intact face. Tall, but lanky, his sharp features no longer obscure by angry burns ran shivers down Hawks spine making his heart race. Whereas just a few minutes ago Dabi resembled a don’t play with fire ad, he now could model a punk magazine.

Several things then happen simultaneously.

Hawks’ eyes widened, trying to absorb the scene in front of him, the air stopped in his lungs, and a soft gasp left his lips before he could stop it “oh shit you’re hot.”

Rumi narrowed a steely look on Hawks “Don’t you fucking dare.”

Kaminari froze in shock at the man in front, let free a crackle of electricity and Shinsou phone charging innocently promptly exploded

“It’s you” hissed out from the buzzing spirit, alight with raw white power.

Shinsou watching his phone going up in flames contributed only a-
“I am very uncomfortable with the atmosphere we have created in the studio today.”

Chapter Text

The air crackled with the waves of energy emanating from Kaminari. The blonde teenager had changed drastically. The hems of his clothes were singed, ruined and burnt, dark soot clinging to charred portions of his skin. The friendly smiling face transformed into something terrifying. 

Hawks, however, was transfixed on Dabi. His form flickered between the two versions, face fastened in a snarl. The flames of Shinsou's poor phone switched from warm orange to a steely, cold blue. 

"So I see the Pomerian's sidekick bit the dust. Did he finally get tired of you tagging along?" Dabi sneered mockingly. 

"Like your one to talk. You would be stuck looking like a piece of burnt garbage if it wasn’t for me."

"Wow, that was creative. Glad to see we that class made you smarter."

"Which one? The one you kidnapped us in or the one we were held hostage in? You guys didn't give a lot of learning time." Kaminari's aura fried the air, making Rumi's hair float in a chaotic halo. 

Clearly, the two ghosts had met before.

Well, this was awkward. 

The thick tension wrapped the room like a suffocating vice. Thanks to some quick Googling Hawks and Rumi pulled last minute, Hawks knew people had experienced certain dangerous situations with the supernatural. Most of them ranged on a scale of ‘freaky’ to ‘deadly danger’, but up until this moment, Hawks hadn't been very concerned with having a ghostly roommate. Despite being a grade-A asshole, Dabi had yet to give Hawks a good reason to fear the ghost. But if two angry spirits could outright murder a cellphone, what about the three Shinsou mentioned residing in the home? Whelp, Hawks guessed this was why people were afraid of ghosts. He was starting to get it now.

Even Rumi, who until that moment had been blind towards the presence of the ghosts, stared wide-eyed at the evolving chaos. The only person not affected by the increasing spiritual aggression was Shinosu, sitting in the same position looking reasonably unimpressed by the scene. Did nothing faze this kid? 

The purple-haired teen stood warily "oi idiots."

Neither ghost turned away from the other and responded to Shinsou's interruption of their passionate staring intimidation.  

"Huh"

"What!" 

The hostility of the room vanished like whispers in the wind. An empty blankness clouded the eyes of the two ghosts before they too disappeared. Like a puppet with its strings cut, Shinsou slumped back onto the sofa; if the boy looked tired before now, he was positively exhausted.  

"Kid, what just happened?" Rumi's ashen face turned to look at Shinsou with concern.

"I dispelled them. Kaminari won't be able to enter the house again without permission, but for the other one, it won't last very long, not in his home turf." Lord, even his voice sounded worn out as if every word was an insurmountable effort to speak.

"That was a surprise. When you said you had a ghost problem, I didn't think that the ghost would be the infamous league of villains member."  

Hawk's mind whizzed with a flurry of thoughts. He could vaguely remember the league of villains. They had been a fairly well-known terrorist group when Hawks had been a child. Still, though, he would know if Dabi had been a part of the group, right? Hawks and Rumi had searched the name the first chance they got, but nothing significant had popped up, and surely the relator would have mentioned if a member of Japan's most recent terrorist group member had died in the house. Dabi didn't look like he died a quiet death, so why wasn't a part of the searches he and Rumi found?

"Ya, their leader is still in jail," Shinsou continued, "but if it wasn't for Kaminari telling me about his friend being kidnapped by the group, I wouldn't know who Dabi was either. After most of the group members were caught or killed, Dabi's name disappeared, or that's what Pikachu tells me at least. We're not sure exactly what happened."

"That doesn't make any sense from what I looked into a ghost usually only haunts the place where they died." Rumi pointed out. 

Shinsou shrugged, "That's usually true, and since the guy isn't a skilled enough spirit to transfer. It doesn't make sense to me either."

Hawks had been mostly silent up until this point asked, "so what now, I just keep living with a known terrorist? And what about the other ghosts you mentioned, what do we do about them."

Rumi snorted, giving a Hawks coy smirk "you didn't look too upset earlier."

"That" Hawks paused to point a despairing finger at his friend, "is beside the point. The point is somehow, the house was involved with terrorists, and I think I have the right to be upset." 

But Hawks had to admit when Dabi pulled himself together and stopped falling apart at the seams, he was incredibly good looking. In 'I shop at Hottopic and drive a motorcycle' kind of way.

"Out of the three, Dabi has the most hostile presence and since he hasn't done anything to you yet-"

"Except breaking my TV," Hawks interceded.

"Besides Television-cide, he hasn't done anything. I wouldn't go around provoking the other presence in the house. From what I can sense, it is trapped in the left-wing of the house. Have you explored that area?"

"Not really," Hawks had neglected much of his new home, sticking mostly to the main living area and his room. The house was too big for one person, and the layout mostly described the left wing as a personalized gym. With everything an athlete could want, for Hawks though that just served to depress him further. 

"Ok, stay away from there for now. I will do some more research and see who might be haunting that portion of the house. As for the other one, they're sticking to the cherry trees outback. That one has no aggressive aura. I would still be cautious but feel free to go talk to them. They might be able to give you some information about others."

"Wow, Hawks, you just had to buy the haunted house. It's like the plot of a bad horror film." Rumi pushed herself off the couch, making her way to the door. "I'm done with this supernatural bullshit. Shinsou, I'll give you a ride back and Hawks, I really encourage you to come to spend the night at my place."

It was a tempting offer. Hawks knew that any logical person would stick a ‘for sale sign’ first chance they got. But at the same time, there was a puzzle here that he wanted to solve. And it certainly helped when the puzzle was exactly his type. 

"Thanks, Rums, but I think I'm going to stay."

Rumi shook her head. "You are going to be the death of me, you know."

He gave a soft laugh, "Well, you can join the party."

Shinsou, who had dragged himself to the door, spoke up. "I'm going to try to get some more information out of Kaminari, I'll let you know when I can find a solution."

"Thanks, Shinsou, and sorry about the phone, I'll buy you a replacement." Hawks offered. He felt bad for the kid, made to come out to a stranger's house only to have his phone murdered by an angry ghost terrorist.

"Don't worry about it. My dad gets free tech from work, and this isn't the first time a ghost has murdered my cell."

Shinsou headed towards Rumi's car, leaving the two friends alone in the doorway. 

"Are you sure you don't want to come with us?"

Hawks shook his head. "Nah, but thanks, Rumi, for sticking with me through all this." 

Rumi grabbed him in a one-arm hug, "Always." She moved to follow Shinsou but stuck her head back inside at the last moment. "And Hawks, don't bang the dead guy."

An ugly snort burst out of him, but the wink he gave Rumi was sly and full of sin. "No promises."

With that, Hawks was left alone, well mostly alone. What started with a murdered TV now involved a house of dead terrorists. It could be worse, his mind tried to reason as he tidied up the mess the group made. It literally could not be worse. Who was he fooling himself? 

With everyone gone and Dabi likely refusing to show up -most likely sulking in the shadows like the edgelord that he was-  there wasn't much left to do but go to bed. It had been a long weird day, Hawk's shoulder ache, his head fogged with sleep, and his bed's call could not be ignored any longer. 

Hawks walked down a hallway filled with broken doors. Whispers and noises drew him in. A red door kissed by fire, lured him to it with the sound of children's laughter. But as his hand turned the knob, the laughter shifted into screams 

"No, please, Dad, I can do it. Please let me try again. No, Dad, please don't."

Shaken, Hawks released his hand from the door, snatching it back as if the knob was made of hot iron. The pleading voice nagged in its familiarity, where had he heard it though? The thought of the young voice left him as Hawks returned into the corridor. 

Hawks continued to journey down, ignoring the voices, screams, and other doors' distorted sounds. As he walked the hallways too turned into something from Hawks’ memory, he was sure these were the walls of the house. Hawks reached the end of the hall, standing before the largest of doors. Out of all the entries, this one scared him the most; Hawks knew something terrible would happen if he opened this door. Just as Hawks stood wondering what his next move should be, the small grey door opened to his left—warm light embracing him away from the terrible door in front of him. 

A young girl sat on the floor, playing cards with a masked man. Hawks knew he had never met the two, but he felt a certain familiarity with the pair. A fondness he had no reason for, they were important to him. Another figure sat a little away from the two on the ground. Pale locks hid his face from view, Hawks didn't feel the same soft fondness for this person. But instead begrudging respect and a sense of equality with this unknown figure.

Hawks didn't stop to examine the scene further. He felt pulled to a door that led to a lone dark figure out on the balcony. 

"So you made it" Dabi turned to look at him, a cigarette held loosely in long delicate fingers. 

Hawks moved next to him, watching gentle smoke slip from Dabi's thin lips. 

"This some kind of kinky dream you dragged me to, Mr. Terrorist?"

Dabi slipped him an insidious grin. "It can be if you want it to be."

"At least buy me a new TV first." Hawks let the words slip in a slow drawl, mimicking Dabi’s natural lilting slurs.

Dabi let out a laugh that danced like the wisps of the cigarette, it alit Hawks with a warmth he had not felt in a while. Hawks had known Dabi only a short time, but Hawks knew he would fall under the spell of this ghost if he wasn't careful. 

"So, are we gonna talk about what happened tonight?" Hawks asked.

Dabi hummed, drawing the smoke in a smooth inhale. "Which part?"

"The beginning?"

"Sorry, you have to be at least a 10 in bed to unlock my tragic backstory."

Hawks laughed, as Dabi lounged cat-like against the railing. Though he felt mildly insulted that Dabi didn't just assume he was an 11. 

"The terrorist bit then."

"Ah," a mellow exhale released the smoke in feathery rings, "what can I say daddy issues and pettiness can make terrorism seem like the right decision at the time." 

"Ah, yes, the only logical choice. These are your memories, then?"

"Whose else would they be?"

Hawks perched his head on the arm, giving Dabi a sidelong glance. "Look, it has been a wild ride recently. Cut me some slack, man."

Dabi snorted but didn't elaborate further. Obviously, there was more to that statement than Dabi wished to share with Hawks, and the last thing Hawks wanted to do was step over the forbidden line that led to the drama that happened earlier. Ghosts, as Hawks was coming to learn, were indeed rather spooky. 

They stood in silence for a while, watching the night sky as Dabi continued to smoke. For the first time in a long time, Hawks was content to simply be. Odd that this peace would come in the presence of a self-confessed causer of national chaos. The league may have been a significant presence before Hawks really knew what was actually happening in Japan. Their stories were largely abandoned by the time Hawks had grown to understand them. Only minor changes and added security in schools were the League of Villains legacy. Despite them being criminals, it was kind of sad to think Hawks and Rumi couldn't find out Dabi had been a part of the group.

"Those things will kill you know," Hawks said, pointing at the smoke that, despite having to be out for a seeming eternity, looked no less depleted. 

Hawks was blessed with another treasured laugh. Oh, lord, he was falling hard for this tragic ghost story.

"Thanks for the info, but all things considered, I think I'm doing pretty good for a dead bitch.”

Chapter Text

Sunlight drifted in through the blinds of Hawk’s bedroom window, warming the right side of his face and gently freeing him from the dark tendrils of sleep.

“Morning Birdie”

Fuck, Hawks knew that smoke kissed voice. Blinking away the last remnants of grogginess, a tattooed face slowly came into view. Dabi laid on the other side of Hawk’s bed, far too close for comfort and head propped up on a heavily decorated arm. Closer up, Hawks could make out the details of a dragon snaking its way up Dabi’s wrist. Hawks’ wondered what other art pieces were hidden underneath the dark fabric. Can ghosts even remove their clothes? Hawks wasn’t sure how he could find out? He couldn’t exactly ask Dabi to strip, could he?

“Oh great” Hawks groaned, “I see dead people.”

Dabi’s smile was sharp and biting, making the graceful features of his face evermore defined. It really wasn’t fair. Hawks thought that the most attractive guy he’s ever encountered just happened to also be the most dead.

“Pleasant dreams?”

And also the biggest asshole.

Throwing a blanket at someone was much less satisfying when said projectile just passed through. Hawks made a quick mental note to stop throwing things. Quickly popping into the bathroom to change and brush his teeth, Hawks could hear the mocking snickers from the ghost he just tried to cover in a sheet. Gathering up his remaining dignity, Hawks begrudgingly headed towards the kitchen for some much-needed coffee, Dabi trailing right behind him.

“So are we going to talk about the elephant in the room?” Hawks asked.

The startling information yesterday weighed heavily on his mind. For all Hawks knew, Dabi was a criminal who apparently attacked Shinso’s ghost at some point. Was Dabi the reason the kid died young, Hawks’s tolerance drew the line there.

“Not much to tell.” Dabi shrugged and perched himself on Hawk’s kitchen counter.

“Kidnapping?” Hawks opened the tap filling the kettle with water before setting it to boil. The coffee could not come soon enough.

“It really wasn’t all that exciting. The boss wanted to get this kid to join the group. Kid said no, and we got tricked by pizza. At most, the kid missed some school”

“Ah yes” Hawks stuck his head in the fridge. He really should do some shopping, he thought, looking at the sad take out Rumi left from the night before. “Because that explains why Denki tried to fry you.”

Dabi continued to watch Hawks from atop the kitchen counter as Hawks sat to take the first sip of the much-needed bean juice. “Nah I’m pretty sure he was more upset by the time we interrupted the class’s lame summer camp with a forest fire and sleeping gas.”

Hot coffee escaped from his mouth, forcing a harsh series of coughs that made Hawks’s eyes burn. “I’m sorry you did what?”

Dabi waved a dismissing hand in Hawks’ direction “No one got seriously hurt” Dabi paused and seemed to rethink his words “ok, that’s a lie. No one was permanently injured”

“I’m pretty sure the forest would not agree with you. You gassed a group of children that is far from ok.”

“Technicalities”

Hawks sent a glare Dabi’s way. “Anything else?”

“Not at the moment, no. For the record, I only lit the fire.” Dabi motioned his hands as if to wave away any other concerns Hawks may have.

“Oh if that was all, I’m sure it’s fine.”

Hawks finished eating the pathetic meal he called breakfast; what a way to start the morning. Checking his phone for the time, the ten ‘do-you-live?’ messages Rumi had sent popped out on the screen. Hawks replied with a quick ‘debatable’ before turning his attention back to his unwanted roommate.

Dabi’s eyes were transfixed on the phone, curiosity reflected back in the blue of his eyes. Since the partial ‘identity reveal,’ the puzzle that was Dabi began to come together painfully slowly.
There were a few things Hawks was aware of, and one of those being the League of Villains stopped being a thing over twenty years ago, so Hawks wasn’t surprised Dabi was so interested in his phone. Shinso’s warning about ghosts and time popped unbidden to his mind. Was Hawks supposed to keep the technological time passage a secret? Kind of an impossibility considering today’s times. Hawks couldn’t keep that hidden between the TV and phones, Dabi must already have an idea that some time must have passed. But what would happen when Dabi found out that time was 20 plus years?

Hawks idly flipped the phone in his hand, watching as Dabi re-schooled his features into blank nonchalance. “Like what you see?”

“Well they certainly didn’t have those when I had a pulse. It’s a lot smaller than the one I had. Where did antena and keypad go?”

“Ok boomer, those bricks you called phone went out of style a while ago.” They were reaching danger territory, and Hawks was doing the one thing Shinsou told him specifically not to do. But Hawks had to admit he was curious, and really could you blame him?
“How long ago do you think who’ve been um… deceased?” Hawks watched closely for any change in Dabi’s expression. But Dabi just shrugged.

“I don’t know, a few weeks, maybe?”

Hawks stared incredulously, “Do you think the Keyboard just up and yeeted in a few weeks?”

“Few months?”

Hawks groaned but let off the questioning for the moment. He had about half an hour to kill before Rumi came to give Hawks a lift to the city for his doctor’s appointment. Hawks gathered the migar dishes used, setting them in the sink for future Hawks to worry about.

Dabi hadn’t moved from his spot on the counter, and had it not been for the pale grayness that when the light hit just right, it could almost leave you convinced your mind was playing tricks, Hawks could almost pretend Dabi was just someone who had spent the night.

“So not fair” Hawks muttered under his breath.

“Sorry what was that.” Dabi placed a mocking hand beside his ear.

Hawks felt his cheeks light up uncomfortably “Nothing”

“You’re very chill for just finding out your roomie is a gang member” Dabi’s face nor voice changed when he spoke, but Hawks got the image of a cat waiting to see if it would be shooed away if it got any closer.
“Was, my man, was” Hawks corrected

If looks could kill, the house would gain another ghost to its collection “Ha ha” was Dabi’s only reply.

Hawks thought his joke was funny.

Hawks shrugged, “it is what it is, man. There’s not much I can do about it now. What could I do anyways call the cops on a ghost? I would probably be locked in the psych ward.”

Dabi stayed quiet, but Hawks liked to imagine he looked a little more relaxed. Hawks' phone vibrated in his pocket. A message from Rumi popped up on the screen, telling him she was on her way to pick him up. Hawks gathered himself up; he hated having to leave after he just began to get a little information out of Dabi. Oh well, it’s not as if Dabi can exactly go anywhere.

“Going somewhere, Birdie?”

Hawks paused while putting on his shoes to look up at Dabi, giving him a sly grin, “wouldn’t you like to know.”

“I don’t really care. I guess I will just entertain myself seeing I can break more shit.”

“Not the flamingo lamp. Or I’ll have your ass exorcised so fast.” Hawks pointed an accusing finger. Redrawing the tolerance line to include the lamp.

Dabi laughed, and for once, Hawks joined him. Joy bubbled in his chest, warming the tips of fingers and spreading throughout his body. Hawks realized he was beginning to like this, whatever this was. Having Dabi around brought weirdness and large bills, but Hawks went to bed with a smile on his face for the last few nights.

Hawks grinned “Well then I’m off, I’ll be back in a few hours. I better see that lamp in perfect condition when I come home.”

Dabi turned away, not bothering to say anything as Hawks shut the door. Home, yes, that was a nice thought. Hawks hadn’t left yet, and he already wished he could go back. Hawks proceed down the long driveway that leads to the front gate. Whoever lived here before him must have liked their privacy. You couldn’t see the enormous house from the small road, and the rows of sakura trees hid the majority of the property from view. Hawks liked to imagine a happy family or well to do old couple lived there. But that image just added to the confusion as to why League of Villains member Dabi haunted the house.

At the gate, Hawks saw a figure standing underneath one of the bigger sakura trees near the entrance. Picking up the pace, Hawks could see a young woman with pale hair lined with strips of red. Large glasses sat on a round pretty face, framing eyes of soft grey. All in all the women gave a librarian vibe.

“Hi, can I help you?”

The woman startled, wiggling slender hands “Sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude.”

Hawks felt guilty at scaring her “No problem, I don’t mind at all. I just moved in recently, so I don’t know any of the neighbours yet.”

Not that he had made much of an effort anyway.

The woman relaxed slightly “Don’t mind me” she paused, and the next words sounded oddly unsure “I used to live around here.”

“Really that cool! I’m Hawks, by the way,” The women didn’t seem inclined to shake the hands that were still wringing around themselves nervously, so Hawks didn’t offer.

“I’m Fuyumi” She didn’t offer a last name, and Hawks thought that was fair, he hadn’t either.

A loud honk interrupted them, just as Fuyumi was about to say something, and Rumi flashed the headlights of her car.

“Bitch hop in!” Rumi called sticking her head out the window of the car.

Somewhat miffed at Rumi’s rudeness, he turned to apologize to Fuyumi, but when he turned around, she was gone.