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"The number one hero is missing." That sentence kept echoing on every news station. Abducted from a hospital after the big fight last week. Endeavor was still recovering, as were a fair number of other heroes. Those who were well enough to stand were out still hunting the League of Villains - or whatever they decided to call themselves now. But the League was always good at disappearing quickly.
As determined by the implied hierarchy of the rankings, Hawks found himself leading the search and rescue efforts. It has been a rough time for top heroes lately. The commission made sure to stress how important this getting resolved quickly really is. For once being too fast for his own good was working against him. This is not really his preferred area of expertise.
"You, search over there," Hawks said, directing the new heroes that showed up. Endeavor had only gone missing an hour ago. Surely they were still in the city. "You, over there. Spread out. We'll find him."
Even the two heroes who showed up didn't seem very convinced, exchanging a look and hesitating with their new orders.
"We'll find him," Hawks repeated. "Just keep it going."
The heroes nodded and went off to their assigned areas, but Hawks was still having trouble believing his own words. To be taken from a heroes hospital. Without anyone noticing. No damage to the building. He would suspect a warp quirk but those are so rare, and the one he knew of was already locked up. Still, to go missing in the middle of the day, despite all the guards and fail safes...
His phone rang and Hawks answered it with his headphones without even checking who it was. Not like him, but any information, from any source, was worth listening to right now.
"Hello, Keigo," the voice said on the other end.
"Who is this?" Hawks asked immediately.
"Ouch," the voice continued, more familiar now. A mock hurt to the word. "Has it really been that long?"
Hawks felt his shoulders sag as recognition him him. "...Dabi."
"So quick to forget," Dabi said with a smile. "Welcomed back to the limelight, and you're already sweeping your little, ah, indiscretion under the rug."
"I don't have time for this," Hawks said. "You have him, don't you?"
"Hmmm. Maybe. I have a lot of people. I once had you. You'll have to be more specific."
"Cut the shit, Dabi."
"Ooooh, language." Hawks could clearly picture Dabi's smug grin. "That's not becoming of the soon-to-be-number-one hero."
Hawks should have started tracing the call the moment he picked up. He sent a text to one of his sidekicks now, hoping he hadn't lost too much time. He'd just have to keep Dabi talking a little longer. "Is he still alive?"
"Let me check," Dabi said casually, followed by what sounded like a kick, and a long, weak groan. "Seems like it. Shame."
"What's your game here," Hawks said, sending off a flurry of texts. This number - it must be a burner phone. His sidekick confirmed, it's not a public phone, or a registered cell phone. It's gonna take a bit more time to trace. "Why call me?"
"You know, I'm getting the sense that you're not appreciating my reaching out." Footsteps echoed over the line. A big building? Definitely empty. Dabi always liked to wear those over the top black boots with leather soles, so the floor must be stone. Marble? "Remember when you used to beg for my attention?"
"So, what. Revenge? Is that what this is?"
Dabi laughed, and it echoed. Definitely a big building, or at least a big room. Stone floor. Probably abandoned, if he was happy to just kick Endeavor and not worry about him yelling.
"Obviously, bird brain," Dabi said with a grin. "Revenge on two heroes at once? How could I pass this up?"
Just a little more time. "I'm surprised a long distance revenge is doing it for you."
"Keigo. Are you really not tracing this call?" Dabi sounded disappointed. "Surely it's been enough time to get my location by now. You're right. I do enjoy the personal touch."
"I told you not to use that name."
Hawks heard the crackle of Dabi's fire over the phone's speaker. It had been echoing in his ears ever since their fight, it took a minute to recognize it was not in his head this time.
"Wait--"
"You don't tell me what to do, bird brain," Dabi hissed. "Either come and find me or accept that you failed, and bask in your new title for the rest of your numbered days." The phone call ended. An address came over text, a location from the trace. Not too far from the hospital. An old bank building. Hawks set off, sending the maps and papers around him twisting in the wind. No telling how long the building would be standing, no time to talk to anyone else. Seconds counted. And he was the fastest.
The building was currently closed for renovations. There was a boarded up door, and some long windows up high. Hawks sent some feathers ahead to break the glass, following right behind them, feather sword at the ready. Sunlight streamed through the broken window into the entryway. In the middle of the marble floor was a circular burn mark, and a walkie talkie. By the door was a burnt up corpse - too small to be Endeavor. Probably a security guard, wrong place, worst time. Hawks swept down to the walkie talkie, picking it up and pressing the button to transmit. "Dabi."
The walkie talkie buzzed into life. "Wow, you really are fast." Hawks could barely hear groaning in the background. Endeavor was still alive. "You didn't think I would make it that easy, did you?"
"Who did you kill here?"
"Collateral damage," Dabi said easily. "So you know I'm serious."
"I already knew that." How long was the range on these things? Not more than a mile, right? "Kidnapping the number one hero proves that."
Dabi laughed, a cruel chuckle that echoed again. How many marble floored buildings could there me in a one mile radius? Hawks flew up through the broken window, going for a high vantage point to try and map it out. "You still claim him - this weak man - as the number one hero?"
"He's weak, but you had to wait until he was bedridden to make a move?"
"I'm strong, not stupid. Come on, Keigo. I thought you were smarter than this."
"Touya," Hawks said, carefully. It was a strong card to play, but it might backfire. "I know you're angry, but what will this solve?"
Dabi laughed over the walkie talkie, a crackle of flame, and a brief, stifled yelp. "I told you before, bird brain. I want to see hero society burn. Why not start with dear old dad?" Another shuffle - a kick? - and a groan. Still alive. But for how much longer? "You're taking too long."
Hawks was scanning buildings. Apartments. Small stores. The bank under construction. A few office buildings. Maybe... "You're the one hiding."
"What fun is a game of cat and mouse if it's easy?" Dabi paced around, with his footsteps echoing again. It had to be a big room. Maybe underground. No, definitely underground. "You know I like to be chased."
"You don't wanna do this," Hawks said, and he knew it was a mistake as soon as he transmitted it.
"I absolutely do. It's all I've thought about for years. I wonder if you'll be fast enough to save him..." Crackle of fire again. "I'm growing impatient, hero. I'm beginning to doubt you even want to save this waste of a human."
"I want to save everyone," Hawks said, looking at one particular tall office building. It is supposed to have a large basement, according to the floor plans his sidekick was looking at. It's sometimes used for speakeasy themed parties, so probably a marble floor. As soon as he gets a picture confirming it, he'll swoop in.
"We both know that's not true. Not anymore." Dabi was smiling. "Did you think I'd forget? Like you tried to? No, Pro Hero Hawks. Your sins live on. In me, and in you." Dabi's voice got louder, even as he hissed his next sentence in a whisper, holding the walkie talkie right against his mouth. "We both have our secrets. And we have each other's. You're out of time, Keigo."
"Touya!" Hawks yelled, but there was no answer. "Dabi!" he tried again, but there was just static. "Shit," Hawks muttered, diving down at the office building he had his sights on. He burst through the double doors and clashed into the heavy stairwell door without slowing down. The door down to the basement was locked, but was easy enough to push open with help from his feathers. The stairwell down was long - at least two full flights, and another locked door, blasted open. There was a gas lamp lit, providing dim light over a large, empty hall. Marble floors. And a body on the ground, next to a charred walkie talkie. Hawks could sense that Dabi was no longer here. He rushed over to Endeavor, noting with relief that the man was still breathing shallow breaths. Turning the number one hero over, he was a familiar burn pattern - the lower half of his jaw. His neck. And under his eyes. The skin was blistering. Angry, red, and newly affected. The same was on his arms, up to his hands. He didn't have much time with burns like these, unless Hawks got him to a hospital now.
There was a note pinned to Endeavor's hospital gown. In scrawled, recognizable writing, it read, "see the family resemblance?" Hawks grabbed it, tempted to crumple it in his hand, but carefully placing it in his pocket. Evidence is evidence. Maybe the analysts will learn something from this.
There was another note, on the back of the walkie talkie. This one Hawks took and crumpled, leaving the charred device where it was.
"Until next time, Keigo. xoxo"