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Dabi didn't really trust Hawks, how could he? He was a hero, number two at that, still, he liked to think they were at least friends, it was odd how much in common they had.
He had once again broken into the hero's house and they were watching some shitty movie that the other liked. He couldn't really pay attention to the movie, Hawks looked beautiful, his golden eyes looked enthusiastically at the screen in front of them even if he'd seen it a million times, it was his favorite, he laughed as one of his favorite moments happened.
He was wearing a black hoodie he stole from Dabi, it was one of the few he had but it didn't look that good on him, so he let the other keep it. "Hey, Dabs? Do you like anyone?" he wanted to say that he liked him but he didn't have the courage to do so "Yeah, you?" he settled upon saying, he hoped that he'd say he liked him but he had to be realistic.
"Yeah! Don't tell anyone but, i like Rumi! She's just so pretty! She's aggressive and funny and sarcastic, honestly i think i have a thing for white hair, because i think most of the people I’ve liked had white hair, weird coincidence i guess, she's also so tall! She's like your height, a bit shorter i think" Hawks said. "You just think she's tall because you're stupidly short" Dabi said, a snarky response once again hiding his feelings.
It was odd that all that the other liked about Rumi matched him, he was funny, he was aggressive, he was sarcastic, he was tall and he had white hair, he just preferred to dye it, he couldn't figure out what she had that he didn't, if he stopped dying his hair would the other like him more? He wouldn't do it, he wasn't that pathetic, he didn't really like having his hair completely white, it was a constant reminder of his past life.
Nobody would ever find out about his past or his stupid crush on Hawks, that was a secret he only trusted himself and Toga with keeping, the girl loved gossiping but she could keep a secret, she was the closest thing he had to a best friend, he couldn't keep anything from her, she pestered him into talking about his past and knew about his crush on the winged hero before he did, something about his blood told her apparently, he didn't understand how that worked but believed her anyways
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Hawks was drunk, that was what he kept telling himself as the other kissed him, he'd take what he could get, he saw Toga's face as he left the bar with Hawks "You'll regret this later, don't do it" was what her golden eyes said, but he didn't care, he wanted to at least experience how it felt to be with the hero, even if it was fake, if he remembered, he'd say that they were both really drunk, he still held hope though, he was pretty sure he heard someone say that drunk actions were sober thoughts once, so he hoped that was what was happening and Hawks liked him.
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"I hate her so much! I just don't understand what's so special about her! Like sure, she's pretty but why her? It's always the white haired people, who's next? My brother?" he was complaining to Toga, she didn't mind hearing him talk about the two heroes thankfully, she was the only one who knew the truth and was the only one he could talk to.
"Look, Dabi, you need to move on! I know it sounds hard but, he loves someone else, you can't change that!" That was another reason why he liked her, she could be brutally honest at times, it hurt but it was better than being told lies to try and comfort him that he knew weren't true and hurt him more than comfort him.
"I know i can't change that! But sometimes i just can't help but wish she were dead, I’d never kill her for that, she makes him happy and i guess as long as he's happy I’ll be happy for him. I know I’m not as pretty as her but everything he likes about her are things that i have! Is it really the stupid fucking hair that changes everything? Would he like me if i let my hair go back to white?" He felt stupid, his crush on the winged hero was making him soft and he hated that.
"You need to remember that you deserve nice things too, Dabi! I know that you don't think that, you might be a villain but you're not a bad person other than that! You're like a big brother to me, you fill in the role that big sis mag left behind when she died, you need to see the good in yourself!" It was nice to hear that from her, he liked being praised, his father was never proud of him but hearing Toga's words made him feel a happiness he still wasn't used to.
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Dabi wasn't paying attention to what Hawks was telling him, he didn't remember what had happened that past night and it was fine by him, less to explain. Hawks was talking about things he'd done with Rumi, talking about the crimson sweater he'd stolen from her, it was from before she was a hero, it was polyester, he couldn't understand what was so amazing about her saying he looked better in her sweater than she did, he could have said the same thing when he saw the other wearing his sweater, but he doubted that would be as important as hearing those words from the white haired woman.
"Hey! Are you even paying attention?" He wasn't. "Not really, why? What is oh so important about her that i didn't hear?" he let venom slip into his words, to the other it probably sounded like he was just annoyed and tired of hearing about another fake hero. "Sorry, I’ll stop soon but i think she likes me back! That's what Fuyumi told me at least! Oh by the way Fuyumi is Endeavor's daughter, she's really pretty too, and her brother as well, if i didn't like Rumi so much I’d probably want to date one of them" of course Hawks liked his siblings, it seemed the world was laughing at his face.
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He couldn't believe what he'd just seen. Hawks was there, bright red feather dyed crimson with the blood of one of his friends.
He'd never admit it but he enjoyed Twice's company, he was annoying but he was one of Toga's friends, he didn't want to think about how she'd react. "But, well... betcha didn't know this either... This is the second time! The second time i managed to screw everyone over. Toga... She prolly won't do me that kindness again... but that's okay... I STILL GOTTA PROTECT THEIR HAPPINESS!" Those were the last words he heard the man say. "I'll be sure to tell the league that" He heard the man say, he saw red. The red of Hawks' wings, the red of the stupid sweater he wore, the red of Miruko's eyes,
"There's no need! I heard him loud and clear..." He steeped in Hawks' direction. "Didn't notice me there, didja?! Looks like sentiment tripped you up after all, hero!" He said, stepping on the winged hero's face. He used high amounts of fire, knowing it was his weakness. Somehow he escaped, but it was fine, most of his feathers had been burnt off.
"Burn 'im good!!" he heard Twice say, running away using the last of his energy, he knew he wouldn't survive but he wished that he'd live, Toga would be devastated to see him die. "Just you alone's enough to make quick work of those heroes down there. So, go nuts. The others are waiting for you." he ordered, he made his fire even hotter as the man passed by him, knowing he would be safe from the fire. Hawks had flown around and was trying to hit Bubaigawara as he escaped; he had one last trick up his sleeve, one to surprise the hero. "Keigo... Takami!!" he said, surprising the other. "How'd you know my name? Who are you?" He heard him ask, now that Twice was gone he could make sure that the winged hero fell and stayed dead.
He was practically burning alive, he could hear the slight sizzle and the staples that probably popped off but he didn't care, the other needed to die. Hawks was on the floor, burned but still alive. He came up to him, stepping on him once more "HOW COULD YOU?! HOW DARE YOU... KILL TWICE LIKE THAT!" He screamed at the man's face, the face he once thought he loved.
"Is that... The face of a man who just watched his friend die?!" He looked crazy, a maniac smile os his face.
"HEY, NOW!! THAT WAS RUDE! I HAVEN'T CRIED SINCE MY TEAR DUCTS GOT ALL BURNED!" If he could cry, he would, it was weird to him to be that affected by someone's death. "I fucking loved you! I thought we were at least friends, but i guess you never saw me as that, huh?!" all that was on his mind was that he had to kill Hawks, he had to avenge Twice, he had to fix his mistake, one of his biggest regrets was falling in love with a hero, they didn't care about people they were close to, all they cared about was saving strangers when they couldn't even save their fucking family.
"Goodbye, Hawks" he said as he launched fire off his foot, hopefully killing the man. The last thing Dabi saw of him was his pained face as he realized what he'd done. Good, he wanted the man to feel pain; he wanted him to see what he'd done and regret it, even if he couldn't do anything else. His vision blacked out, he had overused his fire, he wouldn't die but he'd at least stay unconscious for a while if nobody saved him. ‘Sorry Toga, sorry i couldn't save Twice’ those were his last thoughts as he fell to the ground unconscious.