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Keigo becomes a distant memory.
A scorching thorn in his heart that tugs his strings of sympathy, but a memory nonetheless. He reflects this thought one night, twirling the quill in his scarred hands beside the dwindling fire. The boy with a pair of ruby red wings and honeycomb eyes with a twinkle of mischief and kindness once wrapped his sun kissed hands in his bandaged ones, and told him everything would be alright.
They were both children, dancing in fields of flowers at dawn. Laughter would fill the air, and Touya’s heart would feel warm, helplessly addicted to that smile, and complete. Simply two boys with an unbreakable bond of a knight and a prince, unknowing of the storm that would sweep their peaceful bed of flowers away into a corrupted minefield. A minefield of a battle that raged as they waltz to a dangerous melody.
Beads of sweat would drop from Touya’s skin as he let the silver blade hover dangerously above Keigo’s neck. Keigo would sigh, and yield in defeat. They would continue to have endless rounds of play fighting, swords clanging together in an offbeat harmony. They would celebrate with pastries stolen from the amused chef and sneak into Touya’s room, gazing up at the stars with merely a glass window as a barrier to nature’s gentle breeze.
“You wanted to see me, my king?”
Dabi let turquoise eyes run through Hawks’ stilled figure, as the latter shut the door behind him. Silence stretched through the soundproof room, as Dabi continued to stare down at the man who started to fidget. He wished he could laugh.
“Are you aware of the tension that lies within these castle walls?”
Silence.
“I am.” came Hawks’ stiff answer. “What of it, my king?”
Gold eyes met blue. Hawks, ruby wings shaking and honeycomb eyes that are tired and exhausted and filled with the burdens of the upcoming war as Captain. Dabi resisted the urge to let his fingers run through golden strands of hair and plant a kiss on those cherry lips. He had done that, once upon a time.
It was a beautiful winter in February, in a season Touya enjoyed most. Merely days before Touya was sent to become a soldier and lead through waves of men to defeat Empress Shimura, Keigo dragged Touya from the castle walls and tumbled into the soft snow. They laughed, and dragged each other on the thin, icy surface of the frozen lake they used to swim in during summers. He had saw the childish wonder in Keigo’s eyes, something that became rare over his course of brutal training from the Commission, and couldn’t resist－
“Are the children still rebelling?”
“Protests have been repeatedly reported from Lieutenant Rumi, but I doubt you didn’t notice.”
“Young Bakugou and Midoriya show potential.”
“Recruiting them isn’t possible, they work for King Yagi. They remain loyal to their cause.”
Dabi let out a hum as he turned towards the curtains, facing his back towards Hawks. Well, the fact that Midoryia, generous but underestimated, was Toshinori’s apprentice was well-known throughout Japan. Bakugou, though explosive and impatient, was a great master of combat and wielded a powerful force that sent enemies bowing before his command－ he was an influential figure, a perfect pawn for Toshinori. But it was the fact that Toshinori treated his soldiers like his own family that surprised Dabi. How did the king manage to care for each and every one?
Touya knew to care long ago, to care for his siblings and protect them. Dabi knew only about vengeance and revenge for the pain that came with protecting. He admitted, he treated his soldiers not as humans but as pieces on a chessboard, cards of a deadly game. He could flick them off and draw them as bait if desired and not give a damn about them.
But Keigo－ Hawks , was an exception. He was the man that managed to barge into Dabi’s life with skill and made a place for himself somewhere in his heart. And the thought was nerve-wracking.
“They’re a third party between my war with Endeavor.” Dabi said, turning back as he played with the soft fabric of the curtains. “Whatever their cause shouldn’t be affecting ours. You can recruit them.”
“They’ve taken an oath of peace from Yoichi, my king. They’ve sworn to never hurt those who were commanded but defeat those who command. Even you wouldn’t tear a justified promise just for the sake of victory?”
Hawks seemed hesitant to follow his orders. He scoffed. “This victory is for the sake of our people. To create a world where power is no longer a factor in our daily lives. But perhaps you were never loyal to our future. No,” He stepped closer, but Hawks merely continued his bowing position, “You weren’t loyal to Endeavor’s either.”
It was only then did he let his own words sink into his mind. Realization dawned on him. It had occurred to him once or twice that he was a spy for Endeavor, hence merely giving vague directions and never actual plans, but to not be loyal to that damn bastard either…
He spotted the slight flinch and let his fingers run through his blade that was secured in his pocket. “Who’s side are you on?”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand, I’m on yours.” Hawks responded, his eyes widening just a bit at Dabi’s action.
In one movement, Dabi swept Hawks’ legs and pinned him onto the wall, blade now revealed and pressed inches away from Hawks’ neck. “ Who’s side are you on? ” He repeated, and he pressed the blade closer to tanned skin as the man above him struggled.
“Are you sure this is deemed necessary, m－ shit－” Hawks cursed as the metal finally scraped his skin, leaving a trail of crimson.
“You’re not the one with a weapon, so watch your mouth.” Dabi growled, threatening to press deeper. “Who’s side are you on?”
“Yours! Dammit, you want to know so badly? You!” Hawks managed through struggling, “Not Yagi, not Endeavor, not the League, you .”
Dabi blinked. He withdrew the weapon, but fingers were still around Hawks’ throat. He stared, trying to find a lie, a plan or a scheme, but what stared back was horror, and the truth. He felt confused, then, the Touya that was still somewhere deep in his soul, was screaming to be let out, so damn happy that Hawks was telling the truth. But Dabi processed, patient.
Apparently, Hawks had snapped, because he kept rambling.
“When you left after we kissed, I was devastated, you never came back for fuck’s sake－ then I started to forget, started to move on and then you came back disguised as some shitty villain that wreaked havoc, but I fell for you but I was so confused because I was scared, I had dreams that Touya was mad I fell for someone else but then those were your eyes, and I knew, but I never told because－” Hawks inhaled a deep breath. “Because there’s a war. And the last thing I needed was some stupid love interfering with my plans. I was, I was on Yagi’s side, but until a few months ago when I was sent here as a spy I have no fucking idea anymore. And that love really did interfere because here I am, still loyal to some king who treats his subjects like pawns.”
Silence never felt so agonizing. Hawks heaved, and Dabi let go, but the fight was drained out from the blond as he sunk onto the floor. Droplets of tears fell onto the ground. Dabi let the words sink in properly, paralyzed by his words.
“Dabi, please, he’s crying.”
“Yeah To, from all the shit he just spewed out.”
“Oh my god－ it isn’t shit! He loves you and you love him too. He just said it in broad daylight. Look at him. You’re gonna tell yourself he’s lying?”
“We just found out he’s a fucking spy, Touya. That’s what you’re focusing on right now?”
“But he loves you!”
“So? It’s a war. Little bird’s mind messed up because of love. It interfered with his plans. I have better things to do than kiss him and do chessy shit.”
“We both know that’s a lie. And who says you can’t do just that?”
“And what about the war?”
“Can’t you deal that with him?”
Dabi paused, then let out a frustrated sigh as he gave into Touya’s demands.
Dabi bent down, knees scraping the marble surface, and gently tilted Hawks’ chin to meet his eyes. Keigo flinched, looking vulnerable, golden eyes shining with fear, and Touya decided then and there he would never let anyone else cause this expression or bring hurt to his little bird.
He connected their lips.
They stayed there, before Keigo wrapped his arms around Touya’s waist, gripping tightly, as if he loosened the grip Touya would vanish. Touya settled by cupping Keigo’s chin, another supporting his back, wrapping in a gentle hug.
To think Keigo was loyal to him and him alone made his heart soar.
When they parted, Touya admired the sun that rained on his skin. Keigo looked uncertain, but with a “I love you too, pretty bird” from Touya, his lips broke into a smile that rivaled the sun itself.
“What now?” Keigo whispered.
Touya sighed. The reality was far from over. He was still Dabi, a fearsome king that wouldn’t hesitate to kill. Hawks was still devoted to Yagi’s motives.
“We’ll figure it out.” Touya replied.
For just a moment, he saw them in a field of flowers, clashing swords and bursting into blissful laughter. He saw them running through piles of snow. He tasted cherry lips and warm chocolate in a starry sky, unfinished pastries laid scattered around checkered picnic blankets.
He saw red, ruby feathers soar through the hushed fallen night of Japan. Bright blue flames engulf the lovely bed of sunflowers. They collide, and they see lilac skies.