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It was a clear night in the city, the stars twinkling like distant diamonds against the dark canvas of the sky. The hustle and bustle of Shinjuku had quieted down, leaving just the hum of distant traffic and the occasional whoosh of a passing wind. Above the rooftops, two figures stood atop a building, their eyes scanning the horizon.
Hawks stretched his wings, feeling the cool night air brush against his feathers. His golden hair glimmered under the starlight, and his posture was relaxed and confident. Next to him, Dabi leaned against the edge of the rooftop, his dark clothing contrasting heavily with the brightness of the night. He flicked a lighter in his fingers, the small flame illuminating his sharp features.
"What's up?" Dabi asked, his voice low, even casual, but there was a hint of curiosity in it.
Hawks turned, a playful grin on his face. "Just thinking... You know, we should do this more often. Just hang out, no missions, no heroes vs. villains. Just us."
Dabi raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth pulling slightly in a smirk. "You think anyone else would be crazy enough to come up here with you?"
"Probably not," Hawks admitted, shrugging. "But that's what makes it special." He stepped a little closer to Dabi, adjusting his stance. “You're not afraid of heights, are you?”
“Not afraid, just... indifferent,” Dabi replied, taking a drag from his cigarette. He exhaled slowly, watching the smoke blend into the air. “It’s a nice view, though.”
“Right? The city can be pretty beautiful when you’re not dodging explosions and trying to save the day.” Hawks looked out over the twinkling lights below, a serene smile gracing his lips.
Dabi noticed the way Hawks’s eyes glimmered in the night, a softness that contrasted his usual bravado. “You really like all this hero stuff, huh?”
“It’s not just about being a hero for me,” Hawks said, turning to face Dabi. “It’s about making connections, you know? Finding moments like these where we can just... be ourselves.”
Dabi's expression shifted slightly, a fleeting vulnerability crossing his features. It was strange to him, this notion of connection. He'd spent so long in the shadows, focused on revenge and chaos. Yet, here with Hawks, he felt something different—a sense of ease.
“Yeah, well, some of us don’t do the whole connection thing,” he muttered softly, despite the warmth bubbling in his chest. “But I guess... this isn’t so bad.”
Hawks chuckled, leaning in a little closer. “You’ve got to admit, it’s nice to have someone to share the quiet with. Besides, I like having you around, Dabi.”
Dabi looked at Hawks, genuinely surprised. For all his bravado, he didn’t really expect the hero to be so honest. There was a warmth that radiated off the blonde hero, and it drew Dabi in, even if he tried to resist.
“Just don’t go trying to change me, alright?” Dabi replied, feigning nonchalance but unable to hide the hint of a smile creeping onto his face.
“No promises,” Hawks said with a smirk. He leaned in closer, testing the waters, and when Dabi didn’t pull away, he took that as a good sign.
“Let’s make a deal,” Hawks said, his voice lowering, an inviting glimmer in his eyes. “You keep coming up here with me, and I’ll keep the hero speeches to a minimum. Deal?”
Dabi rolled his eyes but let out a soft chuckle. “Deal. Just don’t expect me to hold your hand or anything.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Hawks said, his grin widening. With that, they both turned back to gaze at the skyline, the moment stretching between them—a fragile connection, but one that both felt deeply.
As the night wore on, the city lights flickered beneath them, but up on that rooftop, two souls found solace in the shared silence, knitting their worlds together one starry night at a time.
As the minutes slipped into an hour, Dabi found himself relaxing more in Hawks’s presence. The rhythm of their banter had become easy, weaving in and out like the wind flowing around them. Dabi leaned back against the cool metal railing, his gaze now focused on the stars, wondering about the lives beyond them.
Hawks, sensing the shift, took a moment to soak in the sight beside him. Dabi looked lighter in the moonlight, the harsh lines of his expression softened as he got lost in thought.
“Hey,” Hawks said, breaking the comfortable silence, “Tell me something. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?”
Dabi shifted slightly, caught off guard by the question. He turned to Hawks, curiosity in his gaze. “You really want to know?”
“Absolutely,” Hawks replied, his tone sincere. “It’s just us up here. No masks, no titles—just two guys having an honest conversation.”
Dabi rubbed the back of his neck, contemplating. “I guess... maybe a quiet place, far away from all this.” He gestured to the city below, the lights that flickered like a living entity. “Where I don’t have to think about the past.”
Hawks nodded, his expression turning thoughtful. “I get that. Sometimes I wish I could just escape, you know? Be somewhere where my hero instincts don’t kick in. But then I remember the people who count on me.”
“Such a noble sentiment,” Dabi teased lightly, a smirk playing on his lips. “But I didn’t picture you as the introspective type.”
“Hey, don’t underestimate me,” Hawks said, mock indignation shining through. “I can be deep. I’m practically a philosopher.”
“Oh please, the only philosophy you have is how to play the crowd,” Dabi scoffed.
“Maybe you’re right,” Hawks admitted, chuckling. “But at least I’m willing to enter the depths of your tortured soul.”
“Good luck with that,” Dabi replied dryly. But as the words left his mouth, he realized he had already revealed more of himself than he initially intended. There was something disarming about Hawks that made it easy to drop the façade, even just a little.
The air around them shifted as a gentle breeze picked up, carrying the city sounds as well as the remnants of Dabi's cigarette smoke. He pulled out another one, preparing to light it when Hawks raised an eyebrow.
“You know, you could quit anytime you want,” Hawks suggested lightly. “Just... one thought away from better lungs.”
Dabi rolled his eyes, the corner of his mouth quirking upward. “And become some kind of perfect hero? Not my style.”
“Can’t blame a guy for trying.” Hawks shrugged, a playful glint in his eyes. “Besides, I think it fits your bad-boy aesthetic.”
In a daring moment of spontaneity, Dabi leaned closer, the flames from his lighter casting shadows across their faces. “And what does my aesthetic say about me?”
“Complicated,” Hawks replied, brow furrowing slightly. “But in a good way. You’re not just shrouded in darkness; there’s something underneath all that. There’s a side of you that cares, even if you pretend it doesn’t exist.”
Dabi's heart raced, and he found himself staring into Hawks’s amber eyes, feeling a spark—something electrifying—that drew them closer. “You’re either incredibly naïve or just really good at reading people,” Dabi replied, allowing himself a moment of honesty.
“Maybe a little of both,” Hawks said, his tone softening. He glanced down, then back up, as if deliberating what to say next. “You know, I don’t want to change you. I just want you to know there’s more than one way to live. There’s more to life than revenge or chaos.”
Dabi’s facade wavered, and he felt an unusual warmth spreading through him. “You really think so?”
“I really do,” Hawks said, stepping even closer, enough that their shoulders brushed. “And I’m not just saying that because I want you to be my sidekick or something.” His tone turned playful again, but the underlying sincerity lingered.
Suddenly, a loud noise erupted from below, snapping them back to reality. A blast echoed through the streets as a villain's quirk activated in the distance. Dabi could feel the adrenaline start to surge.
“Guess our quiet night is over,” he said, his voice returning to its cooler edge.
Hawks sighed, his moment of vulnerability slipping away. “Duty calls, huh?”
“Looks like it,” Dabi replied, his heart racing for a different reason now. “But I’m not going down there without good reason. You going to rush in there like a hero?”
“Of course I am!” Hawks grinned, unfurling his wings, the feathers shimmering in the moonlight. But then he hesitated, glancing back at Dabi, a serious look crossing his face. “But why don’t we make it interesting? Let’s handle this together.”
Dabi’s heart skipped a beat, the challenge sparking something within him. “What do you have in mind?”
“We’ll take them down and show them what a villain and a hero look like when they join forces,” Hawks said, his playful confidence shining through. “And afterward, I’m dragging you back up here for more nighttime chats. Deal?”
Dabi didn’t have to think long. The thrill of the chase mixed with the odd feeling of camaraderie fired him up. “Deal. Just try to keep up, bird boy.”
And in that moment, as they took off toward the chaos below, the city lights flickered like stars, a reminder that even amidst darkness, connections could be forged in the most surprising of ways.