Chapter Text
Hawks had not intended to be trapped in a prison cell.
He couldn’t afford to fail. He didn’t really know what would become of him if he failed. Clear your mind .
He banged his forehead against the bars mournfully. This had so not been part of the plan.
It was fine though. So fine. He’d figure this out. He just needed to think .
“Oi, shut up would you?”
Hawks blinked rapidly before narrowing in on the other bunk in the cell. “I didn’t say anything.”
The lump on the bed sighed deeply. “Didn’t need to, Jedi, I could feel your overthinking from all the way over here.”
A mass of scraggly black hair arose slowly. “Thought you lot were supposed to be real good at clearing your minds or whatever.”
Hawks’ feathers ruffled up behind him. “Who are you?”
The figure turned to look at him and Hawks’ mouth dropped open. Deep purple scars covered the man’s face and hands grafted to his healthy skin with shining staples. His haunting blue eyes stared down at him as he smirked. “What? The Force not tell you?”
Hawks shook his head and went back to pouting through the bars. “That’s not how the Force works.”
“Whatever pigeon.” The man stretched his arms above his head and there was audible cracking. “Can you move your magic ass away from the door though? Got places to be.”
Hawks wrinkled his nose and stayed firmly planted on the floor by the door. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed but we’re locked in, prison cell and all that.”
“Thank you, oh wise Jedi, I had no idea.” The man sighed deeply as he rose to his feet. “Seriously though, get the fuck out of my way.”
Hawks closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Jedi did not lose their tempers. Jedi did not even feel anger. His emotions washed over him like -
“Hey, birdie.” The man slapped him hard over the back of the head. “ Move .”
Hawks rolled his eyes and got to his feet and walked past the stupid man to the back of the cell. “Happy?”
The man leered at him. “Fucking ecstatic.”
The man cracked his knuckles and sighed. Then he put one hand on the door and blue electricity sparked from his hand and travelled the entire door as the lights flickered.
Hawks watched in shock as the door to the cell creaked open. “What-”
“Pigeon. If you could please shut the fuck up I’d really appreciate it.”
Hawks gasped dramatically. “You’re Dabi.”
Blue eyes flicked to him briefly before he walked out the door. “Look at that, the Force does tell you shit after all.”
Hawks stumbled out after him. “Wait, wait, wait , you can help me.”
Dabi didn’t slow down as he power walked down the corridor. “Was breaking you out of the cell not enough help? Ungrateful shit.”
“Right, uh, I appreciate that, thank you.”
“Great. Excellent. Fly away now, little bird.”
Hawks leapt out in front of him putting a hand against his chest. “Okay, but I really would like some more help.”
Dabi looked down at Hawks’ hand and back up to his eyes. “What.”
“It’s really not much, it’ll take like two seconds.”
Dabi just stared at him.
Hawks smiled winningly. “Great, so I’m looking for Todoroki. The Great Jedi Master? You have a lot of connections, right? Do you know where he is?”
Something dark flitted over Dabi’s face. Or maybe it didn’t, Hawks’ felt it.
He jumped back just before Dabi’s lit up hand sparked around where his hand was a moment ago. “I’d run along now, birdie, don’t want to test my patience.”
“Oh come on,” Hawks pouted. “Not even a little hint?”
“What is wrong with you?” Dabi snarled.
“To be fair.” Hawks leapt back again as Dabi lunged for him. “It was pretty hard getting a hold of you. Didn’t expect to get locked up and all, you absolutely ruined my stellar reputation.”
Dabi froze. Electricity sparked and crackled up his arms. “Oh for fuck -”
“Dabiiii.”
Dabi groaned and pressed his hands to his eyes. “I thought I fucking told you to stay on the ship .”
Hawks grinned at the girl holding twin blasters with buns in her hair. “But Dabs, the ship is sooo boring. I beat Twice at that game you play like four times.”
“Did you kill all the guards?”
The girl tapped a blaster to her mouth. “No.”
Dabi dragged his hands down his face. “Great, now we just grab one and-”
“Oh, I only killed half of them. Twice did the rest.”
Dabi kicked a wall.
The girl turned to him and smiled showing off her pointy teeth. “Hi, I’m Toga Himiko and you are?”
“ Leaving ,” Dabi snarled as he grabbed Toga under the armpit and dragged her behind him. “Where is Twice? Twice! You little shit!”
A great lumbering imperial droid appeared down the end of the corridor. “Dabi!” it cheered. “So glad to see you! I wish you were dead!”
“Do neither of you fuckwits understand the concept of a plan?” Dabi yanked the droid by the forearm and hauled his two companions around the corner, Hawks skipping merrily along behind them. “Please tell me Magne has the ship ready to leave.”
“Oh yeah course,” Toga said, purposefully dangling from Dabi’s grip. “She follows your orders sooo well, Dabs.”
“Yeah!” Twice added. “She loves listening to you. She fucking hates you.”
“I fucking told Shigaraki I didn’t need any damn backup,” Dabi muttered.
“Aww Dabs, you love us really.”
“Yeah, especially when we tell you what we got. I’ve never found anything in my life.”
Dabi halted abruptly. “What?”
Toga giggled and pulled out a drive from her jacket pocket. “Twicesie hacked into one of the guard droid’s heads and we’ve got everything you were looking for.”
Dabi snatched it out of her hand. A small smile streaked across his face. “Well would you look at that.”
“An entire layout of each of the Empire’s prisons,” Hawks said.
Dabi’s face dropped. “Who are you?”
Hawks smiled. “Name’s Hawks.”
Twice gasped, shaking Dabi violently by the shoulder. “Oh my god, he’s the special Jedi guy, the one the Empire was so afraid of.”
“Oh yeah!” Toga said, grabbing Dabi’s arm and bouncing up and down. “He’s the Chosen One, remember Dabi? He’s going to bring balance to the Force!”
“Wow,” Dabi muttered, as his two companions shoved him back and forth like an unwilling volleyball. “I’m so honoured to meet the famed Jedi Hawks. Let me just get on my hands and knees and offer to help you with your every whim.”
Hawks laughed brightly. “I knew you’d be on board.” He strutted merrily past the three of them and headed in the direction of their ship. “So next stop is the League’s headquarters, right? Still on Tatooine?”
“You’re not coming with us, birdie,” Dabi snarled as he was now being dragged by his companions by the wrists.
Hawks spun around and smiled while walking backwards. “Aw Dabi, it almost sounds like you don’t want me around.”
Suddenly Hawks landed hard on his back, a hand of blue sparks held close to his face.
“I’m not like other people, little bird,” Dabi growled, pinning him to the ground. “I don’t trust your kind. Leave . Now. That’s your final warning.”
Hawks hummed as he placed his palm against Dabi’s sparking one. He called on the Force and it answered, as it always did, and contained the Sith lightning between their hands.
“What,” Dabi whispered, “the fuck.”
“I’m the most powerful Jedi in generations, Dabi.” Hawks slipped his fingers between Dabi’s, tracing over the staples holding his knuckles together. “Sorry if I don’t feel threatened by a failed Sith bounty hunter.”
Dabi wrenched his hand away and sat back on Hawks’ lap. “I’m not a failed Sith. I left.”
“Right.” Hawks smirked at him. “I forgot dropping the Darth from your name absolved you.”
“I’m not asking for your forgiveness, Jedi .”
“And yet, you and Shigaraki travel the galaxy carrying out your little acts of vigilante justice. Sounds an awful lot like paying penance if you ask me.”
Dabi shoved him hard in the stomach as he got to his feet. “You don’t know shit about me, pigeon, you’re not stepping foot on my ship.”
Hawks jumped gracefully to his feet, hands held up in mock surrender. “Aye, aye, Captain. All I need is information. Where do I find Master Todoroki Enji?”
Lightning crackled through Dabi's hair as he bared his teeth. “Why would we know anything about him? The League don’t concern ourselves with Jedi issues.”
“I’m not asking the League, fuck knows it’d be easier to get a hold of Shigaraki.” Hawks stepped closer, staring into Dabi’s eyes. “I’m asking you, Dabi, I know you know where he is.”
Dabi glared back at him, a wall of steel blocking Hawks’ probing of his mind. “I have no idea where he is, birdie, stop trying to get into my head.”
Hawks pouted. “Worth a shot, don’t you think? Why don’t you just help a guy out, Dabi? I promise I’ll be on my merry way, just point me in the right direction.”
“Fuck you.” Dabi turned to his companions. “Come on, we’re leaving.”
Hawks held up a hand and Toga and Twice were stopped in their tracks, both poking at the Force holding them at bay with mild interest. “Don’t make this difficult, I know you searched for him, you must have found something.”
Dabi snorted. “What I did for the Empire doesn’t concern you, birdie.”
“The galaxy needs him, tell me where he is.”
Lightning zinged up Dabi’s lanky frame. “Thought you were the saving grace, oh Chosen One? Can’t do it all by yourself, no?”
“I need his training.”
Dabi’s eyes widened before he doubled over, shaking with his laughter. “Oh shit . You think he can train you? Fucking Endeavour? The Jedi traitor? The guy who broke the code and had children? That guy?”
Hawks crossed his arms. “It’s not that funny. He was a good master.”
Dabi wheezed, wiping his eyes. “You’re fucking hilarious, pigeon. If you’re the galaxy’s only hope, we are all so deeply fucked. But sure thing, alright. I’ll tell you where he is. Last I heard there’s a map to his location, it’s split up into two parts, one is on Alderaan in the hands of the royal family - I’m sure your buddies in the Council already have that - and the second is somewhere in the Dagobah system, I never found it, but good luck to you.”
Hawks frowned. “Surely you know more than that. I could’ve told you that.”
Dabi shrugged. “Sorry, birdie, it’s all I got.”
He frowned, searching Dabi’s face. “I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t care, that's all I know.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Yes, it is.”
“No-”
“UGHHH,” Toga moaned, “can you guys shut up? This is so boring .”
“Yeah,” Twice said, leaning into the Force holding him back. “Everyone knows Dabi hates that guy. The Emperor sent him on a mission to kill him and Dabi came back and killed the Emperor causing chaos throughout the galaxy! It’s never been more chill!”
Hawks rubbed his temples. “Yes, thank you, Twice, I did know that. But I think Dabi found him. You saw something that made you turn your back against the Empire. You left this galaxy in a fucking state, at least help me fix your mess.”
Dabi raised an eyebrow. “Oh pigeon, the guilt tripping is not going to work. It’s cute of you to try though, means you're getting frustrated. Unfortunately, you can believe whatever you want but I’m not helping you.”
“You betrayed the Empire,” Hawks said through gritted teeth, “so why won’t you help me?”
Dabi stepped right back into Hawks’ face. “Because true enlightenment, Jedi Master Hawks, is realising the Jedi and the Sith are two sides of the same coin. I hate you both equally, little bird. I go to bed at night dreaming of the day your precious Council burns and your body rots. I would rather chop my own arm off than help you, because I don’t believe you’ll balance shit.”
“That sounds very philosophical, ex-Darth, but I’m not leaving you alone until you tell me where to find him. You’re the only living person who has any clue about his whereabouts. The Jedi have combed the Dagobah system thoroughly for over a decade and found nothing, but you , you in your anger and hatred found something. Give it to me .”
Hawks watched as Dabi grinned so hard blood trickled out from one of his staples. “Oh birdie, shouldn’t you know I don’t take orders?”
This was getting nowhere. Hawks needed to -
His body crumpled to the floor, refusing to listen to him.
Dabi smiled down at him. “Thank you, Magne.”
“Any time, Dabi,” a woman said, twirling her blaster on one finger. No doubt set to stun.
How did Hawks miss that ?
Dabi leaned down propping up Hawks’ head by putting two fingers under his chin. “You’re not the only one who can use the Force, little bird, got you so worked up you didn’t even notice me hiding her. You must be so desperate . Guess we’ll have to work harder to stay hidden, but don’t worry pigeon, now I know you’re after me I’ll make sure to stay out of your way.”
He dropped him harshly onto the floor. The four League members cackled as they stepped over him. Toga and Twice calling their goodbyes over their shoulders.
* * *
“I don’t just get why you don’t just tell the guy where Endeavour is,” Spinner sighed, shoving things into his bag for the third time this month. “He seems very dedicated to finding us.”
Dabi threw a shirt at Spinner’s head. “Shut up lizard brain, you think hard work deserves a reward or something? I’m not telling that Jedi scum shit.”
Shigaraki picked up the shirt from Spinner’s face and threw it back at Dabi. “Spinner’s right Dabi, I’m getting tired of jumping ship all the time cause one Jedi is after us.”
“He’s not after us , he’s after me ,” Dabi snarked back, ripping the shirt from his head and shoving it into his bag. “If you’d all fuck off and leave me alone you could stay anywhere you wanted.”
“Boo,” Toga yelled from where she was hanging from the top bunk by her legs. “Dabi’s trying to be a dark and edgy loner again.”
The League ignored him as Dabi lit up blue, sparks dancing all over his body.
“Hey Kurogiri,” Shigaraki said into his comm, “is the ship ready to go?”
“Almost ready, young Shigaraki,” came Kurogiri’s tiny voice from the comm. The League all spoke enough Wookie to get the gist. “Magne is just finishing up adjusting the canon and Twice is making slight alterations to the navigation system.”
“That new update Spinner found is awesome! I’ve never seen such a pile of shit! ” Twice shouted through the comms. “We’ve got a couple new solar systems to work through, wonder if that Jedi can catch us then. He’s got us cornered!”
“Alright boss,” Mr. Compress said, stretching out his legs on the couch. “Do you want me to miniaturize everything and get on our way?”
“I hate every single one of you,” Dabi muttered.
“Do you think you could miniaturize Hawks and we could carry him around in a little jar like a pet?” Toga asked.
Mr. Compress spun his hat between his fingers. “I have tried miniaturizing people before but it always wears off unpredictably, so you’d have a life size Jedi Master at any time, I couldn’t even give you an estimate.”
Dabi dragged a hand down his face. “Why are you even entertaining the question?”
Mr. Compress shrugged. “Well, perhaps Miss Toga is right and we need to use some unorthodox methods to deal with the Jedi. He seems to be rather cunning.”
“Alright assholes, ship, now,” Shigaraki ordered which made Dabi want to promptly ignore him.
The Jedi was cunning though and dedicated. It was frustrating. It had been a long time since anyone had been able to go toe to toe with him, especially concerning the Force. Hawks may have been a prodigy but Dabi had built his connection to the Force brick by fucking brick.
Which is why he knew there was no point in getting on the ship. Hawks was already here.
And Dabi really hated running.
“Oh wise Jedi Master,” he called out in a sing-song voice. “I thought the shadows were only for the Sith.”
The others froze, making quick glances at each other. Dabi knew there was no point. If he wasn’t here the Jedi would defeat them all in seconds.
“What will it take to get you to tell me where he is, Dabi?” Hawks asked, stepping forward seemingly out of nowhere (but Dabi knew he’d treaded lightly down the corridor, masking his presence).
Spinner made a noise that sounded like a deflated balloon met a surprised R2 unit.
“You heard the boss,” Dabi said, gesturing vaguely to Shigaraki. “Get on the ship.”
Dabi enjoyed the bewildered looks he received from everyone in the room.
“I thought I wasn’t allowed on your ship,” Hawks said, eying him suspiciously.
Dabi threw his hands in the air. “Well, my dear comrades are tired of running from you and honestly I’ve decided I don’t give a fuck anymore. Don’t thank me in your ‘I saved the galaxy’ speech when all this is over.”
Hawks eyes lit up. “So I wore you down and you’ll tell me where he is?”
Dabi threw his shirt at Hawks’ face who just caught it with his stupid reflexes. “ No , I am making my own decision based on my own whims and factors for consideration.”
Hawks smiled at him, all bright white teeth and fakeness. “And I am a factor?”
“Pigeon, did no one in that fucking Jedi Temple teach you to shut the fuck up when you get what you want?”
Hawks cocked his head to the side. “No, they didn’t.” He shrugged. “Guess that’s just a Sith teaching.”
Dabi let his Sith lightning crackle down his arm. “Don’t make me change my mind, Hawks.”
Hawks traced a finger down Dabi’s ignited arm. Dabi could sense his genuine wonder. Which meant Hawks was letting him sense it. He hated Jedi.
“How do you get it to act like this?” Hawks asked.
“You want me to teach you how to use Sith lightning, Jedi?”
Hawks pouted. “Would it kill you to just tell me things?”
“Don’t take it so personally, pigeon, I am a mysterious brooding bad boy. I do this to everyone.”
A squawking laugh ripped itself out of Hawks’ throat, who quickly shoved a hand over his mouth.
And Dabi felt it. The flash of vulnerability. Before the heavy iron walls closed harshly around Hawks yet again. Interesting .
“You guys are giving me a headache,” Toga moaned, massaging her temples. “There’s so much stuff .”
Shigaraki let out a deep long suffering sigh and plopped his head down on Spinner’s shoulder. “Remind me why I let two Force-sensitive bastards join my crew?”
Spinner patted his head. “Because they’re very useful.”
Shigaraki groaned. “But they’re so annoying .”
“ Hey ,” Toga yelped, “I’m not the one playing 4D chess through the Force with a Jedi.”
“Toga, sweetheart,” Mr. Compress said, spinning one of his marbles between his fingers. “I don’t think you’re at the level where you can play 4D level chess through the Force.”
“ Rude .” Toga did an unnecessary backflip off the bunk onto the ground. “It’s not my fault Dabi is such a shit teacher.”
“You’re training her?” Hawks shook his head once resolutely. “She’s far too old.”
“Well, you lost your chance to have an opinion when you didn’t pay me child support.” Dabi ignored Hawks’ squawking and marched down a corridor towards the ship.
“Well I guess we’re getting on the ship!” Shigaraki yelled from behind him.
“Just following your orders, captain!”
* * *
“So,” Magne said as she turned the ship onto autopilot. “Where is Endeavour?”
Dabi wrinkled his nose and turned the ship back onto manual control. “I’m not doing small talk right now, Magne, I’m busy, flying the ship.”
She snorted. “You’re being very cryptic about this.”
“This is starting to feel less like small talk and more like a heart to heart.”
Magne switched the ship back to autopilot and spun in her chair to face him. “You’re so right, Dabs, what a clever boy.”
Dabi crossed his arms and stared at the ceiling of the cockpit. “I hate you. I want that noted.”
“I’ll underline it in my diary.”
“Thanks.”
“Speaking of diaries, are you drawing the hearts around Hawks’ name in sparkly glitter gel pen or felt tip?”
Dabi wished he was still flying the ship so he could smash them all straight into an asteroid. “What.”
Magne let out a put upon sigh. “Dude. You like him.”
Dabi stared at her blankly. “Are you trying to be funny? Cause it’s not working. I’m not laughing.”
“I know you’re both like emotionally constipated, side effect of being a Jedi and a Sith and all that jazz. But you were pretty quick to adopt him. Usually we have to convince you to tolerate someone and that takes months of just being exposed to them. Mr. Compress almost cried when you made him dinner.”
“I made everyone dinner, it’s really not that big of a deal.”
“Oh honey, you need some emotional laxatives.”
Dabi glared at her. It was really irritating that she wasn’t intimidated by it, he’d made people wet themselves with his glare alone.
“I don’t like him.”
“Uh huh.”
“I just.” Dabi made a vague gesture with his hand. “I’m curious why after all these years the Jedi Council has decided to hone in on Endeavour again. Enough to send in their precious bird boy.”
Magne shrugged. “He’s good at his job. He’s able to find you.”
“He’s the best .” Dabi furrowed his brow, eyes locked on the stars like they held all the answers. “Something’s wrong. They don’t send Hawks out over nothing.”
Magne made a noncommittal sound. “The Emperor sent you out after him.”
“That was different.” Dabi looked down at his hands, resisting the urge to pick at a staple because Magne would hit him over it. “He wanted to test me.”
“How do you know the Jedi Council aren’t testing him?”
Dabi blinked rapidly. “Because he’s… he’s Hawks ? He’s their loyal supersoldier that’s like-”
“The Emperor testing his padawan?” Magne tugged at Dabi’s hair to get him to look at her. “I’ve got a hunch, Dabs.”
Dabi frowned.
“Don’t tell me you can’t sense his confliction.”
Dabi frowned harder.
“He’s hiding it from you,” Magne said with a laugh, letting go of his hair. “Interesting.”
“He hides everything from me.” Dabi messed with his hair. “Also, your hunch could be nothing.”
“You know what made me turn my back on the Empire?”
Dabi froze. This was way too heart to heart for his liking. He needed to evaporate through the air vents.
Magne continued anyway because she was a bitch like that. “You did.”
Dabi felt the lightning surge up his arms.
Magne shrugged like she hadn’t just blown Dabi’s tiny mind. “You showed me a way out. If a Sith lord could doubt the Empire and abandon it, so could one measly Stormtrooper.”
“You’re not a measly Stormtrooper,” he said, because he had to say something and this was true at least.
Magne smiled at him gently, like he was a toddler who showed her a drawing of his. “I don’t think they need him to find Endeavour, Dabs, I think the test is you.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
“Course it does. If he’s having doubts about the Jedi, they show him you. The Sith equivalent. The one who walked away. Who threw the galaxy into chaos.”
Dabi tapped his foot rapidly. “And that’s supposed to do what?”
“You’re supposed to scare him into submission, Dabs.”
“Oh.” He paused his tapping. “I’m good at that, I guess.”
Magne snorted. “He’s supposed to look at you and realise there is no life after walking away.”
“Oh.”
“But, if you ask me I don’t think that’ll happen.” She laughed to herself. “I think there’s more chance he’ll see what I see.”
Dabi groaned. “Do I want to know or is it going to make me combust?”
“Hmm.” Magne tapped her chin. “It’s been a while since you’ve set anything valuable on fire.”
“Magne,” he sighed, dropping his head into his hands.
“I think he’ll see freedom, Dabs.”
And Dabi predictably sparked up, setting the co-pilot’s seat on fire.
* * *
Hawks really liked droids.
They were just objectively better than people. He didn’t have to focus on what he was projecting out - whether it be facial expressions, tone of voice, through the damn Force (fucking Dabi ) - as droids just took what you gave them and accepted it. The other side to that though is that Hawks found himself being rather truthful around droids, because he felt bad about lying to them. They didn’t know any better, and it felt wrong.
So really it shouldn’t have surprised him as much as it did that he latched onto Twice the fastest. But in his defence he mostly just destroyed imperial droids; he didn't spend a lot of time talking to them.
“Okay wait, wait, wait, run it by me again.” Hawks reset the game table once again. “These rules are so confusing.”
“Sure thing! Wow you’re so stupid.” Twice merrily opened up the rule book again that was covered in Dabi and Toga’s handwriting who had - according to Twice - invented Dejarik the holography chess game that definitely hadn’t existed before either of them were born and they were both so good at it that they always beat Twice.
Clearly not everyone shared his be truthful to droids sentiment.
So to keep things entertaining Hawks was busy trying to figure out exactly how they were cheating. But the game’s programming seemed fine, the holograms moved like they were supposed to, there were no glaringly obvious buttons or switches to press that would change anything.
“They don’t cheat,” Spinner said from the floor, where he was combing through the drive Twice got.
Hawks frowned. “I’m starting to think all of you are Force sensitive.”
Spinner shrugged. “Wouldn’t be good bounty hunters if we can recognise a thing or two. It’s part of Toga’s training, patience and tactics.”
Hawks hummed thoughtfully. “So then why am I losing?”
Spinner and Twice both stared at him and Hawks folded his arms defensively.
“What? I’m tactical and patient! I found you guys didn’t I?”
“You’re thinking like a Jedi,” Shigaraki said, entering the room with a pouch of food he threw at Spinner’s head. “You guys suck at chess.”
Hawks threw his hands in the air. “That makes no sense.”
Twice shoved the rulebook across the table. “Maybe read some of their notes, Hawks! I didn’t know you could read!”
Hawks frowned and picked through a couple of pages. This was stupid. Jedi were patient that was like their whole thing. Also, tactics? Tactics and plans were great. Hawks was patient and tactical. This stupid chess game was just rigged somehow.
He traced over Dabi’s surprisingly neat handwriting. Don’t sacrifice your pawns for the greater good. Toga’s scrawling writing in the margins added; don’t be like the Jedi.
Don’t kill your queen, she’s the most loyal piece on the board. Don’t be like the Sith.
Hawks snorted. “How do you win the game without taking out the other player’s pieces?”
“Told you,” Shigaraki said, slurping from his own food pouch. “You think like a Jedi and you’re not going to win.”
Hawks narrowed his gaze at him. “But also I can’t think like a Sith because then I’ll also lose.”
“Exactly.”
Hawks slammed the book shut. “But there’s nothing else! There’s just light and dark, you have to pick one!”
Spinner sighed. “Maybe you should play another game, Hawks.”
Hawks fidgeted with a feather for a minute before asking “where’s Dabi?”
“He’s in the cockpit,” Twice responded, poking at the little chess holograms.
“He flies?”
“Can’t you? Ha! A bird that can’t fly!”
Hawks let his feather zip back to his wings. “I can fly most ships but I’m not the first port of call if you need a pilot.”
“That’s a long winded way of saying you suck at flying,” Spinner said, typing furiously on the keyboard. Hawks was beginning to understand why the League tended to throw stuff at him.
“Whatever, I’m going to go irritate Dabi.”
“He’s not going to tell you how to win the game!” Shigaraki called after him while Hawks threw up a middle finger over his shoulder on his way out of the room.
Finding Dabi was easy, his presence was an immense one in the Force. Hawks couldn’t really describe it, sensing someone through the Force was much like walking into your best friend’s house and knowing the scent, the description that came to your brain was the person.
His presence felt light at the minute, content. Hawks almost felt bad going to interrupt it but Dabi still hadn’t told him where Endeavour was and while the League seemed content with not asking questions, Hawks wasn’t convinced they were heading in his direction either.
He pressed the button to open the door and instantly dodged the spanner that was thrown at his head.
“Is it League protocol to throw things at people?” he asked, coming into the room anyway.
Dabi valiantly ignored him and the other pilot waved the hand she still had up from throwing said spanner.
“Only people we like,” she said cheerily. “I’m Magne, by the way.”
“Hawks.” He scanned her face, some recognition taunting him from the back of his mind. “Do I know you?”
“Oh! No. It’s just the Stormtrooper face, we all have the same one. Or at least the clones do.”
He froze, brain whirring.
“You know, birdie,” Dabi said conversationally, a blue sparked hand waving ominously. “Silence is always an option.”
“Is that one of the rules of your stupid game?” Hawks asked.
Magne snorted. “Oh man, were you playing against Toga or Twice?”
“Twice, but I kept losing.” Hawks scratched his head sheepishly. “Apparently Toga beats him every time so I figured I shouldn’t take her on.”
Magne nodded sagely. “I see why you’re a Jedi Master.” Hawks decided he liked her and Dabi sent a bolt at his face. “Oh, Toga did say you two had a strong connection.”
Dabi’s hair lit up instantly and Hawks laughed too loud. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know.” She waved her hand. “You’re both strong with the Force so I’d say it’s pretty intense.”
“It’s fine,” they both said in sync which made them both wince.
Hawks shook his head firmly. “You get used to it, the Jedi temple is also full of a lot of strong Force users.”
“Gross, don’t compare me to them.” Dabi traced a few buttons on the console.
“I mean it’s not the same , everyone has a different presence.”
“Oh thank you for explaining the basics of the Force to me, oh wise Jedi.”
“I wasn’t talking to you.”
“Oh I’m sorry, do you think Magne is stupid or something?”
Hawks gritted his teeth and breathed out slowly through his nose. Dabi wasn’t the only difficult person he’s interacted with, but he always found it hard to control his emotions. It was part of the Jedi Council’s reasoning to send him to Endeavour, they didn’t trust him to remain calm. He could do it though, he knows he can-
“Birdbrain you’re so loud,” Dabi complained, waving a hand in Hawks’ face. “Can you overthink away from me?”
Hawks booped his nose against Dabi’s palm just to watch him recoil like he’d been bitten. “Sorry for being a sentient presence.”
Magne laughed and Hawks counted that as a win at least.
“Where are we going?” he asked.
Dabi groaned. “Wherever the fuck I steer the ship, pigeon.”
“Sooo.” Hawks rested his forearms on the back of Dabi’s chair. “Is that towards Endeavour?”
Dabi’s hair sparked again. “I’ll throw you into the garbage chute if you don’t stop pissing me off.”
“What can a guy not ask questions around here? Is this Dabi’s dictatorship, cause I gotta say I thought that ship had sailed.”
Dabi’s sparked up hand came at him again and this time Hawks caught it in his own, letting the Force protect him from Dabi’s fire.
“Oh shit ,” Magne leaned forward eagerly, eying their clasped hands. “How are you doing that?”
“The Force is everywhere,” Hawks explained, mindlessly tracing Dabi’s hand with his thumb. “Dabi’s fire comes from the Force so I’m just redirecting it, shifting it into another form.”
“Fire, huh?” Dabi’s eyes were just as blue as his flames. “What happened to Sith lightning?”
Hawks shrugged. “You did, I guess.”
Dabi swallowed and Hawks’ eyes tracked the bob of his throat. “You can let go of my hand now, pretty bird, promise I won’t burn your eyebrows off.”
“Because your word is so trustworthy, hot stuff,” Hawks snarked but let go anyway.
Magne let out a low whistle and both Dabi and Hawks startled like they didn’t have the capabilities to sense everything around them.
“Hey, Hawks, you can fly right? I gotta piss.”
“Oh.” He shoved a hand through his hair and smiled sheepishly. “Well, I guess technically but-”
“Great.” Magne clapped him on the shoulder as she got up. “It’s in autopilot anyway just keep an eye till I get back.”
“I don’t need a copilot,” Dabi grumbled.
“Yeah, yeah, the ship just has two seats for no reason.” Magne waved a hand behind her as she left.
Hawks flopped down sideways in Magne’s vacated seat, legs sprawled over the armrest and shoulder leaning into the back of the chair.
“Oh by all means,” Dabi muttered, “make yourself at home.”
“Why won’t you tell me where Endeavour is?” Hawks asked quietly. He peeled back the heavy wall he had himself surrounded with at all times around Dabi, just so he could see he wasn’t trying to start a fight. “I don’t need to know what happened between you but I don’t get- well I don’t get this .” He gestured with a finger to the ship. “Why come with me?”
“For a Jedi,” Dabi said, and Hawks could sense the fragile peace coming from his end too. “You ask a lot of questions. Thought they were big on finding your own answers.”
“You’re not my master,” Hawks said, “you don’t have to teach me a lesson.”
“There’s-” Dabi sighed and Hawks’ eyes helplessly followed the blue sparks that traced up from his neck to his hair. “Look, Endeavour is not your answer, alright? He’s no hero, that’s for sure.”
“Can’t you let me make that decision?”
Dabi sent him a look and something in Hawks’ chest burned. “I am, birdie. But I’m also not just going to send you off on your own. I told you, I’m no Jedi.”
“Why not?”
“Why not what?”
Hawks picked at his trousers around his knee. “Why were you never a Jedi? A lot of Sith are turned, right?”
Dabi hummed softly. “They found me first.”
“Oh.” Hawks looked up at him through his lashes. “I guess that’s true for me too.”
Dabi let out a low noise that could’ve been a laugh, maybe, if Hawks wanted it to be. “You’re telling me you would’ve joined the Sith, little bird?”
“I don’t know,” Hawks said, “I think I just needed to go. I wanted to get out.”
They sat in silence for a while, but it wasn’t charged. Hawks gazed out the ship window admiring the stars like he used to as a child, before his eyes fluttered shut.
* * *
Dabi had been released from piloting duties courtesy of Shigaraki being bored. He didn’t particularly like the looks he got off him and Magne when he flicked Hawks’ forehead and hauled him up by the armpit while he was still half-asleep. Like they were laughing at him or with him or something nauseatingly fond.
He dumped Hawks in a bunk in the sleeping quarters and joined Kurogiri in the kitchen, because Dabi was an invaluable asset to the League thank you very much.
“Magne said I liked him,” Dabi said eventually, knife still cutting through the vegetables cleanly.
Kurogiri made a considering noise. “She’s probably not wrong.”
“I don’t like people this fast.”
Kurogiri laughed. “Do you want to be a cold unfeeling bastard?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. Why Hawks though?”
Kurogiri hummed thoughtfully. “Well, it’s been a few years since you defected from the Sith, maybe you’re unlearning more than you think.”
“I don’t need more friends.”
“There’s no limit on the amount of friends you can have, Dabi.”
“Well maybe there is and I’ve found it, and he’s fucking with that.”
Kurogiri mixed the beginnings of a stew in a pot slowly. “I’ve lived a long time, I’ve had many friends. I think if there was a limit I would be very lonely one day.”
Dabi drove the knife down harder than necessary. “It’s fine, I won’t let any of these bastards die so you don’t need more friends, it’s all good.”
Kurogiri chuckled to himself. “You know, sometimes you remind me of someone.”
“In a good way?”
“I like to think so.” He took the chopping board away from Dabi and pushed all of the vegetables into the pot. “He had quite a close knit circle too, protected them fiercely.”
Dabi fought down the blush creeping up his face and tapped his foot rapidly. “And he succeeded and everything was fine?”
“He led a happy life in the end, I think yes. He was a teacher too, you know.”
“I’m hardly a teacher. I just show Toga some stuff sometimes.”
Kurogiri shook his head. “Of course. But as I was saying, he let the right people in and his life was a good one. Hard, sometimes, but ultimately good.”
Dabi turned around and leaned against the counter. “He’s a Jedi.”
“And you were a Sith.”
“But he’s still a Jedi.” Dabi started tapping his foot again. “I just. I can’t trust him. I’m the only one who can fight him off if something goes wrong and-”
“I think you’re perhaps getting too far ahead of yourself there,” Kurogiri said with a laugh. “You don’t have to be best friends right now, you can just acknowledge you get along well and whatever happens in the future happens.”
Dabi let out a few grumbling noises. “But there’s-” he dragged a hand down his face “-there’s Endeavour.”
Kurogiri made a noise of acknowledgement and stirred the stew idly.
Dabi swallowed. “I don’t- I don’t want him to hurt Hawks. I don’t like that I care about what happens to the stupid bird.”
“You can’t control what happens, Dabi.”
“That’s such bullshit.”
“Maybe,” Kurogiri said gently, “you don’t have to protect him. Hawks is plenty capable.”
Dabi made a strangled noise. “I don’t- he’s- ugh .”
“Your attempts at speaking Wookie are rudimentary at best.”
Dabi shoved him in the arm but the Wookie didn’t budge.
* * *
Hawks let out a happy trill when he saw the food laid out on the table. Spinner and Shigaraki grabbed plates and headed back to the cockpit while the others sat down and started horsing in.
“Hawksie,” Toga said, her mouth full. “How old were you when you started to learn the ways of the Force if I’m too old?”
Hawks snatched a leg of meat triumphantly and stuck his tongue out at a defeated Magne. “Oh Jedi usually start about 4 years old maybe? I’m not sure how old I am, no one ever told me.”
Toga and Twice gasped. “But how will we know when to celebrate your birthday?!”
Hawks’ wings fluttered a little and he scratched the back of his neck. “Oh. Well, I guess you guys can pick a day, I guess.”
“Hmm.” Twice examined him tapping a finger against Hawks’ head. “You seem like an end of year kind of guy.”
Toga nodded sagely. “I think you’re a little younger than Dabs, maybe a year or so.”
Mr. Compress hummed thoughtfully. “Why does age matter to the Jedi?”
Hawks shook his head roughly trying to keep up with all the noise. “Well, we don’t believe in attachments, it clouds your judgement, makes you biased towards the people you love. It seems cruel to force someone older to let go of their family and friends, it would be a lot of unlearning.”
Dabi raised an eyebrow at him. “But you do have attachments.”
“Well, not really-”
“There’s the bond of master and padawan, bonds of friendship between Jedi, and other people you work with. You’re not just gliding through life untethered.”
“Those are different though,” Hawks argued, “we all will choose the greater good in the end, but if you fall in love or have a family you’d risk choosing them.”
“So why are the Council sending you to Endeavour? He broke the code.”
Hawks shrugged. “I presume they think I will learn something. There’s a reason they’ve never let me take on a padawan so perhaps I will figure it out on this mission.”
Dabi sighed deeply. “Right.”
“Can I-” Hawks fumbled slightly with his chopsticks as he tried to find the words. “The Sith don’t want attachments either right?”
Dabi made a so-so gesture with one hand. “Eh, it’s a different mindset, birdie. Everything the Sith do is for their own gain. A master only takes one padawan because betrayal is inevitable or they can replace them easier. Having a family is a weak point, something people can use against you, it’d be stupid to shoot yourself in the foot like that.”
“It sounds very lonely,” Toga said softly, “for both of you.”
“It was,” Dabi agreed, like Toga hadn’t pulled the rug out from under his feet.
“It’s not- I mean it’s fine.” Hawks dropped his chopsticks this time. “I don’t think I’d want to have my judgement clouded, that sounds terrifying, not able to be sure of yourself anymore.”
Mr. Compress shrugged. “It’s more like being sure of others, no? I would be confident that the League would have my best interests at heart and I theirs, I would not have chosen them if I believed they would lead me down a path I disagree with.”
“I wouldn’t know,” Hawks admitted, picking his chopsticks back up again. “Why did you still go by Dabi if it was your Sith name?”
Everything went silent even the sound of chewing and cutlery scraping plates stopped. Hawks swallowed loudly.
“You don’t have to answer that sorry-”
“Calm down, birdie.” Dabi tapped the top of his chopsticks against his mouth, he didn’t look homicidal though. “I guess because my birth name is linked to who I was before the Sith, I can’t revert back to that boy, he’s dead. Choosing another name also felt weird, like I was ignoring the fact that I was a Sith at all.”
“Hawks isn’t my birth name either,” he blurted out, because apparently this was what was happening now. “The Jedi wanted me to pick a different name to forget my family as it was… complicated. And I was a kid so Hawks it was.” He laughed a little. “That was after many vetos from the Jedi Masters.”
“Oh, I thought all Jedi kept their birth names,” Toga said, clearly excited by all the Force user talk. “You’re special, Hawksie!”
“How come you never got scouted by the Jedi or the Sith, Toga?”
Toga frowned. “My parents kept me hidden, they thought the Jedi wouldn’t take me and I would end up being a Sith. They tried to kill me when I got older but I ran away. Dabi and Magne found me on Coruscant and let me tag along!”
“That’s…” Hawks ignored Dabi’s pointed murderous gaze. He didn’t intend to hurt Toga. “My parents kept me hidden too. I’m sorry they didn’t believe in you, Toga.”
Toga wasn’t as adept as Dabi at masking her feelings so Hawks could sense the full brunt of her happiness and understanding, or maybe she didn’t bother to hide things like Dabi and Hawks did. It made Hawks sad for her, that no one saw her good heart. Well the League did, so maybe that was all that mattered.
“I think I like Dabi’s training more than you guys’ training,” she continued happily. “I prefer my connection to the Force being between just me and it, I don’t get all the rule stuff.”
Technically, Hawks should report back to the Jedi Council about Toga after he finishes his mission. He knew they’d see her as dangerous, any Force user that was in any way strong that wasn’t a Jedi was dangerous. It wasn’t also necessarily true that Toga wasn’t dangerous either, any student of Dabi’s would be. But the idea of Toga being a Jedi didn’t sit right with him and neither did her being dead. So for now, he pushed it far from his mind.
He looked back to Dabi for a moment, sensing his shock and then being even more surprised to see it on his face. “Dabs, are you…?”
Dabi blinked at him owlishly for a moment before a small smile flashed briefly across his face. “Yeah, pretty bird, I’m all good.”