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Hawks grit his teeth as he got back up to his feet, trying to ignore the way his hands were shaking. He was currently in the Commission’s basement as they berated him for his mistakes for the umpteenth time. Sure, he let one small fry go after apprehending how many?
“You disappoint us, Hawks.” His handler, Onedera, says with a shake of his head. “We’ve given you so much and this is how you repay us? With failures? Remind me once more why you failed, Hawks.”
His eyes shifted to the floor as he prepared himself. “The villain had an electricity quirk and I was stunned.”
“Well, we should fix that then, shouldn’t we?” Onedera grins. “Again.” The hero bites back any noise as he is shot with another taser. “Building up an immunity is the best course of action, don’t you think?” Is an immunity to electricity even a thing? “We’re only doing this because we care, Hawks. This will make you better.”
After a few more tases and beatings, Hawks is finally released to go home. His phone reads that it’s past 2 A.M, but part of him is grateful since there won’t be that many people out. It would be bad if anyone spotted the number two hero bloodied and battered. He sticks to the shadows as he walks home to his apartment. Onedera had ordered his primary feathers to be removed, rendering him unable to fly for the next few days until they grow back.
The hero sighs as he makes it to the alleyway of his Commission owned apartment. He’s already dreading the climb up the fire escape to the top floor. It’s convenient to fly in and out from his window to avoid other tenants. However it’s a bit less than pleasant when his legs are aching. He hisses as he climbs the first ladder up to the metal steps, the reach stretching the skin of his back. Hawks figures there is a cut back there which would also explain the wetness he’s starting to feel.
Groaning painfully as he slides his window open and finally steps into his apartment, Hawks notices slower than usual that there is another presence. He immediately shoots out a small sharpened feather toward the intruder when it is engulfed in a small burst of blue flame. The hero pauses and squints in the dark. “Dabi?”
“Who else, birdie?” Dabi huffs as he emerges from the shadows. He glances over Hawks’ state and his expression turns murderous. The blonde honestly expects the villain to just finish him off now. He’s weakened, tired, and doesn’t know if he would give it his all in a fight right now. It’s also scary enough that Dabi apparently not only knows where he lives, but how to get in without his alarms going off as well.
“Who did this to you, Hawks?” That’s definitely not what the hero was expecting him to say. Dabi’s words have almost a gentleness to them. Most people wouldn’t be able to tell, but Hawks had grown close enough with the other in the past few months. Late night meetings on abandoned roofs had turned into casual conversations stretching far longer than they should have. He hated to admit it, but he really did care for the villain. A dumb stupid part of him wishes for something more. It would all go up in smoke anyway, he knew. In the end, the Commission is where his loyalty lies. Speaking of which. “It was the Commission, wasn’t it?”
Hawks scoffs lightly and puts on his everyday persona. “Worried about me, were you? It was just some lucky villain who managed to get a few hits in. No need to get your feathers up in a twist.”
Dabi doesn’t like the way he just brushed off his concerns. Dabi having concerns for someone in the first place was a feat in itself. “Don’t lie. There are barely any villains who could do this damage to you.” The villain scowls with a glare. “And quit it with the mask. I hate having to deal with… hero you.”
“Look, hot stuff, I’m fine, okay? Why the hell are you even here in the first place?” The hero lets his face fall into a more tired but genuine expression.
“To rummage through your kitchen, of course. But you didn’t have shit either.” The villain huffs annoyedly. “Now enough deflecting. Sit down and take your shirt off.”
“Now now, Dabi, at least buy me dinner first. Since I obviously have nothing in the fridge.” Hawks knows the flirting is a weak distraction, so he sits down on his couch anyway. He hisses as his shirt snags at a few of his cuts when he takes it off. He can tell he looks like a beaten mess, and he hates that the villain gets to see him look so weak.
“Where’s your first aid kit?” Dabi’s hands are clenched by his side and Hawks can’t help but feel like a little kid in trouble.
“What?” He says smartly. The villain huffs annoyedly and walks off. Hawks scolds himself for always saying dumb things, but sometimes he really does have a bird brain. Sue him. The hero doesn’t know why he’s surprised when Dabi finally comes back with the first aid kit he keeps in the bathroom, the villain had literally asked where it was, but he’s surprised nonetheless.
Dabi sits down on the couch and starts to wordlessly clean the hero’s wounds, and Hawks is all too tired to protest. Instead, he closes his eyes and tries to focus on something other than the pain. Like how gentle Dabi’s hands are, or the way he can feel his breath on his exposed skin.
“Birdie, what the hell is this?” The villain’s words draw him out of his little trance.
“What are you talking about?” Hawks’ eyebrows furrow but his heart drops when Dabi’s fingers brush over the skin between the base of his wings. The mark there was something no one was ever supposed to see.
“I’m talking about the fucking branding on your back. Why the hell do you have the Commission logo branded into your back?” Dabi is getting angry again and his words are more of a growl by the end.
The feathers of Hawks’ wings fluff up as he anxiously fumbles for an answer. “It’s… It’s from a long time ago. It was a punishment.” The hero waits for the other to say something, but is only met with silence. He can tell that Dabi wants him to keep going so he takes a deep breath before continuing. “I was sixteen. I just had my first kiss. They didn’t like that it was with a boy. Being gay lowers a hero’s ratings after all, and the Commission couldn’t have that. They gave me this to remind me who I belong to, and to discourage others from ever loving me.”
Hawks is near trembling while Dabi looks murderous with his hands already steaming. “They had no right. I swear I’ll burn that whole building down.”
The hero huffs and shakes his head. “It’s no use, Dabi. I’ve long accepted my place.”
“It’s bullshit! You are lovable and you’re more than just a tool for the Commission. You have the League now. You have me.”
“You’re getting real sentimental on me, hot stuff.” Hawks murmurs with a small grin. “But thanks. From you, it means a lot.”
Dabi hums and resumes bandaging the hero’s wounds though his eyes are always drawn back to the mark between his wings. They sit in silence that’s not tense but not exactly comfortable either. Eventually, the fire user finally finishes and cleans up a bit while Hawks watches.
“You’re pretty good with treating injuries.” The hero muses half to himself. “I guess it makes sense.”
“Hawks, I meant what I said.” Dabi states seriously as he sits back down.
“Do not go burning down any buildings please.” The hero half groans with a sigh. He was a little flattered that the villain was so protective of him but sometimes he was a bit too much.
“That's… not what I mean, birdie. I’m talking about you being lovable.” Hawks’ sharp eyes notice how Dabi seems to be a bit nervous about something. It’s honestly a bit cute but he really doesn’t know why the villain would be nervous around him.
“Oh. Well, I guess I do have some super fans, and mmph–” Hawks’ eyes widen as Dabi’s lips suddenly land on his. Oh, this is what he means. After a few seconds of processing what is happening, the hero finally kisses back. It’s a bit odd with the villain’s two textured lips, but Hawks finds that he kind of likes it. A lot.
The both finally pull away and rest their foreheads together as their breath mingles between them. “Of course, someone still needs to be punished for all these marks on you.” Dabi’s low voice is gravelly and soothing to Hawks’ nerves.
The hero rolls his eyes. “You’re ruining the moment, you possessive bastard.” He huffs with a smirk. “So does this mean you actually have a heart in that hot body of yours?”
Dabi looks at him flatly before sliding his hand around the other’s waist. “Don’t get snarky with me or I’ll punish you, too.” He says before pulling them into another kiss.
Hawks just chuckles and murmurs against the villain’s lips. “And I love you too, Dabi.” He closes his eyes and lets himself melt into the kiss. It felt good to be loved.