Now

POV HAWKS

Today I wake up alone in my bed. The shower is running, though, and the bathroom door is closed. I press my hand to my head, feeling kind of light headed. Memories of... before start to flood back in, and I flop back down, face first in my pillow.

Dabi exits the bathroom, trying his hair with a towel. "Morning, Birdie," he teases. "How're you feeling?"

I sit up, still with a pillow in my face. "Sore," I mumble into the pillow. Dabi chuckles, and I drop the pillow and glare at him, feeling my face heat up at the sight of him. I can't look at him the same anymore. Not after...

"Your face is a little red, Birdie," Dabi teases, poking my nose. "Something the matter?"

"I'm fine," I grumble, sliding out of bed. My ass is killing me! "What time is it?"

"Around 9 pm," Dabi answers. "We've been sleeping the whole day. Well, after I fucked the shit out of you." I chuck the pillow at Dabi's face, fuming with embarrassment as I hobble out of the room. I swipe up my hero costume on my way out, deciding to pull it on while I'm in the kitchen. Dabi follows me, swallowing three more Advil.

"You're gonna overdose if you keep taking that many pills a day," I say, swiping the bottle from him.

"Wouldn't be the worst thing."

"Dying?"

Dabi shrugs.

"Don't say that," I say, my voice trembling. "You're afraid of dying, remember?"

"You say it like you know me," Dabi chuckles, pushing past me to get to the fridge. He pulls out a Gray Goose Vodka bottle, warming the top so the cap pops off. "It's not like you like me or anything. Remember?" He knocks his shoulder into mine as he walks by, taking a long swig from the bottle. "No feelings whatsoever." I watch him stroll to my couch and plop down, clicking on the TV. I want to say something, but I don't get around to it. My phone starts ringing, and I jog over to the coffee table and pick it up.

"Number two hero, Hawks. How can I help you?" I say into the phone.

"Hawks?" says a small, trembling voice. Sounds like a girl, but I don't like to jump to conclusions. Definitely a child, though, no older than nine. "I-I need help... my... My dad..."

"Take a deep breath, alright?" I tell, pulling on my jacket. Apparently this grabs Dabi's attention. He follows me as I hurry to my bedroom window. "Can you tell me your name?"

"Davina," the girl says.

"What's happening with your dad, Davina?" Dabi pushes open the window, and I step up on the windowsill.

"My dad..." Davina cries quietly. "I-I'm in my cl-closet... he's hurting my brother a-and... he's gonna get me next... Hawks, I'm scared..."

"Do you know your address?" I ask her as Dabi steps up to the window sill. He puts his arms out, scowling at me like he wants me to take him along. I roll my eyes, shove one of my airpods in, and put my phone in my pocket so I can keep talking. I get on Dabi's back, holding onto him tightly, and we jump out the window. My wings are a little stiff, but I make it work knowing there's lives on the line.

"113 X lane," the girl sniffles. There's the sound of a loud bang, and Davina gasps. It sounds like she muffles it with her hand. "I have to g-go," she says. "He can't know I called you."

"I'll be there in less than sixty seconds," I tell her. "Chin up, okay? I'll be right there." I hang up and dial the police's number.

"There's a more dire situation right now down on Maine Street," the responding officer says. "We won't be able to send over help for another hour. You'll have to take this on your own. Just domestic abuse, right? It'll be an easy fix."

I don't even allow myself to get angry at the officer's nonchalance. "Got it," I reply coldly as I dive down to the house. I drop Dabi on the ground, and he takes off running. I dash after him, pulling him back by the collar. "It's cool that you wanna help," I tell him, "but you've gotta do things the hero way. Follow my lead, alright?"

Dabi grunts and falls behind me. I hurry up to the door, knocking loudly. "We don't have the time to knock the fucking door," Dabi growls. "There're kids in there."

"I know," I tell him. "But if we barge in there and this man gets intimidated, he might hurt the children. You have to think of how they'll react." Dabi just nods. After a moment, he bangs on the door himself. The door creaks open, and Dabi smirks at me as he steps inside.

"Hello?!" he calls, cupping his hands around his mouth to amplify the sound. "Any bad guys in here? It's me, Dabi! From the league of villains! Here to save the day!"

"Shut up," I growl at him. We step deeper into the house, hearing the sound of banging coming from upstairs. We waste no time bolting up the stairs, throwing doors open to find people. There's a boy with soft blue hair lying unconscious in the doorway of the master bedroom. I nod to Dabi, and he gently takes the boy downstairs.

"Davina?" croaks a raspy voice. "Is that you running around? Where are you, bitch? I'm going to fucking kill you!"

If my ass wasn't killing me, I'd fight him, but I'm sore and I can't risk not winning a fight right now. Instead, I hurry into the purple-themed room and close the door behind me. The closet door creaks open, and I can hear who I assume is Davina crying softly. I gently pull the doors open fully, and she flinches. Her deep red hair is a frizzy mess on her head, and the bandages on her arms remind me of someone. "Hey," I whisper, pulling her up by her underarms. "Davina, right? I came just like I said."

Davina nods, collapsing onto my shoulder with fatigue. I take her downstairs, cautiously avoiding the room where the banging and cursing was coming from. I hurry down the stairs where Dabi is patching up the boy's wounds. "Thank god they have a first aid kit," Dabi says, wrapping the boy's arms. He looks professional, working quickly and accurately. "Looks like he was beat with a cane or some shit."

"Is that a villain?" Davina asks, snuggling into me and away from Dabi. Dabi ignores her. "What is he doing to Daniel? Stop it! That's my brother!"

"He's not a villain," I tell her, petting her head. "He's gonna help you and make sure you and your brother are alright."

"DAVINA! DANIEL! WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU AT?!" a man roars, stomping down the stairs. At the sight of us, he stops, paralyzed. But slowly, a smile works its way onto his face. The man is tall. Robust. His red hair is slicked back neatly, and he uses a cane to get down the stairs. "Look what we have here," the man chuckles. "Though I can't speak for your little hero, Mr. Lazy Patchwork, you should've known better than to invade my space."

"You know this guy?" I say to Dabi. The man looks familiar, but I can't pinpoint where I've seen him.

"Of course he knows me," the man says, cackling like a maniac. "I was the one who got him out of that goddamn institution. And he owes me quite a bit for it. Isn't that right... Touya?"