POV KEIGO

Three days have passed, and I've spent them decaying on class 1-A's couch. I'm afraid to leave, knowing Endeavor is out there; I'm afraid to keep living, knowing Touya may not be. I've been feeling so powerless recently, like exposure to anything will kill me.

I don't want to think that it's because I left Touya. I don't want to think that he's all that I live for. That's sick. But I can't help the thought... if he's six feet under, I might as well start digging. And it makes me a moron, I know. A love-struck idiot. He's a villain, he wants to kill me, he hates me, blah blah blah. But I'm drawn to him, obsessed with him, enticed by him. Every scar and bruise and cut on his body; his scent of cigarettes and alcohol by the campfire; the way his hands blast hungry blue flames to cremate his enemies; the way those same hands gently hold my face late at night; the way his every word makes it sound like it's me and him against the world.

Touya and Keigo against the whole fucking world.

I would die for him; I would kill for him.

"Hawks!" screams a familiar voice as the front door is thrown open. In races Mirko, her eyes nearly popping out of her skull. My feathers fly up and out of the way as she volts over the couch, catching me in a tackle-hug. "Damn, bird boy! I missed you! How're you holding up? Are you okay? Eraser and the kids treating you well?"

"I'm fine," I say with a sigh. I hug her back, trying to drown myself in the touch. My last hug feels like forever ago. "God, I missed you. Things have been awful."

"Talk to me," Mirko says, situating herself beside me. "I got you more chicken nuggets and put some more ice cream in the freezer. We've got seven and a half hours before the students raid this place again, so you better get talking."

"I can't get Touya off my mind," I blurt as soon as her lips stop moving. "I don't know what's wrong with me. He told me specifically that he's going to kill all the top heroes, as many heroes as he can. He told me that, and he meant it. But I... I don't know, Mirko. I love him, I guess. What do you think about that, huh? How crazy am I?" I shake my head, shoving my face with nuggets. "And I already made up my mind. If he dies, I'm going, too."

"What?" Mirko gasps, snapping her head towards me. She lets out a dry laugh, like she thinks I'm just being dramatic. "Hawks, you can't be serious. Sure, he helped you out for a short period, but that's an extreme thing to say."

"I mean it, though," I say a little too casually. "I don't want to live without him. I think I might be sick in the head."

"It's fine," Mirko says hurriedly. "It's fine, we can get you into therapy and- and maybe some medication. You don't have to die, Hawks."

"Why do you sound so upset?" I ask, swallowing my nuggets. "It's not like it's your fault. He's a villain, after all."

Mirko just stares at me, her jaw basically unhinged. She takes a deep breath, then exhales slowly, averting her eyes. "You're like my brother, Hawks," she says softly. "And I'm going to tell you something that might upset you."

"Spill," I say teasingly.

"You know how the country has most of its officers looking for Dabi now, instead of the league of villains as a whole? Well, they have been for a while. They asked me to... help out. I trailed you guys, and I gave his location after the two of you split up. He's in custody, locked up, and he's going to be executed tomorrow."

It happens too fast. The feather flying into my palm, my arm swinging up, the blade of my feather pressed against Mirko's throat. She gasps, squeezing her eyes shut. I ask her to repeat herself, but she doesn't. She just mumbles her pleads, begging for mercy. But I don't want to give it to her. I don't want to give it to anyone.

"Mirko, I don't think you understand," I whisper harshly into her ear. "Between the police not believing me and Endeavor getting away with his crimes and Touya thinking he can push me around like a doll and now this... I'm fucking livid. You really wanted to add yourself to my shit list? I thought we were friends."

"I- I- H-Hawks, I'm s-sorry, please don't- don't hurt me- don't–" Mirko chokes out as I press the feather blade deeper into her skin. She chokes some more, but otherwise stays deathly still. "This- i-isn't you!"

"Really?" I tease. "This isn't me? You don't even know my real fucking name, Rumi! How the hell do you know what is and isn't me? Huh? How the fuck would you know?!"

"Pl-please–" Just bit deeper, and a bead of blood drips down her neck. Followed by another, and another, and another.

"You and I were never really that close, were we, bunny girl?"

"Hawks," Aizawa shouts, hurrying over to us. He quickly cancels my quirk, making my feather go limp, and Mirko hops away, holding her neck with her palm. I stay shaking in my spot until Aizawa wraps his arms around me. "Breathe, Hawks."

"Eraser, she lied to me! She was trying to kill me!"

"I wasn't!" Mirko cries. "I was protecting him! Endeavor said I had to! None of you know the real Dabi. He was gonna hurt you, Hawks!"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" I scream at her, trying to thrash out of Aizawa's grip. He hold me still, and I run out of energy. I just sob onto his shoulder until my throat is sore from screaming.

"Me and Hizashi talked. We're gonna break him out," Aizawa whispers, quiet enough for only me to hear. "But once we do, you have to run. Far, far away from here for a few years, at the least."

"Aizawa, I c-can't, I can't- Endeavor a-and–"

"Shh," Aizawa says, cradling the back of my head. "Hizashi is waiting for you outside. We'll take care of everything else."

#

"So," Mic says a little too casually. "This your first time?"

"Breaking a villain out of prison?" I reply, chuckling dryly. "Yup."

"No, I meant falling in love," Mic says, readjusting his hands on the wheel. His blonde hair is pulled into a loose bun on the back of his neck, and his glasses rest up on his hairline, making him look like a completely different person. Even his voice seems a little softer, not that I'm not used to his usual loud demeanor. "I don't think you're ever ditched loud-gay-blonde karaoke for a date. I had to take Kaminari to complete our pack of three, and Mirio was complaining because he had to wait until he turned 18 to join but Kaminari's only 16–"

"Jeez, man, you really replaced me with sparky boy?" I gasp dramatically. "Did he sing my part, too?!"

"Destiny's Child is a trio, Hawks, not a duo," Mic says smugly. "But don't worry, your spot's always open for when you want to come back. Speaking of... how're you taking all this? Running away for three years is a big deal."

"Eh, I like to think of it as a vacation," I say jokingly. "Maybe like a honey moon."

Mic sighs, smiling weakly. He doesn't break eye contact with the road. "I know you shrug a lot of serious things off with comedy and dramatics. I used to do the same thing before Shouta made me realize how important it is to have a support system and feel your feelings. I just want you to know that I'm always going to be here if you need a shoulder to cry on. You've been through so much, and you're only, what? 23? When I was 23, I didn't have half the struggles you do. Just remember to breathe, alright?"

"Thanks, Mic," I say softly, leaning my face against the cool window. "And to answer your question, yes. It's my first time. But I don't think I'm doing it right. I mean, is it the right time? I'm a recovering victim, and he's a villain, and I'm a hero, and he wants to kill all my friends..."

"You wouldn't have gotten in the car if it wasn't the right time," Mic tells me. "You're not an idiot. You have good intuition, whether you think so or not. Trust your instincts. If you love him, Hawks, you love him, and we'll always have your back if things go south."

"Mic?" I squeak out as the car slows to a stop.

"Yeah?"

"My real name is Keigo," I breathe out. "Keigo Takami."

Mic smiles at me wildly. "Well, knock 'em dead, Keigo."