POV DABI

"Thank you, Dabi," the doctor says, slowly standing to his feet. Like always, I take careful notice of his actions. He walks to the door and locks it, and that's when the smile breaks out on his face. "You care a lot for Keigo, don't you? I read your files. You two were in the hero program together."

"How--?" I'm too stunned to form a full sentence.

"What is he talking about?" Mirko says, jumping to her feet. "Dabi! What the hell is he talking about? What hero program?"

"Mirko, darling, hush," the doctor says. He raises his hand and shoots some sort of shock wave at her, making her eyes dull and turn completely white. She stands completely still; her chest doesn't even rise and fall as she breathes– if she's breathing at all.

"Who the hell are you?" I growl, warming my hands up. "Where the fuck did you get that information?"

"No need to be so defensive," Dr. Tsukumo chuckles. "I'm not accusing you of anything. It's just... how could a monster like you be so relevant? You, Touya, are an awful man, and if you think you deserve love from an angel like Keigo Takami, you're so incredibly wrong."

"I don't have time to sit here and listen to your bullshit opinion," I snap at him. "Get the fuck out of the way or I'll burn this place to the ground!"

"With your precious bird only a few rooms down?" Tsukumo gasps. "If this building goes up in flames, the number two hero is going with it. Watch your step."

"What do you want from me, you fucking psychopath?" I choke out, holding my flames back as best as I can.

Tsukumo smirks as he lists his demands. "Broadcast it to the whole country that you were the one who kidnapped, raped, and destroyed the pro hero Hawks' wings. Take full responsibility for the crime, and turn yourself in to Endeavor and the police. As publicly as possible."

I can't stop the laugh that erupts from my throat. "Are you fucking braindead?!" I blurt out, buckling over with laughter. "God, you must be! Why the hell would I do that?"

"Because if not," Tsukumo grins, "I'll be burying your flightless bird after I slit his throat." He taps the watch on his wrist, grinning wider. "Thirty seconds to choose, darling. Time doesn't wait for anyone."

POV HAWKS

"So what's on your mind?" Dr. Ikari says, handing me some playdough. I try to mold it in my fingers, but my hands are shaky and my vision is blurry. I can just hear the gentle music in the background, coaxing me into relaxation.

"Touya," I say gently. "He's been keeping me afloat since I lost my wings. Or, well, for as long as I can remember, actually." I feel like the words are slipping faster than they should be. I can't find my filter– I dropped Touya's real name! Shit!

"Touya... Todoroki?" Dr. Ikari says, furrowing her eyebrows. "As in the son who died in that tragic accident?"

"Y-yeah," I blurt out. I try to bite my tongue, but the words just fly out. "He didn't really die. Endeavor sold him to the same hero program I was in when he was eleven. And then the two of us became friends, and I'm pretty sure we fell in love but then he escaped from the program and they pronounced him dead even though he wasn't–"

"I'm sorry to cut you off, but I just wanted to clarify something," Dr. Ikari says. "You said Endeavor sold him?"

"Yeah," I whisper. "My parents sold me, too. They can make a lot of money off of us by putting us into the program. We just have to have a strong quirk."

"How did they treat you while you were there?" Dr. Imari asks, tilting her head.

"Awful," I blurt out. I find my sense and slap my hand over my mouth. Why was I telling her so much? I could get into serious trouble! "I..." Even when I try to sugarcoat my word vomit, I can't. Shit... her quirk must prevent me from lying... I decide to just stay silent and figure out a solution in my head. First I need to escape.

"I think this is a big misunderstanding," Dr. Ikari says as she quickly hops to her feet. "Do you trust me, Keigo?"

"No," I say. I bite my lip as she lets out a disappointed sigh.

"Well, I'm going to need you to trust me just a little bit. I'm not sure how, but I was lied to." The doctor collects a few files and shoves them into a burlap crossbody bag.

"So you have a truth quirk," I say, still sitting on the floor. I'm afraid my legs will give out if I stand up.

"Clever hero," Dr. Ikari giggles. "I do. It's impossible to lie to me when I ask a question. Well, that's how it's supposed to be but it looks like Tsukumo figured out a loophole." The doctor sticks out her hand, offering to help me up. I'm hesitant; I don't trust anyone. "Touya and Rumi's lives are at risk," she says softly. "Do you care about them?"

"Yes," I say. I nod gently as I take her hand. She's about half a foot shorter than me, but her strength is probably equal. Either that or I've lost a lot of weight, which is likely.

"This way," Dr. Ikari says. "And stay quiet." I follow her out of the room and through the hospital. Now that I'm looking at it more closely, this place looks different than any hospital I've ever been to. And it's completely empty.

"Thirty seconds to choose, darling. Time doesn't wait for anyone," says a raspy, gidy voice from the other side of the door. Dr. Ikari grits her teeth, motioning for me to once again stay quiet and stay close to her side. That's when I remember how defenseless I am.

And how much I need someone to protect me.

"You can't kill him even if you wanted to," Touya's voice cackles. "Nobody has the balls to hurt an angel like him."

"You're right," the man laughs. "Nobody but an absolute monster. Remind again who murdered dozens of innocent people? Mowed them down with his hungry blue flames? It was you, Dabi. You hurt people. You think you're good for Hawks? You're manipulating him into being your slave!"

"You don't know what the hell you're talking about," Touya says. "You're not original, man. I've been threatened, ridiculed, abandoned, bought, sold, abused, shot it, burned, waterboarded, you name it. You're little middle school manipulation tricks are nothing compared to the hell I'm coming from."

"So then you're not afraid of death," the man answers. "You'd rather die than take the fall?"

"I'd rather die than live in a corrupted world."

"And leave Keigo alone?"

"Never."

I can't stop myself. I throw the door open, grabbing the first item that I can. It's a metal chair, and the first thing I do with it is swing it at the man's head. He falls over, and I watch as blood trickles down his forehead. I drop the chair; my limbs feel heavy.

"Hawks!" blurts Mirko as she snaps out of whatever trance she was in. She runs at me with open arms, and I melt into her. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry! Are you okay? I'm the worst best friend, god, I'm so fucking sorry. I should've known—"

"It's okay," I say softly, rubbing her back. "You tried, and that's all that matters. Sorry I've been in a funk lately. It's just..."

"I understand," Mirko says. "And don't worry, we're gonna make sure he pays for what he did."

I nod slowly, pulling away from Mirko's embrace. I turn to Touya, and every fiber in my body multiplies in weight. I hold my arms open for him, and he accepts my offer, wrapping his arms around me. I lay my head in his collarbone, and he pulls me closer, if that's even possible. He doesn't speak, but I can feel his heart pounding a million apologies, his shaky breath dripping with guilt.

"Tsukumo," Dr Ikari says, jerking the man up from the floor. He stumbles a bit, his eye hazy-looking. "You told me Dabi was from the league of villains! You told me he was evil! How did you lie?"

"I used a quirk-nullifying drug," Tsukumo blurts, basically choking on his words. "But it wore off in less than thirty minutes."

"So it's true that Dabi is really a murderer?" Dr. Ikari asks.

"Yes," Tsukumo says, "but not any more. He's been focused on exposing Endeavor's crimes."

"What crimes has Endeavor committed?!"

"He abused his wife and children, sold his oldest son and framed his death, and kidnapped and tortured the pro hero, Hawks, along with sexually assaulting him twice." Tsukumo gasps for breath as Dr. Ikari digs her nails in his flesh.

"Why did you lie to me?" she growls.

"Because Endeavor," Tsukumo cries, "he saved my family! I owe him my life!"

"So you're willing to take someone else's life to repay that debt?" Mirko blurts. "That's disgusting. What are we going to do with him?"

"I've got it," Dr. Ikari says. "The three of you need to find safety. I'm sure Endeavor hired more than one person to keep his secrets. I'll be in touch if you need anything."

"Thank you," I say, grabbing Touya's hand. I tug him outside, and the sight of the setting sun greets us. "Where are we gonna go?" I ask, feeling my breath get heavy again.

"I can take you to the league's base," Touya offers, glancing over at Mirko. "Only if you're comfortable." Mirko furrows her eyebrows, obviously uncomfortable, but she nods. "Alright," Touya says. "Let me call Shiggy and tell him I'm coming home."

"There! It's Dabi from the league of villains!" screams a husky voice. It belongs to a police officer, commanding a herd of soldiers. "Hurry! He has Hawks and Mirko held captive!"

"On second thought, let's just get out of here."