Top pic credit: KadeArt

Keigo POV:

The walk down the familiar alleyway brought about a somber sense of nostalgia that I wish I never had to experience.

How many times have I been here now? Countless. How many times have I met Dabi here, so he could discuss and monologue his diabolical plans to me? Plans to kill millions of innocent people, and force me to simply laugh in agreement with him to their future deaths?

Well, let's see-not that I actually wanna get into it all that much....but there was the time I met him here, after the fight with the high end Nomu. That was the very first time he ever asked me about Ari...and looking back on it now...it seems Dabi already knew she was a weakness for me from the very beginning. For eight months, he's known...

"You....like her. Don't you?" He asked in pure, evil amusement.

"No. I don't." I responded much too quickly, causing Dabi to step in again.

"No, no, no. I think you do. The way you took care of her. The way you were looking at her."

Right off the bat....Dabi had correctly guessed that I had feelings for Ari, before I even admitted it to myself.

Why didn't I see that sooner? Or, maybe I was too busy drowning in my own self denial about my attraction to Ari, that it distracted me from seeing that Dabi knew the truth the whole time.

Ah, but either way...I couldn't deny my slight surprise when Dabi finally spilled the beans last month, and revealed that he knew Ari and I were in a serious relationship.

I hate myself for being surprised. I hate myself for being caught off guard, coming to the revelation that Dabi knew about my secret attraction, and then relationship, with Ari....for the entire duration it's been happening.

I hate that I didn't see this, because it means that Dabi was able to keep his own secrets to himself, right under my nose.

And if he did such a thing about my relationship with Ari...it just makes me wonder...

What else does Dabi know about me? I'm already aware that he knows more than he lets on...but...

What does he know?

I sighed softly in stress at the thought, starting to rethink every approach and conversation involving Dabi and I for the past eight months.

I'm starting to feel doubtful about this situation. There's a bad feeling in my gut, almost like my body is trying to ring warning bells in my head...telling me to get out now while I still can, and forget all of this.

But, I can't.

This is my job. And if it means I experience a little discomfort, so others can live peacefully and well....then, I'll do it. Because that's my self sacrifice to the world, and my duty as Hawks.

I shoved my hands in my pockets as I continued casually walking down the pitch black alleyway. I was starting to near the dead-end wall in front of me, and Dabi still hadn't shown himself yet.

Ah, but that's just how he does things. I know his games by now-or at least, some of them. For a guy who likes to brood, he sure is dramatic.

I'm sure he'll try to leap out from the shadows first, and attempt to land a hit on me with his fire-or immediately hit the conversation off with some lethal threat on Ari or myself.

Sure, Dabi may think he knows a good deal about me, already. But, don't think I'm over here, just preening my feathers and letting this whole situation idly pass me by.

No. I must have Dabi backed into a corner, as well. How do I know that?

Because, he called me here today. Dabi wouldn't keep me around if he didn't think I was useful.

So, the only question is...what does he want this time?

My eyes became half lidded in focus as I was only a few feet away from the dead end brick wall now.

I immediately heightened my senses to a new level as I prepared for Dabi to come out and attack. Focusing my mind, I drowned out all of the city noises that were bustling a few streets down....muting all of the nasty, dripping sewage that was seeping into the crevices of the cracked cement floor.....tuned out my own vitals and footsteps, controlling my feathers to seek out the other human being who was clearly lurking in the shadows....

....no doubt, watching me like I'm going to be his next victim.

My feet came to a halt now, as I blankly stared at the wall and waited for Dabi. I didn't say a single word, as I'm literally using myself as bait to lure him out of the shadows.

I'm facing the wall-with my back completely turned to all activity going on behind me. This means my sharp sight is completely hindered. It's a bold move against his fire quirk, I know. I'm forced to rely on my other senses. If I lose my focus for even a second, I will die right now.

But, I need him to show himself. And after our last face to face encounter, where I nearly beat him to death....I know Dabi well enough to know that he's probably looking for a little payback, where he can get it.

So, I'm playing into his hand....tempting him with the opportunity to end my life, and giving him this chance to kill me. I'm simply betting on the chance that I'll be faster than him.

And I will be.

My feathers began tingling with foreign sound vibrations, coming from a few feet behind me.

Must be Dabi.

But the sounds aren't footsteps, which means he's not moving. He's just....hiding.

And his heart beat is steady, which means he's truly not nervous-a heavy contrast to my own heart, which is currently pounding out of my chest.

I ignored the bead of sweat that trickled down the side of my face, resisting the urge, with every fiber of my being, to turn around and face Dabi's direction.

Come out, Dabi. C'mon. Come out and kill me-

Oh shit.

Looks like I don't have to wait long.

My feathers are picking up a sizzling sound. A sizzle of fire.

Fire-

I inhaled sharply at Dabi's quick attack, immediately shooting my body diagonally upwards towards the high part of an adjacent building as fast as I could.

The sound of blistering flames sounded below me, hitting the spot I'd just been standing in with a blinding, sweltering blue heat that illuminated the entirety of the pitch black alleyway.

I subtly shot my gaze to the ground below, seeing licks of blue flames almost inching up towards the very edge of my boots, causing me to quickly pick up my flight speed and shoot up a few feet higher. Out of reach.

Damn. He was actually pretty fast that time. Stronger than he was a month ago.

But...

I'm still faster, Dabi. And I don't plan on changing that anytime soon.

Coasting my flight up just a few building stories higher for good measure, I finally managed to perch myself on a window sill, probably one the nineteenth or twentieth floor of the abandoned apartment complex next to us...looking down for Dabi below.

I narrowed my avian eyes, using my keen vision to scan the ground area. All I could see were blue flames at first, until I finally noticed a figure coming out of the black shadows a few seconds later.

The moment I laid eyes on Dabi, my Hawks demeanor immediately kicked into gear. Guess it's my survival mode.

"Heh, well. Guess you could say that was a warm welcome. Huh? Am I right, Dabi? Am I right?" I called out mockingly from above, shooting Crusty a cocky, sloppy salute of greeting as I remained perched on the high window sill.

I wouldn't dare go down there, unless I absolutely had to. Dabi's quirk is a weakness to my own, after all, and blue flames are blistering everywhere.

He shook his head slightly, clearly not amused with my antics, before walking closer to the building I was crouched on.

"If there's one thing that hasn't changed in this past month, it's your god awful taste in jokes. Seriously, how does Ari fuck a literal, walking clown like yourself, huh? She could ride someone a hell of a lot better. That's for sure." He chuckled condescendingly, blue eyes shining bright with challenge as he spoke the lewd words about my, soon to be, wife.

A low growl involuntarily escaped my throat, with my jaw immediately tensing in anger for Dabi's words.

Thank god my obvious reaction was hidden by the zipped collar of my flight jacket, and masked glasses of my aviators.

But, apparently, I still haven't learned my lesson this past month, as I felt the words leave my mouth, before I even had time to think about them.

"Seems like you've given a lot of thought to that." I blurted out, quickly closing my eyes in annoyance with myself as I realized I should really just shut up.

Even though my passive aggressive words were meant with threat, my charismatic Hawks instincts saved me, as my voice came out naturally teasing instead.

Dabi's gaze immediately trailed up to me from the ground, clearly sensing that he might have already stricken a nerve with me, in the first thirty seconds I've been here.

Shit. This isn't the precedent I wanted to set.

"Yeah. I have. Want me to tell you what I've been imagining?" He asked, his previously bored tone now replaced with malicious, lowly excitement at the thought of watching me possibly try to fight him again.

Calm down, Kei-Hawks. You can't mess this up again. There's no more chances left. This is it.

I gave my tensed shoulders a careless shrug to, both, relax them, and convey to Dabi that I'm perfectly calm.

"Eh, nah. If I wanna listen to something porn-y, I'll just search the internet like I always do. I'd rather not get dirty-talked by the likes of you." I smirked, giving my head a lopsided tilt to emphasize my 'carefree' demeanor.

Dabi managed to actually crack a scoff of amusement at my words, still craning his neck up to look at me.

"Then how about you come the fuck down here so we can talk like normal people. I don't like you looking down at me like that. You might shit on me, the way birds do." He pointed out casually, crossing his arms as he waited for me to descend back down to the ground-directly near his fire.

Damn it.

"Ah, and land right in a heap of those lovely, blue flames? I'd rather not become fried chicken today. Thanks though." I stated, shooting him a small finger gun.

"I prefer to think of it more as chicken skewered." He chuckled, sounding all too excited about the thought of burning me to a crisp with his flames.

That's not very nice, dude.

But, regardless....I need to try to stay up and out of Dabi's reach. I won't be as strong, down on the ground if he decides to start fighting with fire in this small, cramped alleyway.

I'm the one at a disadvantage here, and we both know it.

"Well, either way, I don't see why we can't do all of our talkin' from where we are. Obviously, we can hear each other well enough. So, why don't we get right to it, and you tell me why you went quiet on me for an entire month." I said loud and clear, wanting to make sure I spoke well enough that Dabi would stop asking me to fly back down to the ground.

He tilted his head to the side at my question, keeping his blue eyes locked on me.

"Is that your way of asking me what I've been doing for this past month? Why is that so important to you? I wasn't aware that I needed to update you on every time I take a shit." He retorted, making me resist the urge to roll my eyes at his regular accusations towards me.

It's obvious the guy still doesn't trust me after all this time.

But, I don't trust him, either. So it works both ways.

"Ah, maybe it's difficult for someone with poor social skills like yourself, Dabi. But, normally when friends haven't seen each other for awhile, the first thing they do is ask how they've been....what they've been up to. Y'know? You've gotta stop reading into every single statement I say-"

"So, what have you been up to for this past month then, bird?" Dabi cut me off accusingly, clearly just trying to prove the point that I wouldn't tell him anything, either.

And he's right. I won't.

"Well, I asked you first, crusty-"

"See? You won't tell me, either. So, in the words of you, guess it works both ways-"

"Why are you making this a bigger deal than it needs to be, Dabi? I'm literally just asking you how you're doing, and you're-"

"Right, and neither of us trust the other enough to even answer that simple fucking question. So, you understand then? You understand that this partnership was doomed already, from the moment it began. Yes?" He suddenly spat out in growing anger.

His abrupt, completely serious shift in topic of conversation caused my heart to suddenly jump up my throat.

Oh no.

I was not expecting that.

My words faltered for a moment, as I tried to wrap my head around what Dabi just said.

What does it mean?

Is he saying he knows for a fact that he can't trust me? Is he just venting his frustrations about having to work with me? Is he officially cutting off my contact with the league? I don't know. I really don't know this time.

I swallowed thickly as my mind began trying to decipher and sift through seven months worth of conversations with Dabi in a matter of literal seconds.

How I respond to a bold, game changing statement, such as the one he just made, is very crucial to how this infiltration mission will proceed....

To how the fate of Japan will proceed.

Come on, Hawks. Think. Think.

"Well.......I don't believe that for a second, Dabi. My goal from the very beginning...has always been to expose the hero commission for all of the evils they've been doing, and leave the hero world altogether..." I started off blankly, taking in the ironic, real truth of the words I just said.

Guess I'm not actually lying about that part, huh.

I quickly shook my head free of the revelation my bird brain was trying to have at the, obviously, wrong time...getting back to the persuasion points to appease Dabi. Yeah...

"Look man, I get it. I really do. Hero society...can be brutal. It can be cruel. And there's always more, lyin' beneath the surface of what they claim to be. I relate to you. I mean, I've got these powerful wings. I have the physical ability to fly anywhere I want. But....I can't, because I've been enslaved in a cage, by the same people who preach this lie of freedom to the public." I explained calmly, feeling the insides of my eyes starting to burn as I blankly stared into Dabi's bright, blue flames below.

My eyes closed in annoyance with myself as I realized another honest statement had slipped from my mouth....feeling, both, guilty....but also....a little somber with truth at the words I just said.

Yeah...sure. It would be nice to be free to fly wherever, whenever.

But, then I look at people like Dabi. Like the league of villains. And I remember why that's not something I fully want.

Heroes. Villains.

It doesn't matter to me. In my eyes, one is no different from the other, because both sides just want the power.

Villains want the power to do whatever they want, whenever they please. With a lack of consequences and care for the repercussions of their actions.

Heroes, specifically the hero commission, wants the power to be stronger than everyone. They want to be seen as a god to the public. More than happy to stand on the corpses of ruined, abused child heroes they've created in the process. They'll just make sure these corpses stay hidden.

So, there you have it. Heroes. Villains. Two sides of the same coin.

So...who's side am I on? The villains? Or the hero commission?

Well....in my heart? Neither.

I just want to be a good person. That's all I want to do. Live a kind and decent life, with Ari by my side. Have my family. Be a good and honest hero, who isn't sneaking around under everyone's nose, with a bag full of lies and manipulative evils to do the dirty work for others.

I don't want to do this.

But, since I don't have the luxury of choosing what I want at this moment, I'll just continue sticking with the same people who've raised me up to be this person. The same people, who've taught me everything I know.

I won't dare bite the hand that feeds me right now.

No.

That's not how I was raised. So, I will not disobey.

It seems as if Hawks is now starting to overpower Keigo once again.

And Ari's not here to save me this time.

If only I was strong enough to save myself.

Finally finding a lie that I could tell Dabi that would make myself feel better and less confused about sticking with Diane, I quickly said it.

"Everything I do...I do for the league, Dabi." I stated clearly, only now turning my gaze away from his flames and back to his face for the first time in awhile.

I was surprised to see Dabi already looking at me. It seems as if he's been looking at me for awhile, pondering over how truthful my words have been sounding to him.

Silence ensued between the two of us for a moment, with the only sounds coming from the blistering crackles of Dabi's flames.

And, for the first time...

This silence wasn't filled with heart stopping tension, that made my blood pressure want to sky rocket all the way to space.

No.

This silence....was odd. It definitely couldn't be described as happy. But...it wasn't angry, either. It was...somber. Full of some sort of relatability between us. Some distorted sense of comforted understanding that made me start questioning once again who the hell Dabi really was.

But, of course...this strange, rare moment between us was fleeting, before it even began, as Dabi quickly burned it away with the accusatory tone of his voice.

"Prove it then. Come down here. That's the only way I'll continue this talk." He commanded, his eyes half lidded with dark blankness to hide any identity of his true self from me.

Knowing there wasn't a way for me to avoid this any longer, I resigned myself to the fact that I would, very likely, die within the next few minutes in a fire fight with Dabi. This alleyway was much too small for me to be constantly flying around in.

But, hey. That's my self sacrifice.

Gritting my teeth together in growing stress, I slowly stood up from my crouched position on the window sill, simply walking off the ledge and allowing my wings to float my body down to the ground.

I directed my landing in an area that was as far away from Dabi's flames as possible.

Even so...I had a few of my long feathers already sharpened and ready to go, in case it suddenly got ugly.

The moment my boots touched the ground, I saw Dabi's hands coming up to create flames.

I could have easily plunged a feather through his heart before he released them, but I didn't. Because, judging by the direction his hands were pointing....he wasn't aiming his flames at me.

In the next instant, a half circle of flames swallowed the area around me and Dabi, putting up a fired gate that prevented me from moving from this exact spot.

I couldn't go left. Couldn't go right. I had the wall at my back. I could only go up.

But...these flames are pretty close.

I held in a hiss as I felt the very tip of one of my feathers get singed by a lick of blue flame, causing me to quickly cross tuck my wings tightly behind my back.

I didn't want them to catch on fire.

Dabi was silent as he watched me do so, burning his eyes into me even brighter than his flames.

Although, I didn't cave either as I shot him a glare of challenge, letting him know that I'm ready for whatever's coming next-whether that be a fight....or a solution.

He slowly and silently walked towards me, forcing me to not back up and, rather, stand my ground as I waited for him to come closer.

And he did.

He stopped only inches away from my face, with the blinding, blue flames as our backdrop.

I know what you're probably thinking. It's not lookin' good for me, right?

Keeping my cool, I took a slow deep breath, feeling my nostrils immediately burning from the heat and smoke of Dabi's nearby flames.

If I stay here much longer, I will definitely suffer some smoke inhalation effects.

Realizing I don't have a lot of time to take action for whatever's about to happen here, I decided to speak first.

"Alright. So, what was that thing you said about trust? Because, I did my part and came down here. But, it's lookin' pretty sketchy on your side right now." I stated lowly, feeling my brows furrow together in growing anger for the stitched man in front of me.

This man who can get under my skin. Who can challenge me and outsmart me. This man, who's caused so many problems for me in these last eight months.

"I don't trust you." Dabi replied blankly, yet his eyes were swirling with a fury that clearly matched my own...making me seriously believe that we were about to have a fight, and blow my cover.

"You've made that more than clear. And I've already said my piece, Dabi. Next move....is yours. Why did you call me here today? What do you want me to do?" I asked firmly, feeling a sheen of sweat starting to coat my forehead now.

But, quite honestly, I don't know if it's from the sweltering heat, or nerves.

"You wouldn't have even had to say your piece today, if you'd never lashed out a month ago, you know..." He started off, beginning to slowly walk around me like a predator watching its prey.

I felt my senses heighten instinctively as Dabi began to leave my vision, very slowly starting to walk behind me.

My heart had now begun pounding out of my chest. I was a sweaty mess, and this heavy jacket wasn't helping the problem, either.

I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins as I desperately waited for Dabi to continue speaking-and make his way back around to face the front of me once again.

It felt like an agonizing eternity, the longer it lasted.

"Mhm. All that work you've been doing, Hawks. Seven months of trying to convince me you're on my side.....your meeting with Shigaraki. All of it ruined in a matter of seconds, because you let your feelings get in the way." He mocked maliciously, forcing me to focus extra hard on his vitals as he took a painfully long time circling behind me.

I remained silent, blankly staring at the wall of blue fire in my way as I waited for him to continue.

And he did. Told ya the guy loves to monologue.

"You preach your loyalty to the league, yet you were so quick to turn on me, the moment I did something you didn't like. See...to me...that's impulsive. Impulse doesn't sound very trustworthy to me. What do you think?"

Damn it.

He got me there.

How can I respond to that, without blowing my cover?

I realize the only way Dabi will even remotely believe anything I say towards his question, is if I make myself look somewhat weak.

That's what an impulse can be described as, after all. A weakness. In this context, anyways.

Biting the bullet, I decided to say something that Dabi clearly already knew. Yet, it still drove me crazy to speak the words, since it's something I've still been trying to pathetically hide from him, up until now.

"Well, every man has their weakness. If I was impulsive, it's only because you triggered my weakness. It's the same as if I tried to trigger one of yours. Doubt you'd like it very much-or, are you immune to losing your temper, every once in a while, as well?" I asked with full sarcasm, gesturing to the wall of blue flames that was only inches away from burning me alive at this point.

Dabi finally came full circle once again, looking into my eyes with a glare of superiority. It's as if he was silently saying he already won our argument today, just by getting me to say the words that he knew absolutely killed me.

"So, you finally admit it then. You admit that Ari Parker is a weakness for you." He replied darkly, the demented glint in his eyes only gleaming brighter upon saying the words.

I scoffed bitterly at the fact that he was trying to rub this in, feeling myself getting annoyed.

"Heh. I think the shiners I put on your face last month can answer that one for ya, buddy." I retorted with sass, not even caring about my attitude too much anymore.

I know Dabi. I know I can get away with a little more now, since I just admitted something so personal and weak to him.

"I already knew she was a weakness for you. I knew it for awhile. You didn't need to tell me. But man, it is nice to hear you sound like such a god damn coward. It's who you are, and I love hearing you admit it." He chuckled, before shrugging his shoulders in satisfaction.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at his need to be petty, finding it a little humorous that this guy's favorite hobby is to try and tear me down.

Seriously, does he act like this towards the other members of the league? Maybe it's just because I'm around Dabi more than the others...but for some reason, it seems as if he has a special spot of hate within himself that's designated just for me.

Why does he hate me so much? Is it really just because I'm a hero?

I didn't respond to Dabi, continuing to give him a glare of bored irritation as I waited for him to keep speaking.

I've said enough. I don't want to repeat myself. And I also don't wanna give Dabi any leverage to use my words against me.

Dissatisfied with my lack of argument, Dabi immediately continued his monologue, his voice coming out slightly more aggressive and impatient than before.

"And normally, I'd end the conversation with that, since I do believe fully that Ari caused you to act impulsive, back then. But, if that were truly the only reason for your patterns of turning on me, then it would explain all of the other times you've fucked up, as well. It would explain why there were miraculously no casualties in the high end Nomu attack. It would explain why the things I tell you seem to suddenly end up in shambles when I try to carry out these plans a few days later. It would explain the weird questions you always ask me and the other weirdos in the league. And it would most definitely explain why you want that meeting with Shigaraki so damn badly..." Dabi explained clearly, his tone of accusation coming back fully now.

It was obvious that he had already put a lot of thought into this. Quite frankly, it seems as if the nail has already been put in my coffin, and Dabi's just toying with me to make sure I suffer first.

I fully believe that if it was any other hero in this situation, they would have attacked Dabi at this point, because the pressure of this whole thing right now, is literally mind breaking.

But, if I can be grateful to Diane for anything right now, it's the fact that she conditioned me to deal with these situations very well. To never crack under the pressure, and always keep my wits.

And it's for that reason that I haven't attacked Dabi yet.

Because, through my fog of stress....I know that the only reason Dabi is speaking to me still is because there's something that he wants.

I know it. I need to convince myself to believe it. I need to hold out a little longer.

My lungs are burning from the smoke. I'm starting to get dizzy from the heatstroke that's going to my head from Dabi's flames. My vision is turning white from the bright flashes of blue.

But, I can hold on. I have to.

So, keep going, Dabi. Keep talking.

Because I won't cave and ruin this. Even if it kills me.

"You do have a weakness for Ari, Hawks. That's obvious. And it's the reason why you're in this current situation now. You lashed out, turned on me, and lost your meeting with Shigaraki. But, that situation only brought attention to a problem that I've had with you all along. It made me spend this last month thinking about all the times you've been impulsive with a certain, same motivation, being the constant in every equation. And that motivation....is to save." He drawled out confidently, emphasizing the last word strongly as if to say he'd caught me in a lie.

And yeah, he might have.

But, I remained calm, simply shrugging my shoulders dismissively to downplay his justified suspicions as best I could.

My mind was screaming at me to say something, as Dabi was literally starting to piece my double agent life together, right before my very eyes.

My first human instinct was to immediately start denying Dabi's correct accusations, wanting to start spewing out some mad bullshit about how he's wrong.

But, that's just my human instinct of not wanting to get hurt.

My hero instinct forced my mouth to stay quiet, choosing to look at Dabi through lazy, half lidded eyes...blank with, both, the intention to keep my reactions hidden from him-as well as the lack of oxygen to my brain from this smoke.

Realizing I was still keeping calm and staying quiet, Dabi spoke again.

"Yes. Save. It seems to be an instinct with you. No matter what....it's as if you just can't help yourself from being the savior. That's very hero-like of you." He mocked out, forcing me to finally step in as I realized he was getting way too close to my secret.

I opened my mouth to speak, immediately cursing my bird brain for the lack of words that left my mouth.

I don't know if it's from the fact that I'm literally suffocating right now, or if I'm just losing my touch as Hawks...But, there's a problem this time...

....and it's that I was starting to run out of new excuses I could use.

"Yeah, well, as I've already told you in the past, Dabi....saving is still something that's apart of my image. If you want me to keep feeding you information on the heroes, then I've gotta please 'em as best I can. I've gotta keep up appearances on my end-"

"And as I've already told you in the past, it's not just about appearance with you. Because if it was, then it wouldn't matter what happens behind closed doors...when no one is watching. You wouldn't work yourself to the bone, ensuring that not a single hair on anyone's head is harmed. But you do. You do work yourself to the bone. You do care. Because that's your instinct. To save. To care about others." Dabi replied, nodding his head lightly in agreement to his own words.

Fuck.

He's right. He's getting too close.

Feeling myself starting to panic slightly at the turn this conversation was taking, I decided to speak again, having to ignore the fact that Dabi could very well use my words against me.

"Ah? I didn't know being a villain meant you're automatically heartless, too." I chuckled dryly, cocking a feathered brow of questionable challenge in his direction.

"And what if it did?" He immediately countered, causing my frazzled, tired brain to turn to mush for a second.

"What?" I blurted dumbly, cocking my head to the side like a damn bird.

"What if being a villain does mean you're heartless? What if it means you do watch people die? You murder and kill? What if it means all of that? Would you still agree with our cause?" Dabi asked threateningly, the malicious smirk on his face showing that he thinks he's already won this psychological manipulation of words.

Damn.

And he did win, because regardless of what I answer...Dabi has managed to, once again, use my words against me successfully and back me into a corner.

Because now, either way....I'm doomed.

Damned if I do. Damned if I don't.

If I say no, I blow my cover. If I say yes....

Then, I have a pretty good idea on what might happen next.

But, what other choice do I have?

I don't have one.

No....

Like I said, I don't get the luxury of making my own choices. I don't get the luxury of being the hero I want to be.

That's why I was picked to do this job.

And unless I want millions of people to die, I can't back out now.

Self sacrifice, Keigo. No one likes a timid boy. So, just say it.

I sighed softly in sadness, the action luckily masked by the collar of my jacket, before I turned my hazy eyes back on Dabi.

He was already looking at me, eagerly awaiting my answer.

"Yeah. I would. I do." I stated clearly, my voice void of any emotion.

"Really? You're okay with that? Watching people die? The murders and the killing of the innocent?" Dabi asked again, purposely rephrasing the question in a way that made it sound worse than before.

I hate him. I hate this man so fucking much.

"Really. I'm okay with that." I insisted, my voice monotone once again.

Dabi was quiet for a moment, narrowing his eyes at me in an emotion that was too indecipherable to me in my current state of mind.

I'm about to pass the fuck out from a heatstroke if this doesn't end soon.

"That's interesting to hear." He uttered out casually, clearly having more thoughts to say.

I focused on keeping myself from losing consciousness, agonizingly waiting for him to continue as he was practically torturing and burning me alive from the inside out.

"You have the instinct to save. A very hero-like quality, indeed. But...I'd like to see...if you have the instinct to kill." Dabi pointed out, the sentence causing my heart to immediately drop all the way down to the floor.

Oh god. I knew it.

No.

Please.

Don't. Don't make me do this. I don't want to.

All I could do was listen, as my mind and body went blank with nothing....almost as if wishing this was just a bad dream that I'd soon wake up from.

But, it's not a dream. Dabi made that very clear with his next words.

"So, you wanted to know what I've called you here for, Hawks? This is what you're gonna do for me. I'm still not over what happened between you, Ari, and I last month, so the outcome of what I'm asking you to do will determine your future place here with the league. This will be your only way to continue communicating with us, and the only way you can have another chance at getting a meeting with Shigaraki." He explained, watching with delight as one of his blue flames was only now mere inches away from hitting my wings.

But, I didn't care.

"So, what's the job?" I croaked out raspily, already full well knowing what I was about to be ordered to do.

Dabi's eyes burned right into mine now. He chuckled darkly, shooting me a crooked smile as he spoke his next words a little too excitedly.

"Your job is to kill. Take someone out. Someone other than number one."

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Next Chapter Title: Who I Am.