I did! I told you about it! I didn't fucking say it was a tracking device, but I joked before about being watched! You didn't react in any way, so I figured it was true that you put it on me!
[at this rate, he might as well pull out his damn phone and show it. it happened such a long time ago though. and it was said so offhandedly too. they were probably talking about more important things at the time.
probably another fight.]
The tracking device came before I realized we were being watched. I only discovered it was someone in the army a few days ago! The tracking has been on me since the day you brought me to Skeptic and Re-Destro. It happened after you left, and what was I supposed to do anyway? Just let them kill me right there because I refused their orders? They're in charge! And I didn't consider they could be behind any of this when they're some of the people highly against heroes!
[he shouts, pulling his wing forward so he can dig out the tracking device. he's trying to keep tears blinked back, trying to hold back his emotions because they had no room for him to start crying here. he even bites back the hiss of pain from tugging the device out hard, tossing it to the ground and stepping on it.
if it angered re-destro or skeptic, then so be it. did it even matter now? those two were so far against heroes, so why bother working with them?? it didn't make sense at all.
he finishes as dabi tosses his clothes at him. he grabs them, holding them tight while eyes focus on the villain. he's starting to retreat so keigo immediately follows in step, can't even bother to look through the clothes because he's far too focused on listening to dabi's remarks. each one stabs his chest and keigo isn't sure what to do from here. all it's coming out is that he's ruining dabi's life more and more, and there's probably more room to destroy the villain.
what can he do? what can he say?]
Dabi-just stop!
[he hurries in front of the villain, pressing his hands up to dabi's biceps to try and keep him still.]
I didn't-...I..The only thing I ever told them, was that there was an army and to be prepared. I didn't tell my handlers anything. I always repeated that I was still working. I was hired as a spy, but I didn't do any spy work. I didn't..I couldn't...
[he babbles, shaking his head. hurriedly then, he pushes the clothes back into dabi's arms.]
Just...go to your hideout. No one will find you if I don't go along, right? I can't do anything right here, and I'm just going to put you into danger. I'm sorry, Dabi. I want to be with you, I want to help, but I'm only going to get you and the others hurt or killed.
[he reaches into his pocket, taking out a flash-drive, something his feathers grabbed before he left. he also goes to push that to dabi too.]
There's all my files. You can..You can attack the heroes before they're ready. Just like you wanted. I came up with a plan for you to show the others-it's probably shit and maybe you'll destroy it, but it's all I can do. Just. Just hurry and go.
Ya joked about bein' watched.... ya really think that's tellin' me somethin' so important and crucial like this. Ya joked about this like ya did with everythin' else, huh?
[it would be insulting if keigo pulled out his phone and showed him some offhanded comment that wasn't ever meant to tell him or inform him of what was going on. just keigo trying to cover his tracks again.
but what does it matter anymore?]
What were ya supposed to do? Tell me. But I guess ya didn't even consider that part. That wasn't somethin' you were ever plannin' to do.
[he doesn't believe it anymore. he doesn't believe anything. he has nothing left inside of him to fight this either. he already sees what the truth of it was, and keigo just keeps digging himself into a deeper hole.
he stops when keigo runs out in front of him, looking at the other man dully. he pulls away when he's touched, though, body tensing up hard. he barely manages to catch his clothes when keigo shoves them at him, just watching keigo's face.
dabi had wanted to be with him. so badly that he went back for him. he wanted...
he stops thinking about it after that, realizing that this is probably it. keigo is shoving something else against him and he looks down at it as he takes it, feeling dizzy with the heat building up inside of him.]
You're givin' me a head start, huh? How generous of ya.
[he would have saved keigo. he would have killed those commission fuckers and got him away from there. they could have... no. keigo never wanted that in the first place, dabi is sure of that now. even now, when he's been trying to get them away, keigo did this. he burned his final bridge with dabi... for what? dabi is sure that it's because keigo really isn't on his side. that's why things went down like this.]
I should've known, right? Someone like you... ya never would've been with someone like me. Not by choice. Hope it was worth it for ya, hero. Hope ya know that this is what makes villains. What you're doin'? That's why we exist. Say hi to my dad for me.
[he shoves past Keigo and keeps going, ignoring the way blood streams down his face. they're all gonna die. he's going to kill every last one of them.]
[keigo shakes his head. he can't even explain it all because dabi is taking it all out of proportion. he's not sure how to even say it, or if there's anymore he can say. it doesn't seem to help and maybe he should have kept his mouth shut.
he'd at least get to remain with dabi in safety. but he can see how much this is affecting dabi, that the villain is on the verge of a breakdown, and he really needed to get back to the base. he had to be safe.
going with keigo would mean danger. the hero isn't trying to put them in any, but he somehow makes it all worst. he didn't deserve dabi. maybe he never did. the villain was so special to him, and keigo felt they could make it through all of this. it was a selfish thought. he even considered he'd be attacked and harmed immensely returning to the base, but it was worth it.
nothing he says or do can prove it. it wasn't like dabi could believe him. wouldn't either. he was a liar, a traitor.
maybe...he just kind of wished dabi had tried. but he can't blame him either. not after everything he's gone through.
as much as his heart pulls to go after dabi, to try and work it out, he was only going to get the man killed. it hurts beyond anything he's felt and keigo slides down to the ground, wrapping his arms around himself.]
I've..only wanted to be with you.
[he whispers brokenly and softly, and he's sure dabi is too far away to hear. it didn't matter. he's alone again. he would have to hide himself away, somewhere far away from this place. from there, he can figure out what to do.]
[ the crazy part is that keigo thinks dabi is the one blowing this out of proportion. as if he's the one making a big deal out of something so small. keigo has given him nothing but lies, bits and pieces of the truth just to get them where they were going, and then just stopped them in their tracks completely.
what else is dabi to think but that keigo either wasn't going to go along with him either way, or that now that his plans are thwarted, he's retreating? dabi did the one thing keigo had asked for. the one thing he wanted, and that dabi had prayed over and over again as a child that would happen to him. he went back for him. he wanted to save him. he would have protected him at the base, of course. and still there were so many lies and things keigo just hadn't told him about, that it made it impossible.
and to think that keigo thinks he hadn't tried. that he wasn't ready to push everything aside to try so damn hard, and still keigo put them in this position.
dabi knows he really has to let go now. he should have let go a long time ago, but he couldn't. he had found something in his heart again- something to fill even the tiniest bits of broken cracks, and now... now the darkness comes rushing back again.
he walks down the dark, quiet streets without thinking, finally coming upon his hideout. it's probably not safe here, but he can't go back to the base just yet. he can't be sure he isn't going to cause any kind of danger... and he just can't be there right now anyway, not when he's so devastated that he can barely breathe. he can barely keep it together.
in the end he doesn't manage to do so. with a yell of anguish, he burnst the entire building down, and then the next. he doesn't even care if there are people inside. why should he. he burns another after that, until he hears police and fire truck sirens from all directions and helicopters from above.
he'd light the whole city on fire if he could and kill himself in the process. he very nearly does, but there's still others he needs to kill first. he escapes in the sewers underground, burned and bleeding from overusing his Quirk. he sends a message to the League to get out, and then he passes out. ]
[keigo isn't sure how long he sits there. it feels both too long yet short. he has his arms wrapped around his knees, staring into nothingness. he isn't sure what to do from here at all. he needs to get away, but he can't even be bothered to do that yet.
he's still close to dabi's base. what if they found him? because of the hero?
keigo isn't sure how much more they can track him, but to be on the safe side, he uses a feather to stab into the middle of his cellphone. technology was always so fickle and easy to track, after all.
the sounds of an nearby explosion startles him from his empty thoughts. it isn't so much of an explosion but of a strong heat, and he can feel it, even from here. dabi. it has to be. immediately, keigo stands up, worried that a hero found him. did they really track the two of them here?
hurriedly, he heads to the exit of the alley where he can see people screaming and running. more and more, the fire burns. it takes over buildings nearby, and keigo can hear the screams of those caught in it. yet, he tries to find dabi in the mess. he does his best to send feathers out, to help where he can, but none of them can locate the villain. he's not the biggest fan of fire, far from it, but as he stares at the old hideout of the villain, keigo shakes. he could lose dabi here.
he might.
through the mass of people, keigo forces his way into the building, sending more feathers out, anything to try and find the villain. he can hear another building taking up in flames, so the villain has to be nearby. but the flames are so hot, burning his skin and wings, taking plenty of his feathers. when he thinks he officially has possibly lost dabi to a hero, one lone feather is able to find the villain, and keigo quickly forces the feather to attach to the villain.
he forces himself to find an exit, coughing as the flames begin to burn his lungs. with no nearby exits in place, keigo breaks a window, leaping through it and into an alley. it's still not safe, still the fire burns here, but he can force his way out, covering his mouth, eyes watering from the pain and smoke inhalation. all the feathers of his wings have been burned, even his hair has burnt from the backside. he can feel the base of his wings, still protected by his clothes. he'll deal with that later, too focused on finding and locating dabi.
feeling for his feather, keigo heads to a sewer, and once he can confirm that no one watches, he falls inside, stumbling as he lands. he spends a good few minutes coughing, trying to clear the smoke in his chest. it hurts to breathe, much less talk, so he can't call out to the villain, even if he wanted to. with his feather, he slowly starts to track dabi, until coming upon the heap of the villain, unconscious.
he's still unsure which hero was involved, if even was there. it doesn't matter to him. with the feather placed on dabi's body, he lifts up the villain, and slowly carries him, careful to not disrupt any possible injuries.
keigo isn't sure how long he walks for honestly, waits until he can't hear screaming for miles and miles. he's close to passing out, but the need to protect the villain outweighs his own pain. the hero quietly leaves the sewer, making sure they're far enough away. it's dark out, quiet. the lights of the area are dim. probably somewhere far east. all warehouses and abandoned buildings. carefully from here, keigo uses the feather to carry dabi up, and once checking for any prying eyes, takes them to a building hidden down two more streets. it's dark, with broken, tinted windows. gently, he lays dabi on an old couch there, placing the feather on the villain's chest, just so he can keep a feel for him.
as a hero, he keeps a small set of first aid on him. he uses the little products to wrap up some of the burns and injuries on dabi's body, and once he can confirm no one around their position to the best of his ability, keigo curls near the wall, hoping if someone opened the door there, the vibration would disrupt him. but he can't keep his eyes opened any longer. the burns hurt, and his throat was on fire. it would take three days for his feathers to form back too. they were helpless for now.
if luck is on their side though, perhaps no one noticed him.]
[ dabi is out of it the whole time. there are moments when something comes into a blur of thought, but it's nothing significant enough to wake him. a dangerous thing, but he figured he hid himself away enough when he passed.
when he wakes, he's in pain, but it's not any more than his usual. in fact, maybe even less... he feels numb in some parts of his limbs that he hadn't felt numb before. but that isn't the part that gets him. it's where he wakes.
it's dark and dingy, but it's definitely not a sewer. it's far too soft and doesn't stink as much. he sits up with a start, hissing a bit, but pushes past it so he can look around to see where he is. that's when he notices the bandages around his arms and torso... what the fuck?
he looks around, gaze falling on the figure against the wall. he narrows his eyes to try and see, but he realizes he's having trouble with that too. what the fuck.
but then he notices the red feather in his lap, and his gaze slides back to the figure on the floor. ]
[keigo dreams of blue fire and smoke, of anguish to losing something dear. it's like a nightmare without terrifying him. it makes the evening rough, but he does manage to get some sleep.
the sensitivity to his lone feather does somewhat stir the hero a bit. but the voice is what fully wakes him up. immediately, golden eyes snap open and he moves forward, ends up slipping from the ache in his back. pushing it off, he half-stumbles, half-crawls to dabi's figure.
he's naturally worried that the villain will overdo it with his injuries, so he opens his mouth, with every intent to tell dabi to relax, and-
immediately, a strong and sharp pain is there at his throat and he realizes it's coming from trying to talk. he presses a hand there, trying to calm the sensation down. it takes a moment, so he tries to examine the injuries on dabi's arms instead one-handed. mentally, he notes they'll need more gauze. maybe some ointment. the villain outdid himself with his flames last night.
he shouldn't move too much either. dabi must be completely exhausted.
he can't tell verbally explain it, so he tries pressing down on the villain's shoulder softly, to not disrupt any more injuries.]
[ keigo is at his side so quickly that it almost makes him dizzy. or maybe that's his body telling him it's overworked and stressed. he burned so much of the city tonight. he wonders if the fires are still blazing bright.
it's hard to see, but he can still sense that something's wrong. keigo is moving strangely, and doesn't make a sound. maybe it's his vision playing tricks on him again, but he doesn't see any flashes of bright red wings. ]
What are ya...
[he starts, but he's winded, and then keigo presses at his shoulder and dabi falls easily back against the couch with another pained sound. but he reaches out anyway, grabbing at the arm that is trying to examine him, fingers curling loosely around the other man's wrist.]
[dabi's reaction earns a curious look from the hero. can he not see the burn marks on keigo's body and clothes? maybe something was wrong with the villain's eyes?
if that's true, their situation became even more sticky.
dabi has never used this kind of firepower around him before. it gets keigo worried and fretting. he has some eyedrops on him, to be used in case of an emergency like dirt or dust. he doesn't want to harm dabi's eyes further though...
they both needed a doctor, unfortunately. and keigo couldn't exactly take dabi up to see one.
in the midst of his fretting, he feels the hand around his wrist and looks up, not realizing he averted his gaze. he doesn't have a phone to use to translate what he wants to say either. he has to start out small here, explain where he can.
he takes the hand softly with his and presses it to his neck, where his flesh is burned and sensitive. keigo hasn't dressed it. it's this instance he kind of wishes dabi had a cold quirk, just so he could cool down the sensitive flesh there. nonetheless, he's hoping it's maybe enough to explain his quietness.]
[it's dark in here,enough where he might not be able to see properly anyway, but its even worse at this point. There are times when Dabi is pretty sure he's burning up all his nerve endings, but maybe he really is frying his brain, too.
Keigo still doesn't respond, and Dabi wonders if someone might be listening, but then he feels the burns on the very tips of his fingers, all along Keigo's neck, and he tries to sit up again.]
You're burned. You're fuckin' burned. There was a fire?
[keigo quickly frets, shaking his head despite dabi’s obvious sight issues. but the villain is trying to sit up and he can’t have that. dabi needed to relax while they were safe.
with all that fire, there was going to be a bigger manhunt for the villain. and keigo can’t properly protect until his feathers are restored.
his eyebrows furrow though, as dabi asks about the fire. it was so big, how could he not remember it? amnesia? if keigo had any feathers left on his wings, they’d certainly would be coming off from the fretting.
he does need to explain it better. dabi has his questions and so does keigo.
after pushing down dabi to rest again, the hero starts to search for the villain’s phone. he taps along dabi’s pockets, hoping maybe he’ll understand what keigo was doing. he isn’t trying to grope him purposely here after all.]
[Dabi can't imagine he's in worse shape than Keigo is. He's dealt with burns before- all his life, actually. He really doubts Keigo has taken care of his own.
But it doesn't take much to get him to lay back down. His brain feels so fuzzy, he knows this is worse than usual. But Keigo is here. At least Keigo is here and they can figure this out together. ]
What about you? Your burns... Kei, ya gotta treat those burns. I'll be fine.
[He feels the other man feeling around and he gets it, fishing his phone out and handing it over. He has a really bad feeling about this. All of this. Why is everything so hazy in his head?]
[all keigo thinks about is that if hasn’t found dabi, if he didn’t follow him to the sewer, then the villain would be far worst off. there’s something going on with his eyes, and they needed to fix it. he didn’t want the villain to suffer even more. he’s gone though so much.
at least the villain lays down. it gets a relieved look from the hero. he even almost smiles when dabi understands him and produces the phone. instead of the smile, he squeezes dabi’s upper arm in gratitude before taking the phone so he can download a voice app.
his eyebrows furrow like earlier when dabi brings up getting help involved. he’d agree, but only because he wants dabi to receive help. it was going to be hard moving both of them. keigo really needed his feathers.
trying not to focus so much on that, he quickly types up a question, hitting the audio function after.]
[trying to piece it all together is something he knows he needs to do, but he's so tired. He feels so drained. Not only that, but he's damn worried about Keigo and he knows how stubborn his stupid bird can be.]
Where are we?
[he mutters that as well, because he can't stop the questions from forming, even though he knows Keigo isn't speaking. How did things get so bad?
Luckily Keigo is smart enough to find a voice app and Dabi turns his head towards him, trying to take in whatever details he can.]
I... It's hazy. My whole fuckin' head. Can't see anythin' clear.
[keigo had made sure he had carried dabi that far. he didn't want the villain caught. the hero could handle it being taken away, but he'd be broken apart to lose dabi to tartarus. or worst. no. he wouldn't let dabi die either.
when the villain answers his question, keigo looks at him worriedly. he's not sure if it's good or not. could dabi be affected by smoke inhalation? given the damage of new burns, keigo can safely say that dabi's own fire affects him greatly. he wonders why. he also is worried that they need to see someone about them.
there was that shady doctor, right? keigo can't help but grimace inwardly at the thought of either of them going to him. not without his feathers. he had to protect dabi, who can't see.]
I have eye drops on me. You need a doctor though. I'm worried you'll go blind if we don't get help.
[he doesn't remember why they're out this far. maybe he was passed out for a while. there was a fire... his fire? he squeezes his eyes shut, pressing his fingers against them, trying to clear his head. it's frustrating.
maybe he should be more freaked out by this, but... he isn't. he's with keigo.]
We gotta go back to the base. We'll go to Ujiko. He'll figure out what the fuck's wrong and help ya out. You're burned up pretty bad...
[he tries to look at keigo again, blinking a bit.]
[keigo can’t stop the sad, apologetic look on his features. not that dabi could see it probably. still, he feels guilty that they’re in this sort of predicament. maybe he should have gone back to base to make sure dabi was properly taken care of?
without thinking, moving on instincts, keigo presses a gentle hand to dabi’s arm, the one that rests near his eyes.
he does nod his head and agrees they needed to get to that doctor. maybe...he can watch protectively over the villain and that’ll be enough?]
Okay. But you should rest after you’re looked at.
[keigo doesn’t bring up his burns though. he doesn’t want dabi to worry.
but, as the villain brings up the fire, the hero tries not to fret. it wasn’t dabi’s fault. not at all.]
No. I ran into the fire to look for you. I thought a hero attacked you.
[ it's probably better that they came here, especially because is still fuzzy on the details. maybe the best place really isn't going back to Ujiko at the base, but Dabi doesn't know any better right now.
he also realizes then that he never really told keigo about his quirk and what it does to his body. that's always been a weakness he doesn't want to reveal, and maybe they never got to that point where he could really be open enough to talk about it. ]
To look for me...
[the fire... it was his. there were several fires and they were all bright blue. he looks at his hands, seeing how much the burns have spread, and then he looks back at keigo.]
I did this. This was my fire. My flames. I was angry about somethin'.
[he searches keigo's face, the burns there and the lack of red at keigo's back.]
Your wings. What the fuck... what the fuck happened?
[keigo watches with worried, keen eyes. he didn’t need dabi thinking any of this was his fault. keigo had willingly leaped into the fire. he wasn’t going to standby and watch the villain get hurt.
he cared far too much to let that happen. even if they’re both exhausted and injured, he did try his best. and keigo is grateful that he found dabi not killed. he wished he could have stopped the villain from exerting himself though. he should have stayed with him.
he lets the villain talk, more worried now when dabi comes to admit over his anger. him. it had to be because of him. then, no heroes.
a part of keigo was very aware that last night was possibly due to him. it hurt that he was the cause of putting so many people, including dabi, into jeopardy.
quickly, he types on the phone, anxious and missing his voice more than ever.]
I only have one feather. They’ll grow back in three days.
[he assumes. his back was burned, but not too much. he can feel the base of his wings. he quietly assumes it’ll take three days like usual.]
It was most likely because of me that you used that much fire. I made you angry. And you're hurt because of me.
[Dabi is sure he isn't the only one who should be laying down. They need to get out of here, back to the base. More than that, he needs to remember what the hell happened and Keigo isn't exactly being too forthcoming about it.]
Did somethin' happen with the heroes? Did they attack?
[why else would he have used so much of his flames? Why else would he have been so angry? Why else would Keigo only have one of his feathers?]
We should go. We gotta go. Ya can't be layin' around here on the fuckin' ground like this bein' so damn hurt.
[he pushes himself up to sit again, managing to make it all the way before looking at Keigo again.]
You're the one who made me angry? This fuckin' angry? That makes no sense... What did you...
[he shakes his head, trying to get his vision to focus again as he tries to stand up. Keigo needs help and he doesn't want to just sit here on his ass.]
I remember... walking. I was... going to your place. We had a fight. Wait, I was goin' to your place so we could talk.
[keigo shakes his head. he’s more sure now that no heroes have been involved last night. just him. he caused dabi to react so angrily like that.
keigo wants to stop the villain from getting up too fast. they had to be careful with their injuries, after all. he didn’t want dabi to over exert himself either.
the hero would be okay though. he can tough this out.
but, keigo finds himself stopping, mind reeling back as his body runs cold, all from dabi’s admittance to his memory loss. so...it was true? keigo feels so sick. so hurt, hurt in a way he can’t explain. something that leaves him completely broken.
how was he to do this now? he can’t lie to dabi again. not after hearing the villain his worries over keigo, over the fear of him being a spy.
sadly, keigo reaches up, cupping dabi’s cheek fondly. he knows what he has to do. he can’t live like this any more. dabi didn’t deserve it.]
I’ll explain it all when we’re safe. Let’s get you back to base.
[he can formulate a plan, something dabi can use to his advantage. keigo will try to keep helping his lover until then.]
There was three buildings burnt down. We’ll probably be hunted. We need to stay hidden, okay? I don’t have my feathers to protect us.
[ dabi almost argues, wanting to know what happened right now so he can start piecing things together, but they can't stay out in the open like this. dabi doesn't know what's wrong with him, and keigo is hurt.
he has one feather left, and dabi looks down at the one in his lap. he lifts it up, giving keigo a nod. ]
Yeah, okay. Let's get back. Need the doc to look at your burns, and your throat. Fuck... what the fuck.
[he says incredulously, because he still can't believe this. he should be freaking out more, but he's too wiped out to do anything but try and figure out the next step.]
I can get Ujiko to warp us back to the base. It ain't gonna feel good, but it's quick.
[thankfully, dabi doesn't question him for more. good. he can think it through, give the exact details a little better. what dabi did with the information was up to him. and, who knows, maybe the villain will regain his memories.
keigo's eyes drift down to the feather in his lover's grip, and he finds himself reaching over, wrapping the villain's fingers around it. it helped the hero out before by remaining on dabi's person. dabi should keep it.
just...just in case.]
First have him look at your eyes. I'll be there to watch and make sure he doesn't do anything fishy.
[he did remember dabi's feelings over the doctor previously. and anyway, his burns could wait. keigo was far more worried about dabi than himself.]
[ the feeling of how angry he was is what he remembers the most, and it curls in his stomach. he remembers what the fight on the phone was about, and how they had agreed to talk. he remembers thinking it was now or never. he wanted to fix it- he needed to fix it.
and then he woke up here in this abandoned building, the two of them all burnt up.
when keigo wraps his fingers around the feather, dabi is surprised. there's a lot he used to think about keigo and his feathers, and he remembers how upset he was when he found out what they could really do- but he doesn't believe keigo would give him a feather so he could spy on him right now. it feels like it's more for safety and protection, and he wishes he had something to give keigo too.
he keeps it, especially when keigo mentions what that creepy doctor could do, and it's kind of a relief that keigo remembers. he slides the feather into his pocket, then pushes himself up to stand, holding his hand out. ]
Need my phone back so I can call him. He can give us a portal outside the building.
[maybe if they could ever work through this, dabi could give him something. keigo would cherish it, protect it with his life. but, somehow, given the reaction of his lover the previous night, he is going to ruin it all over again.
at least dabi takes it for now, earning a small smile from the hero.
he comes to stand up on shaky legs, but ignores the ache there. he's just exhausted from walking so far last night is all. his heart hurts far more than any aches and burns.]
Okay.
[but, before he hands it over, keigo does press a hand to dabi's arm, giving a gentle grip, before typing one final message.]
I do want you to know that I'm sorry about making you upset last night. Over our text discussion. I promise to explain everything though.
[he'd give anything to just go back there, but at the same time, lying to dabi all this time had been eating him up. he needs to do it again. he would only look guilty for hiding it otherwise. silently from here, he holds out dabi's phone to the villain, trying to hold down the anxiousness and sad feelings. he can do this.]
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[at this rate, he might as well pull out his damn phone and show it. it happened such a long time ago though. and it was said so offhandedly too. they were probably talking about more important things at the time.
probably another fight.]
The tracking device came before I realized we were being watched. I only discovered it was someone in the army a few days ago! The tracking has been on me since the day you brought me to Skeptic and Re-Destro. It happened after you left, and what was I supposed to do anyway? Just let them kill me right there because I refused their orders? They're in charge! And I didn't consider they could be behind any of this when they're some of the people highly against heroes!
[he shouts, pulling his wing forward so he can dig out the tracking device. he's trying to keep tears blinked back, trying to hold back his emotions because they had no room for him to start crying here. he even bites back the hiss of pain from tugging the device out hard, tossing it to the ground and stepping on it.
if it angered re-destro or skeptic, then so be it. did it even matter now? those two were so far against heroes, so why bother working with them?? it didn't make sense at all.
he finishes as dabi tosses his clothes at him. he grabs them, holding them tight while eyes focus on the villain. he's starting to retreat so keigo immediately follows in step, can't even bother to look through the clothes because he's far too focused on listening to dabi's remarks. each one stabs his chest and keigo isn't sure what to do from here. all it's coming out is that he's ruining dabi's life more and more, and there's probably more room to destroy the villain.
what can he do? what can he say?]
Dabi-just stop!
[he hurries in front of the villain, pressing his hands up to dabi's biceps to try and keep him still.]
I didn't-...I..The only thing I ever told them, was that there was an army and to be prepared. I didn't tell my handlers anything. I always repeated that I was still working. I was hired as a spy, but I didn't do any spy work. I didn't..I couldn't...
[he babbles, shaking his head. hurriedly then, he pushes the clothes back into dabi's arms.]
Just...go to your hideout. No one will find you if I don't go along, right? I can't do anything right here, and I'm just going to put you into danger. I'm sorry, Dabi. I want to be with you, I want to help, but I'm only going to get you and the others hurt or killed.
[he reaches into his pocket, taking out a flash-drive, something his feathers grabbed before he left. he also goes to push that to dabi too.]
There's all my files. You can..You can attack the heroes before they're ready. Just like you wanted. I came up with a plan for you to show the others-it's probably shit and maybe you'll destroy it, but it's all I can do. Just. Just hurry and go.
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[it would be insulting if keigo pulled out his phone and showed him some offhanded comment that wasn't ever meant to tell him or inform him of what was going on. just keigo trying to cover his tracks again.
but what does it matter anymore?]
What were ya supposed to do? Tell me. But I guess ya didn't even consider that part. That wasn't somethin' you were ever plannin' to do.
[he doesn't believe it anymore. he doesn't believe anything. he has nothing left inside of him to fight this either. he already sees what the truth of it was, and keigo just keeps digging himself into a deeper hole.
he stops when keigo runs out in front of him, looking at the other man dully. he pulls away when he's touched, though, body tensing up hard. he barely manages to catch his clothes when keigo shoves them at him, just watching keigo's face.
dabi had wanted to be with him. so badly that he went back for him. he wanted...
he stops thinking about it after that, realizing that this is probably it. keigo is shoving something else against him and he looks down at it as he takes it, feeling dizzy with the heat building up inside of him.]
You're givin' me a head start, huh? How generous of ya.
[he would have saved keigo. he would have killed those commission fuckers and got him away from there. they could have... no. keigo never wanted that in the first place, dabi is sure of that now. even now, when he's been trying to get them away, keigo did this. he burned his final bridge with dabi... for what? dabi is sure that it's because keigo really isn't on his side. that's why things went down like this.]
I should've known, right? Someone like you... ya never would've been with someone like me. Not by choice. Hope it was worth it for ya, hero. Hope ya know that this is what makes villains. What you're doin'? That's why we exist. Say hi to my dad for me.
[he shoves past Keigo and keeps going, ignoring the way blood streams down his face. they're all gonna die. he's going to kill every last one of them.]
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he'd at least get to remain with dabi in safety. but he can see how much this is affecting dabi, that the villain is on the verge of a breakdown, and he really needed to get back to the base. he had to be safe.
going with keigo would mean danger. the hero isn't trying to put them in any, but he somehow makes it all worst. he didn't deserve dabi. maybe he never did. the villain was so special to him, and keigo felt they could make it through all of this. it was a selfish thought. he even considered he'd be attacked and harmed immensely returning to the base, but it was worth it.
nothing he says or do can prove it. it wasn't like dabi could believe him. wouldn't either. he was a liar, a traitor.
maybe...he just kind of wished dabi had tried. but he can't blame him either. not after everything he's gone through.
as much as his heart pulls to go after dabi, to try and work it out, he was only going to get the man killed. it hurts beyond anything he's felt and keigo slides down to the ground, wrapping his arms around himself.]
I've..only wanted to be with you.
[he whispers brokenly and softly, and he's sure dabi is too far away to hear. it didn't matter. he's alone again. he would have to hide himself away, somewhere far away from this place. from there, he can figure out what to do.]
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what else is dabi to think but that keigo either wasn't going to go along with him either way, or that now that his plans are thwarted, he's retreating? dabi did the one thing keigo had asked for. the one thing he wanted, and that dabi had prayed over and over again as a child that would happen to him. he went back for him. he wanted to save him. he would have protected him at the base, of course. and still there were so many lies and things keigo just hadn't told him about, that it made it impossible.
and to think that keigo thinks he hadn't tried. that he wasn't ready to push everything aside to try so damn hard, and still keigo put them in this position.
dabi knows he really has to let go now. he should have let go a long time ago, but he couldn't. he had found something in his heart again- something to fill even the tiniest bits of broken cracks, and now... now the darkness comes rushing back again.
he walks down the dark, quiet streets without thinking, finally coming upon his hideout. it's probably not safe here, but he can't go back to the base just yet. he can't be sure he isn't going to cause any kind of danger... and he just can't be there right now anyway, not when he's so devastated that he can barely breathe. he can barely keep it together.
in the end he doesn't manage to do so. with a yell of anguish, he burnst the entire building down, and then the next. he doesn't even care if there are people inside. why should he. he burns another after that, until he hears police and fire truck sirens from all directions and helicopters from above.
he'd light the whole city on fire if he could and kill himself in the process. he very nearly does, but there's still others he needs to kill first. he escapes in the sewers underground, burned and bleeding from overusing his Quirk. he sends a message to the League to get out, and then he passes out. ]
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he's still close to dabi's base. what if they found him? because of the hero?
keigo isn't sure how much more they can track him, but to be on the safe side, he uses a feather to stab into the middle of his cellphone. technology was always so fickle and easy to track, after all.
the sounds of an nearby explosion startles him from his empty thoughts. it isn't so much of an explosion but of a strong heat, and he can feel it, even from here. dabi. it has to be. immediately, keigo stands up, worried that a hero found him. did they really track the two of them here?
hurriedly, he heads to the exit of the alley where he can see people screaming and running. more and more, the fire burns. it takes over buildings nearby, and keigo can hear the screams of those caught in it. yet, he tries to find dabi in the mess. he does his best to send feathers out, to help where he can, but none of them can locate the villain. he's not the biggest fan of fire, far from it, but as he stares at the old hideout of the villain, keigo shakes. he could lose dabi here.
he might.
through the mass of people, keigo forces his way into the building, sending more feathers out, anything to try and find the villain. he can hear another building taking up in flames, so the villain has to be nearby. but the flames are so hot, burning his skin and wings, taking plenty of his feathers. when he thinks he officially has possibly lost dabi to a hero, one lone feather is able to find the villain, and keigo quickly forces the feather to attach to the villain.
he forces himself to find an exit, coughing as the flames begin to burn his lungs. with no nearby exits in place, keigo breaks a window, leaping through it and into an alley. it's still not safe, still the fire burns here, but he can force his way out, covering his mouth, eyes watering from the pain and smoke inhalation. all the feathers of his wings have been burned, even his hair has burnt from the backside. he can feel the base of his wings, still protected by his clothes. he'll deal with that later, too focused on finding and locating dabi.
feeling for his feather, keigo heads to a sewer, and once he can confirm that no one watches, he falls inside, stumbling as he lands. he spends a good few minutes coughing, trying to clear the smoke in his chest. it hurts to breathe, much less talk, so he can't call out to the villain, even if he wanted to. with his feather, he slowly starts to track dabi, until coming upon the heap of the villain, unconscious.
he's still unsure which hero was involved, if even was there. it doesn't matter to him. with the feather placed on dabi's body, he lifts up the villain, and slowly carries him, careful to not disrupt any possible injuries.
keigo isn't sure how long he walks for honestly, waits until he can't hear screaming for miles and miles. he's close to passing out, but the need to protect the villain outweighs his own pain. the hero quietly leaves the sewer, making sure they're far enough away. it's dark out, quiet. the lights of the area are dim. probably somewhere far east. all warehouses and abandoned buildings. carefully from here, keigo uses the feather to carry dabi up, and once checking for any prying eyes, takes them to a building hidden down two more streets. it's dark, with broken, tinted windows. gently, he lays dabi on an old couch there, placing the feather on the villain's chest, just so he can keep a feel for him.
as a hero, he keeps a small set of first aid on him. he uses the little products to wrap up some of the burns and injuries on dabi's body, and once he can confirm no one around their position to the best of his ability, keigo curls near the wall, hoping if someone opened the door there, the vibration would disrupt him. but he can't keep his eyes opened any longer. the burns hurt, and his throat was on fire. it would take three days for his feathers to form back too. they were helpless for now.
if luck is on their side though, perhaps no one noticed him.]
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when he wakes, he's in pain, but it's not any more than his usual. in fact, maybe even less... he feels numb in some parts of his limbs that he hadn't felt numb before. but that isn't the part that gets him. it's where he wakes.
it's dark and dingy, but it's definitely not a sewer. it's far too soft and doesn't stink as much. he sits up with a start, hissing a bit, but pushes past it so he can look around to see where he is. that's when he notices the bandages around his arms and torso... what the fuck?
he looks around, gaze falling on the figure against the wall. he narrows his eyes to try and see, but he realizes he's having trouble with that too. what the fuck.
but then he notices the red feather in his lap, and his gaze slides back to the figure on the floor. ]
...Keigo?
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the sensitivity to his lone feather does somewhat stir the hero a bit. but the voice is what fully wakes him up. immediately, golden eyes snap open and he moves forward, ends up slipping from the ache in his back. pushing it off, he half-stumbles, half-crawls to dabi's figure.
he's naturally worried that the villain will overdo it with his injuries, so he opens his mouth, with every intent to tell dabi to relax, and-
immediately, a strong and sharp pain is there at his throat and he realizes it's coming from trying to talk. he presses a hand there, trying to calm the sensation down. it takes a moment, so he tries to examine the injuries on dabi's arms instead one-handed. mentally, he notes they'll need more gauze. maybe some ointment. the villain outdid himself with his flames last night.
he shouldn't move too much either. dabi must be completely exhausted.
he can't tell verbally explain it, so he tries pressing down on the villain's shoulder softly, to not disrupt any more injuries.]
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it's hard to see, but he can still sense that something's wrong. keigo is moving strangely, and doesn't make a sound. maybe it's his vision playing tricks on him again, but he doesn't see any flashes of bright red wings. ]
What are ya...
[he starts, but he's winded, and then keigo presses at his shoulder and dabi falls easily back against the couch with another pained sound. but he reaches out anyway, grabbing at the arm that is trying to examine him, fingers curling loosely around the other man's wrist.]
What happened?
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if that's true, their situation became even more sticky.
dabi has never used this kind of firepower around him before. it gets keigo worried and fretting. he has some eyedrops on him, to be used in case of an emergency like dirt or dust. he doesn't want to harm dabi's eyes further though...
they both needed a doctor, unfortunately. and keigo couldn't exactly take dabi up to see one.
in the midst of his fretting, he feels the hand around his wrist and looks up, not realizing he averted his gaze. he doesn't have a phone to use to translate what he wants to say either. he has to start out small here, explain where he can.
he takes the hand softly with his and presses it to his neck, where his flesh is burned and sensitive. keigo hasn't dressed it. it's this instance he kind of wishes dabi had a cold quirk, just so he could cool down the sensitive flesh there. nonetheless, he's hoping it's maybe enough to explain his quietness.]
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Keigo still doesn't respond, and Dabi wonders if someone might be listening, but then he feels the burns on the very tips of his fingers, all along Keigo's neck, and he tries to sit up again.]
You're burned. You're fuckin' burned. There was a fire?
[was it his fire? It all feels hazy in his head.]
Ah, fuck... My head. Were we together?
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with all that fire, there was going to be a bigger manhunt for the villain. and keigo can’t properly protect until his feathers are restored.
his eyebrows furrow though, as dabi asks about the fire. it was so big, how could he not remember it? amnesia? if keigo had any feathers left on his wings, they’d certainly would be coming off from the fretting.
he does need to explain it better. dabi has his questions and so does keigo.
after pushing down dabi to rest again, the hero starts to search for the villain’s phone. he taps along dabi’s pockets, hoping maybe he’ll understand what keigo was doing. he isn’t trying to grope him purposely here after all.]
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But it doesn't take much to get him to lay back down. His brain feels so fuzzy, he knows this is worse than usual. But Keigo is here. At least Keigo is here and they can figure this out together. ]
What about you? Your burns... Kei, ya gotta treat those burns. I'll be fine.
[He feels the other man feeling around and he gets it, fishing his phone out and handing it over. He has a really bad feeling about this. All of this. Why is everything so hazy in his head?]
We gotta get you help...
[he mutters quietly.]
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at least the villain lays down. it gets a relieved look from the hero. he even almost smiles when dabi understands him and produces the phone. instead of the smile, he squeezes dabi’s upper arm in gratitude before taking the phone so he can download a voice app.
his eyebrows furrow like earlier when dabi brings up getting help involved. he’d agree, but only because he wants dabi to receive help. it was going to be hard moving both of them. keigo really needed his feathers.
trying not to focus so much on that, he quickly types up a question, hitting the audio function after.]
Your eyes? Can you see at all?
no subject
Where are we?
[he mutters that as well, because he can't stop the questions from forming, even though he knows Keigo isn't speaking. How did things get so bad?
Luckily Keigo is smart enough to find a voice app and Dabi turns his head towards him, trying to take in whatever details he can.]
I... It's hazy. My whole fuckin' head. Can't see anythin' clear.
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[keigo had made sure he had carried dabi that far. he didn't want the villain caught. the hero could handle it being taken away, but he'd be broken apart to lose dabi to tartarus. or worst. no. he wouldn't let dabi die either.
when the villain answers his question, keigo looks at him worriedly. he's not sure if it's good or not. could dabi be affected by smoke inhalation? given the damage of new burns, keigo can safely say that dabi's own fire affects him greatly. he wonders why. he also is worried that they need to see someone about them.
there was that shady doctor, right? keigo can't help but grimace inwardly at the thought of either of them going to him. not without his feathers. he had to protect dabi, who can't see.]
I have eye drops on me. You need a doctor though. I'm worried you'll go blind if we don't get help.
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[he doesn't remember why they're out this far. maybe he was passed out for a while. there was a fire... his fire? he squeezes his eyes shut, pressing his fingers against them, trying to clear his head. it's frustrating.
maybe he should be more freaked out by this, but... he isn't. he's with keigo.]
We gotta go back to the base. We'll go to Ujiko. He'll figure out what the fuck's wrong and help ya out. You're burned up pretty bad...
[he tries to look at keigo again, blinking a bit.]
Did I do this? Did I hurt you?
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without thinking, moving on instincts, keigo presses a gentle hand to dabi’s arm, the one that rests near his eyes.
he does nod his head and agrees they needed to get to that doctor. maybe...he can watch protectively over the villain and that’ll be enough?]
Okay. But you should rest after you’re looked at.
[keigo doesn’t bring up his burns though. he doesn’t want dabi to worry.
but, as the villain brings up the fire, the hero tries not to fret. it wasn’t dabi’s fault. not at all.]
No. I ran into the fire to look for you. I thought a hero attacked you.
no subject
he also realizes then that he never really told keigo about his quirk and what it does to his body. that's always been a weakness he doesn't want to reveal, and maybe they never got to that point where he could really be open enough to talk about it. ]
To look for me...
[the fire... it was his. there were several fires and they were all bright blue. he looks at his hands, seeing how much the burns have spread, and then he looks back at keigo.]
I did this. This was my fire. My flames. I was angry about somethin'.
[he searches keigo's face, the burns there and the lack of red at keigo's back.]
Your wings. What the fuck... what the fuck happened?
no subject
he cared far too much to let that happen. even if they’re both exhausted and injured, he did try his best. and keigo is grateful that he found dabi not killed. he wished he could have stopped the villain from exerting himself though. he should have stayed with him.
he lets the villain talk, more worried now when dabi comes to admit over his anger. him. it had to be because of him. then, no heroes.
a part of keigo was very aware that last night was possibly due to him. it hurt that he was the cause of putting so many people, including dabi, into jeopardy.
quickly, he types on the phone, anxious and missing his voice more than ever.]
I only have one feather. They’ll grow back in three days.
[he assumes. his back was burned, but not too much. he can feel the base of his wings. he quietly assumes it’ll take three days like usual.]
It was most likely because of me that you used that much fire. I made you angry. And you're hurt because of me.
[and, because he needs to know for sure-]
What do you last remember?
no subject
Did somethin' happen with the heroes? Did they attack?
[why else would he have used so much of his flames? Why else would he have been so angry? Why else would Keigo only have one of his feathers?]
We should go. We gotta go. Ya can't be layin' around here on the fuckin' ground like this bein' so damn hurt.
[he pushes himself up to sit again, managing to make it all the way before looking at Keigo again.]
You're the one who made me angry? This fuckin' angry? That makes no sense... What did you...
[he shakes his head, trying to get his vision to focus again as he tries to stand up. Keigo needs help and he doesn't want to just sit here on his ass.]
I remember... walking. I was... going to your place. We had a fight. Wait, I was goin' to your place so we could talk.
no subject
keigo wants to stop the villain from getting up too fast. they had to be careful with their injuries, after all. he didn’t want dabi to over exert himself either.
the hero would be okay though. he can tough this out.
but, keigo finds himself stopping, mind reeling back as his body runs cold, all from dabi’s admittance to his memory loss. so...it was true? keigo feels so sick. so hurt, hurt in a way he can’t explain. something that leaves him completely broken.
how was he to do this now? he can’t lie to dabi again. not after hearing the villain his worries over keigo, over the fear of him being a spy.
sadly, keigo reaches up, cupping dabi’s cheek fondly. he knows what he has to do. he can’t live like this any more. dabi didn’t deserve it.]
I’ll explain it all when we’re safe. Let’s get you back to base.
[he can formulate a plan, something dabi can use to his advantage. keigo will try to keep helping his lover until then.]
There was three buildings burnt down. We’ll probably be hunted. We need to stay hidden, okay? I don’t have my feathers to protect us.
no subject
he has one feather left, and dabi looks down at the one in his lap. he lifts it up, giving keigo a nod. ]
Yeah, okay. Let's get back. Need the doc to look at your burns, and your throat. Fuck... what the fuck.
[he says incredulously, because he still can't believe this. he should be freaking out more, but he's too wiped out to do anything but try and figure out the next step.]
I can get Ujiko to warp us back to the base. It ain't gonna feel good, but it's quick.
no subject
keigo's eyes drift down to the feather in his lover's grip, and he finds himself reaching over, wrapping the villain's fingers around it. it helped the hero out before by remaining on dabi's person. dabi should keep it.
just...just in case.]
First have him look at your eyes. I'll be there to watch and make sure he doesn't do anything fishy.
[he did remember dabi's feelings over the doctor previously. and anyway, his burns could wait. keigo was far more worried about dabi than himself.]
I'm ready to leave, whenever you are.
no subject
and then he woke up here in this abandoned building, the two of them all burnt up.
when keigo wraps his fingers around the feather, dabi is surprised. there's a lot he used to think about keigo and his feathers, and he remembers how upset he was when he found out what they could really do- but he doesn't believe keigo would give him a feather so he could spy on him right now. it feels like it's more for safety and protection, and he wishes he had something to give keigo too.
he keeps it, especially when keigo mentions what that creepy doctor could do, and it's kind of a relief that keigo remembers. he slides the feather into his pocket, then pushes himself up to stand, holding his hand out. ]
Need my phone back so I can call him. He can give us a portal outside the building.
no subject
at least dabi takes it for now, earning a small smile from the hero.
he comes to stand up on shaky legs, but ignores the ache there. he's just exhausted from walking so far last night is all. his heart hurts far more than any aches and burns.]
Okay.
[but, before he hands it over, keigo does press a hand to dabi's arm, giving a gentle grip, before typing one final message.]
I do want you to know that I'm sorry about making you upset last night. Over our text discussion. I promise to explain everything though.
[he'd give anything to just go back there, but at the same time, lying to dabi all this time had been eating him up. he needs to do it again. he would only look guilty for hiding it otherwise. silently from here, he holds out dabi's phone to the villain, trying to hold down the anxiousness and sad feelings. he can do this.]
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