The Traitor's Beating

Hello hello! Mimmy here! I'm posting yesterday's story because I just got back from seeing the movie and I'm refuelling my tears because what was THAT Shoto scene ???

Also, I'm not sure if this should be labeled as spoilers for the BIG fight but... take this as a spoiler warning, I guess

Anyways, enjoy!

#LeaderReview

Word count:

899

-

He thought that was it. He thought that was the end for him, whether as a hero or a human, it didn't matter much to him. He could feel the oppressing tendrils that choked him in darkness and left him feeling completely helpless. His gaze, unfocused from a mix of exhaustion and lack of air, drifted to his sword, still pierced through All for One's shoulder. He had missed. If he had managed to pierce his chest instead, that war could have been won.

He gasped, trying to get some air, but the grip All for One had around his throat tightened as if he knew how much his lungs were burning. A choked out sound left his lips as he tried to say something, barely having the strength to react to the taunts thrown his way.

Either way, whether he died or survived that war, he was done for. Hawks was about to meet his end.

The tendrils around him seemed to grow, barely touching him but pulling at something he couldn't quite understand. They tugged at the pit of his stomach, making him feel sick.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could almost make out a cool light, bright as day and blue. The shadows from the fire that kept mercilessly spreading hit their area of battle. He glanced over and saw something he wasn't expecting, whatever it was.

But, by the looks of it, Dabi was misbehaving.

Hawks' gaze, then fell on Tokoyami, who watched in terror. He could feel his wings growing smaller, detaching themselves from his very core. And a wave of panic shot through him, adrenaline coursing through his veins at the mere thought of losing his feathers. He shut his eyes, letting the sword that had been through All for One's shoulder moments ago loose, and trying to focus.

He needed to keep as much of his quirk as he could.

With one single thought in mind, several of his least damaged feather popped out of his wings, as if that would stop the other from stealing them. He needed to make as much damage as he could in the shortest amount of time.

For a moment, the feathers seemed to hesitate, but Hawks pushed through, aiming to create a big enough distraction. For a moment... just a moment, Hawks felt like he could manage on his own. But the feathers fell to the ground and he felt powerless and weak.

He gave up. There was no way out of it.

The blue flame suddenly expanded, burning through everything with so much intensity no tree was left standing.

Feeling the heat, Hawks opened his eyes again, memories flashing through his mind at the familiar sensation. He ed his last enounter with Dabi. He ed the anger, the raw fury that fuelled the villain's fire, much like it seemed to do right now. He ed that manic grin as he burnt his wings to ashes.

He'd always thought that would be his closest call to lose them... clearly he was wrong.

The fire, as if a completely separate being from Dabi, washed over the area, burning everything in its path... which would make sense for Dabi, but not the way it burnt All for One and almost seemed to hesitate before reaching him.

Upon feeling the scorching flames, All for One let go of Hawks' throat, letting him drop to the ground with a sickening thud.

Hawks groaned in pain, barely able to move away from the literal line of fire that approached him. He closed his eyes and forced himself to stand, glancing back at his hero comrades, most of which were unconscious from the last attack.

He shifted, visibly in pain, and glanced back at his back, seeing his wings still there, small and broken, but still there. He had to stop that fire somehow. He didn't know how, but he had to stop it. He couldn't let it kill anyone. And, if Endeavor was there with Dabi, he doubted he was still alive. He had to step up and be the hero he was raised to become.

Just as he managed to take a step back, the flames froze—literally. The searing heat transformed into an ice-cold breeze, making Hawks shiver at the contrast. Ice crept from the heart of the flames—from Dabi’s spot—spreading rapidly and freezing the inferno in its path. For a moment, Hawks almost wondered if Dabi had caused it himself, but he knew better.

He stared at the ice in front of him, its surface glistening as the trapped flames still burned inside. It was beautiful, really. Hawks wanted to reach out and touch it, but even the slightest movement felt like his body was still being ripped apart.

Unknowingly, Dabi had killed All for One with his fire. And, in a twisted way, Hawks found himself grateful for the villain’s destructive quirk.

Suddenly, the biting cold replaced the heat, and Hawks staggered, his hands trembling before his entire body followed. His vision blurred, and he blinked rapidly, trying to stay focused. All for One was dead, but the war was far from over.

But he couldn't hold on. With a gasping breath, his body gave out, collapsing as his mind shut down. The mix of exhaustion, pain, and the sudden temperature shift had taken its toll. Darkness claimed him as he slipped into unconsciousness.