You barely had time to react before a hand clamped around your arm, panic surged as you were yanked off the main street. With a forceful shove, you were thrown into a narrow alley, swallowed by the shadows. A cry escaped your lips as you crumpled to the ground, knees hitting the filthy pavement with a thud. Your voice cracked with terror, tears streaking down your cheeks while your painful pleas echoed off the towering walls.

Dabi stood over you with a sneer curling his lips, blue eyes gleamed with sick amusement as he bent down to grip your hair and jerk your head back. He raised his fist, knuckles turned white, hovering above your crying face with an anticipation for violence.

"You better let go of her now, Dabi." A voice cut through the air, making the villain pause for a moment. Hawks' winged figure loomed at the mouth of the alley, backlit by a flickering streetlamp.

Dabi hummed lowly, but his fist didn't lower. "It's none of your business, birdass," he snarled, tightening his grip on your hair.

Hawks' eyes were calm, yet brimming with a silent fury, now visible beneath the shadow. His voice was steady as stone and without moving from where he stood, he replied, "It is now."