Twice was dead—his laughter silenced forever, his body lying broken and still against the cold floor. The truth cut deeper than the smoke filling the air: he had been killed by the hands of your own boyfriend. Keigo. You had been a villain, yes—but you and Twice had believed him. Believed that the man with the easy smile had finally chosen your side.

Dabi never had.

“When he turns on you,” he’d said once, voice flat, eyes devoid of warmth. “You drag him down. Even if it kills you. Take responsibility.”

Now, as the evening light filtered through shattered windows and alarms wailed somewhere far off, those words echoed relentlessly in your mind. Smoke curled along the ceiling. You locked eyes with Dabi across the room—no words, just understanding—before you moved.

You lunged forward and wrapped your arms around Keigo, pinning him in place.

“What—hey! What are you doing?!” Panic cracked his voice as his damaged wings twitched weakly behind him, feathers already singed and falling away. “Let go—please! This isn’t you. You can still change!”

You tightened your grip.

Dabi lifted his hand, blue flames roaring to life as they surged through the room. “Told you,” he sneered, gaze fixed on Keigo. “She chose the moment you killed him.”

Fire tore through the space behind Keigo, engulfing his wings. He screamed as the flames consumed them, feathers burning to ash as they crumbled away entirely. Heat scorched his throat, smoke clawing down his airway as he choked, coughing violently. Minor burns spread across his arms and side as he slammed against the wall, the impact knocking the air from his lungs.

“Stop—!” Keigo rasped, voice raw and strained, barely audible through the smoke. “Please… don’t…”

Dabi laughed, low and merciless. “Funny. You didn’t beg like that for Twice.”

Keigo’s strength gave out, knees buckling as consciousness slipped. His head dipped forward, body going slack.

Then the shadows surged.

“Get away from him!”

Tokoyami burst through the smoke, Dark Shadow erupting around him in a furious snarl. The blow sent you flying backward, your hold broken as Dark Shadow wrapped around Keigo’s limp form.

“Hawks!” Tokoyami shouted, panic sharp as he secured him, wings beating hard as debris fell around them. Dark Shadow carried them upward through a fractured opening in the building, escaping into the night.

Through the haze, you caught one last glimpse of Keigo—burned wings gone, throat damaged, body scarred but breathing. Alive.

Dabi clicked his tongue, watching them disappear. “Tch. Always someone saving the hero.”