It had been a long day for Hawks. The weight of his duties had worn him down, leaving him eager to return home to his husband, Dabi. They’d been married for some time now, and while their relationship was rooted in love, there was always room for a little mischief—especially when it came to Dabi’s particular brand of humour.
Hawks had never known a love so intense, yet so mischievous. Dabi was a master of surprises, and it often kept Hawks on his toes. The two had built a life together, filled with shared moments, laughter, and a fair amount of teasing. Hawks had learned to expect the unexpected, but tonight… tonight would be different.
Dabi had been planning something, and Hawks could already feel the tension in the air. The small, subtle signs that something was amiss, the tiny shifts in Dabi's usual demeanour. It wasn’t a new feeling; it was something he had learned to recognize over time. When Dabi was in one of his "moods," the world was about to get a lot more chaotic, and not in a way that Hawks would enjoy.
The door creaked open as Hawks stepped into their shared home, his tired eyes scanning the room. He expected to hear the usual greeting from Dabi—something snarky or sarcastic, or perhaps a lazy “Hey, bird.” But there was silence. An eerie silence that sent a chill running down Hawks' spine.
"Dabi?" he called out softly, kicking his shoes off by the door. He made his way further into the house, trying to ignore the odd sensation that something was wrong. The air felt heavier than usual, thick with an unsettling stillness. He ran his fingers through his golden feathers, sensing the tension in his muscles.
"Dabi, are you here?" He felt like a fool for asking—of course, Dabi was here. It was his damn house. But the silence only deepened his suspicion.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a flicker of movement—something small, skittering across the floor in the dim light.
It was a cat. A black one.
Hawks froze, his wings instinctively bristling as he took a step back. He hated cats. He couldn’t help it. Something about them, the way they slink around, always felt predatory to him. He was part bird, and birds had a deep-rooted instinct to fear predators. Cats were one of those predators.
He swallowed hard, his pulse quickening. What the hell was Dabi doing with a cat?
“Dabi…” Hawks’ voice trembled just slightly. “What is this?”
The house remained silent. Too silent.
Suddenly, the lights flickered, and the cat darted out of sight, disappearing into the shadows like a ghost. The hairs on the back of Hawks’ neck stood up. Something wasn’t right.
“Dabi, stop playing games,” Hawks called out, his voice steadier than he felt. He felt his wings twitch behind him, a nervous fluttering that he couldn't control. This wasn’t normal, not even for Dabi.
But when he turned to leave the room, something unexpected happened. A sharp sound, like the scraping of metal against the floor, echoed in the house. The unmistakable sound of a needle being dragged along the wood. Hawks froze. His heart skipped a beat.
Dabi knew his fears, too well. And needles—needles were the one thing that could send him into a panic, make his whole body seize up. He had never been able to tolerate them, not even in the slightest. The fear was deeply ingrained in him, a holdover from years of trauma, and Dabi knew this. He knew it well.
“Dabi,” Hawks whispered, barely able to speak through the tightening in his chest. “Please. Not this.”
But there was no answer, only the slow, deliberate scrape of the needle.
Hawks had to do something. He wasn’t going to let Dabi push him like this, not again. He had faced far worse over the years, but something about this… the cat, the needles, the silence—this felt like a trap. He steeled himself, taking slow, careful steps toward the source of the sound.
As he moved deeper into the house, he caught sight of more shadows shifting—more movement that didn't quite make sense. It was as if the walls were closing in on him, and the quiet only added to the mounting sense of dread.
Then, out of nowhere, the lights went out completely.
“Dabi!” Hawks shouted, panic lacing his voice as he swung his wings behind him, preparing to take flight, to escape this feeling of suffocation. But before he could take off, a soft, melodic purring echoed from the darkness, followed by a sharp, sudden noise.
The unmistakable sound of something sharp scraping against metal.
And then, from the blackened shadows, came Dabi’s voice—low, mocking, and filled with amusement.
“You should’ve seen your face, Hawks. You’re so predictable.”
Hawks froze, his heart racing. It was too much. His wings twitched violently, his feathers bristling in a mix of fear and anger.
“Dabi,” Hawks spat, his voice trembling, but not from fear. “What the hell are you doing?”
A flicker of light returned, revealing Dabi in the dim glow of a candle, standing at the center of the room, holding the black cat in his arms. His lips curled into a smirk as he gazed at his husband’s panicked expression.
“You don’t like cats, do you, bird?” Dabi drawled, his voice dripping with amusement. “And needles. Don’t forget needles.”
Hawks blinked, slowly beginning to process what was happening. His heart was still racing, and his wings felt too stiff, too confined against his back. He was angry now, but the terror from moments before still lingered.
“You scared the shit out of me,” Hawks muttered, trying to find his breath again. “What the hell is this, Dabi?”
The flame on Dabi’s lighter flickered as he walked toward Hawks, his steps deliberate. “Just having a little fun, Hawks. You’ve been so serious lately. I thought I’d remind you who’s in charge around here.”
Hawks narrowed his eyes, his wings unfurling in an attempt to regain his space, to make himself feel taller, more imposing. He was done being afraid.
“I don’t find this funny,” he said, his voice low and steady, though his pulse was still pounding in his ears. “You know I don’t like cats, and you damn well know what needles do to me.”
Dabi’s grin only widened, and he leaned in closer, his breath warm against Hawks’ ear. “I know exactly what you’re afraid of, baby. And that’s why I did it. You think you can intimidate me, but you can’t even handle a damn cat.”
Hawks’ wings twitched again, frustration building in his chest. But then, as Dabi’s smirk grew wider, something in him snapped. He wasn’t about to let Dabi win this little game.
“You wanna scare me?” Hawks stepped forward, meeting Dabi’s gaze with a challenge burning in his amber eyes. “Well, I’ve got a surprise for you.”
Without warning, Hawks surged forward, his wings catching the dim light of the room as he moved with surprising speed. Before Dabi could even register what was happening, Hawks had him pinned against the wall, his arms wrapped tightly around Dabi’s waist, trapping him in place.
Dabi’s expression faltered for a split second, confusion flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a smirk. “What do you think you’re doing, bird?”
Hawks grinned mischievously, his golden eyes glinting with a playful, almost dangerous energy. “Oh, I think it’s time for you to be the one who gets scared.”
Dabi’s amusement grew, but his tone shifted, becoming slightly more wary. “You wouldn’t…”
Hawks’ fingers darted toward Dabi’s ribs with lightning speed. The first touch was enough to make Dabi flinch, and then Hawks pressed his fingers harder, worming them into the spots he knew were the most sensitive.
Dabi let out a startled laugh, immediately squirming in Hawks’ grasp. “N-No! Hawks, stop—! This isn’t funny!” He tried to break free, but Hawks’ grip tightened, refusing to let go.
“Not so fun when it’s you on the receiving end, huh?” Hawks teased, his fingers dancing across Dabi’s ribs with practiced ease, exploiting the ticklish spots he’d long since memorized. Every move was calculated, precise—Hawks knew exactly how to break through Dabi’s tough exterior.
Dabi’s face twisted with a mix of laughter and frustration, his hands slapping at Hawks’ wrists in an attempt to stop him. “I swear, if you don’t—hahaha—if you don’t stop—!”
But Hawks was relentless. He didn’t stop. He kept going, his hands moving with a wicked precision, pressing into Dabi’s sides and digging into the sensitive spots just beneath his ribs. Dabi’s laughter grew louder, more frantic, and Hawks couldn’t help but laugh along with him, savouring the sight of his usually unshakable husband reduced to a mess of helpless giggles.
“You’re really that ticklish?” Hawks teased, his tone light and full of mock surprise. “I didn’t know you were so weak, Dabi.”
“Shut up!” Dabi shouted between gasps of breath, his voice cracking. He tried to push Hawks off, but his attempts were weak and half-hearted, his body writhing in ticklish agony as Hawks continued his relentless assault.
Hawks could feel Dabi’s body shaking in his arms, his breath coming in sharp gasps. His own heart was pounding with adrenaline, but there was a certain warmth flooding his chest as he watched Dabi laugh uncontrollably. This was a side of Dabi that he rarely got to see—a side that wasn’t so guarded, so cold and intimidating. Dabi was vulnerable, and it was exhilarating to have him in this state.
“I guess I finally found your weak spot,” Hawks teased, leaning in closer to press his fingers deeper into Dabi’s side, right above his waist. The area was a particularly sensitive spot, and when Hawks touched it, Dabi’s laughter escalated into a high-pitched squeal that sent a thrill of satisfaction through Hawks’ chest.
“No! H-Hawks, p-please—hahahaha—please, I can’t take it—!”
“Can’t take it?” Hawks repeated, raising an eyebrow. “But I thought you could handle anything, Dabi. Aren’t you tough?”
Dabi let out a strangled laugh as he continued to squirm helplessly in Hawks’ grasp. He wasn’t used to being in this position, and the fact that Hawks had so easily reduced him to this chaotic mess of laughter was almost... humbling. The man he had once feared was now laughing uncontrollably in his arms, and Dabi had no way to escape.
Hawks felt a surge of pride in his chest, his playful grin widening as he continued his assault. But he wasn’t done just yet. He was going to make Dabi regret every second of that prank.
Just as Dabi was beginning to regain some control of his laughter, Hawks let go of him for a moment—just long enough to reposition himself behind Dabi.
“W-Wait, no!” Dabi gasped, his breath uneven. But before he could protest further, Hawks reached up, gently but firmly pulling Dabi’s arms behind his back, pinning them in place.
Dabi’s eyes widened, his muscles tensing instinctively, as if preparing to fight back. But Hawks wasn’t going to give him that chance. With Dabi’s arms pinned and his back vulnerable, Hawks quickly attacked once again, his fingers digging into Dabi’s underarms—another spot Dabi had always tried to guard.
Dabi’s body jerked, the immediate response a burst of laughter that echoed through the room. “Hahaha—Hawks, stop—please—I’m begging you—!”
“Oh, I’m just getting started,” Hawks said with a wicked smile, his fingers relentless. Dabi’s body shook uncontrollably beneath him, every part of him struggling to keep it together as the tickling became more and more intense.
“You—hahaha—you son of a bitch!” Dabi choked out between fits of laughter, his face flushed with both exertion and humiliation. “I—I’m gonna—hahaha—hahaha—I swear to god, Hawks—!”
Hawks could feel the heat in his chest building as he watched Dabi struggle. He wasn’t sure what was more satisfying: the fact that Dabi was laughing so hard, or the fact that Hawks knew exactly how to make him lose control. He’d never seen Dabi like this before—completely vulnerable, his tough exterior shattered in an instant.
But then, just as he was starting to feel like he’d won, Dabi managed to twist slightly in his grasp. “Y-You think… you can just—hahaha—make me lose, bird? You—hahaha—you’re so wrong!”
Before Hawks could respond, Dabi suddenly surged forward with all the strength he could muster, breaking free from Hawks’ hold just long enough to roll them both onto the floor. With his arms still pinned beneath Hawks’ body, Dabi grinned wickedly, and with a swift move, he returned the favor—his fingers darting to Hawks’ own sides, finding the most sensitive spots.
Hawks’ breath caught in his throat as the sudden onslaught of tickling sent his own body into uncontrollable spasms. The tables had turned, and now Hawks was the one gasping for air, his wings flapping in desperation as Dabi expertly pressed his fingers into every ticklish spot he knew so well.
“Hahaha—oh no!” Hawks managed to squeak out through his laughter. “You—hahaha—you’re getting me back, huh?”
“Oh yeah,” Dabi purred, his grin wide and wicked. “You really thought you could beat me at my own game, bird?”
For a few more moments, the room was filled with the sound of laughter—laughter that was pure, unrestrained, and full of love, even though it was laced with frustration and defeat. As Hawks finally managed to wriggle free, both of them collapsed onto the floor in a heap, their breathing heavy and uneven.
Hawks, still giggling lightly, glanced over at Dabi, who was now panting and smirking. “I think we both got a little too carried away,” Hawks said with a grin, his heart still racing.
Dabi snorted, shifting so that he could rest his head against Hawks’ shoulder. “You definitely got carried away, bird.”
The two lay there for a while, in a comfortable, happy silence—both still catching their breath, both knowing they would never let this moment go.
Hawks had gotten his revenge, but in the end, it didn’t matter. This was their dynamic, their dance. Mischief, love, and laughter were the core of their relationship, and neither of them would change a thing. Suddenly, the cat makes a sound again and Hawks nearly jumps up onto Dabi because it is that close.
“You better get rid of that thing before we go to bed, or you are sleeping on the couch and I am locking myself up in the bedroom.”
“Don’t worry. I will protect you from it.”
