This was a level of pain Tokoyami had never felt before. Though his eyes were closed, the consistent beeping of a heart rate monitor told him he was at the hospital. He and Hawks were out patrolling when a nomu attacked their part of town.
The beast was large, and Hawks and Tokoyami had both been fighting heads on. At one point Tokoyami saw a child standing in the way of some rubble as Hawks took on the beast alone. As Tokoyami moved to get the child out of the way. At that time the Nomu began thrusting debris at Hawks, and every piece that missed went for Tokoyami and the kid. Tokoyami did what any hero would do, he covered the kid with Dark Shadow and took the hit.
That was the last thing he remembered before now waking up in the hospital. As he opened his eyes he saw Hawks sitting a chair beside the bed. "Wakey wakey, hero." Hawks sang.
Tokoyami blinked a few times then put his hands flat on the bed to try and push himself. Hawks stood up and pressed his hand gently on Tokoyami's chest.
"Dude, you need to chill. You don't want to sit up that way." Hawks pressed the automatic recline button.
Tokoyami's upper body suddenly began to elevate. He was a bit cloudy still. His mind as trying to focus. He tried to open his mouth to speak but his mouth didn't move. He did feel pain at the top of his beak. A muffled groan of pain emerged from his mouth.
"Ooh!" Hawks hissed. "Yeah, I wouldn't try speaking. Some of that debris really hit you hard. Recovery girl did her best, but she had to do surgery as well. Your beak is wired shut for the next week."
Tokoyami's eyes widened. "A week!" He thought.
"You also have a feeding tube, so be careful with your stomach," Hawks pointed and Tokoyami looked down under his hospital gown. Sure enough, the was a large plastic tube sticking out of him.
"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you," Dark Shadows head poked out of the teens chest. Its eyes looked teary as it conveyed it's thoughts to its host.
Tokoyami placed a head on his quick and patted his head. "It's fine. You did what I told you to do. That kid was our main concern."
"I'm glad Dark Shadow can figure out what you are saying," Hawks interjected the thoughtful conversation. "You made quite a name for yourself kid. This was quite a showing. Even when you were bleeding and unconscious that civilian stayed safe. You got yourself quite a following now."
Hawks passed over his cellphone to show Tokoyami a link. There was an article with an action shot of him. The article included interviews from citizens wishing him the best and hoping for a quick recovery.
"It's sweet, right?"
Tokoyami nodded. He tried to smile but winced in pain. He handed the phone back to Hawks.
Hawks frowned. "Maybe I shouldn't try to cheer you up. I did talk to U.A. Don't worry about the internship, I told them when you are back you can finish up your time with me no problem. I wouldn't want such a hero to miss out on any part of the hero adventure."
Tokoyami slowly bowed his head in gratitude. Hawks didn't have to be here. He also didn't have to be taking him back to continue his internship. He was truly grateful.
Hawks looked at the time on his phone and stood up. "I wish I could stay longer, now that you are awake, but visiting hours end in a few minutes. I need to leave." He gestured to the opposite wall. "You do have plenty of cards and stuff to read through, so I don't think you will be bored."
Tokoyami looked to see a wall of cards, flowers, balloons, and other boxes stacked neatly against the wall. Dark Shadow could feel the teen's heart race from the adoration, and quickly wrapped itself around Tokoyami.
Hawks saluted the young hero in training as he walked by. "Heal up quick. You got a lot of people counting on you."
