Hello! It' been a little bit! This testing season has been kicking my butt! Keep my students in your thoughts and prayers. Testing season is the worst season. I want them to do well, but I hate the level of stress and the concept that a certain score provides some sort of self-worth.

Anyway, here is the latest chapter. I wanted to add in this ship for a while, but I have been waiting for the right moment. Please let me know what you think! I would love to know what predictions you wonderful readers have.

Love you all,

Traditional Twist

Chapter 25

As the sounds of Sora sobbing over his right shoulder, Hawks sat on the floor, wing collecting the child's tears. He was lost on his next steps on what to do. How was he supposed to take care of Sora when he was dragging her into a mess?

His phone buzzed and he looked down. His eyes widened when he saw who it was that had messaged him; Fuyumi Todoroki.

Fuyumi: Hawks, what is going on?

Hawks: Hey, Fuyumi! How are you doing this morning?

Fuyumi: Don't play dumb. My dad came home cussing up a storm about you. Are you hurt as well?

Hawks: I'm sorry I put Endeavor in a foul mood.

Fuyumi: now I'm really concerned. Can you meet me? I need to see that you're alright.

Hawks: Yeah. I will text you when I can leave. I need to take care of something.

Fuyumi: please be careful. If I don't hear from you in two hours I'm coming over. I don't care about the consequences, I care about you.

Hawks put his phone down. He sat with Sora who was sleepily weeping over his wing. He flexed his wing. "Good as new Red."

Sora yawned and smiled. "Yay! That means we can watch the wedding together on the couch."

Hawks ran a hand over the child's head. "I think it may be time for sleep."

Sora shook her head. "But Fumi is coming."

"Fumikage is coming over."

Hawks sighed. Again, an error on his part. To get a moment from the child, he had her call her brother. Of course, Sora would say what happened. He was going to have to explain to Fumikage as well.

There was a knock at the door. Hawks stood up. "That must be Fumikage as we speak."

As he started to walk, a Shadowy hand reached under the door and turned the door handle. Hawks paused as the door revealed Fumikage, Dark Shadow, and Aizawa standing at the doorway. Dark Shadow slid back into its host's body. Fumikage entered the home, fists clenched and shaking.

"Fumi?" Sora hopped off the couch. Her voice was full of worry as she stared at her brother. "Fumi, are you angry?" She ran to Hawks and half hid herself behind Hawks' leg. "Fumi please don't be angry."

"Did you know?" Fumikage's voice was low but shook just as violently as his hands. "Did you know the person who came after Sora?"

Hawks gulped. This was a new side to Fumikage. An emotional, angry side that he was not sure how to handle. He couldn't lie, not when his cover was already blown. "Yes."

The teens knuckle whitened. "How long did you know?"

"I have been acting as a double agent for a while, even before we met," Hawks admitted.

Fumikage's eyes narrowed. Dark Shadow rose from his back with a darkening glare. Sora steppes I front of Hawks. "Fumi, please don't be mad at Hawks. He kept me safe! Don't yell at him like did at dad."

Dark Shadow growled, moving back slightly. "He caused this danger," the shadow said.

"I did," Hawks admitted. "I played loose and fast. In fact, I think if I would have listened to Aizawa the first time he talked to me about taking care of you two this could have all been avoided. I was arrogant."

"Sora could have been hurt," Fumikage said. A light trickle of blood slipped from his grip as he tightened his nails against his skin.

"I wasn't hurt though. Hawks kept me safe. He is good. I'm okay, I promise." Sora warily moves from Hawks to Fumikage. He placed both hands on his shaking one.

"I was doing my civic duty as a hero. I was approached by the government to do what I could to earn the League's trust. Everything became a mess when I decided to adopt you and Sora. I thought I could keep both balanced, but then Dabi saw Sora heal me at the zoo and has been after her since."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Fumikage yelled. "If you were endangering my life of Sora's, didn't we deserve to know before agreeing to you being our guardian? We can't go back now!"

"I never wanted you two to be involved!" Hawks yelled back. "I just wanted you two to feel safe. To trust me!"

The shaking halted. Dark Shadow sunk back into Fumikage and tears fell from the teen's eyes. "How am I supposed to trust you when everything I care about is being taken? I only have Sora. You are supposed to keep her safe until I can, not putting her in harm's way."

"Fumikage." Hawks took a step towards the teen.

"Don't come any closer," Fumikage said. He instinctively pushed Sora behind him to protect her.

Hawks halted and took a step back. Aizawa took this moment to step forward. He put a hand on his students' shoulder. "I think everyone here is exhausted. Now is not the time to sort out fault. Fumikage, take Sora to bed. I'm going to stay and talk with Hawks."

Fumikage didn't move at first. His glossy eyes glared up at Hawks, who looked away in shame.

Sora pulled her brother's hand. "Come on Fumi. I want to go to bed."

Begrudgingly, Fumikage followed Sora deeper into the home, leaving the pro-heroes to talk. Aizawa remained in the doorway. "You realize what you've done. You need to earn Fumikage's trust back, both as a parent and a hero."

"And how am I supposed to do that?" Hawks asked.

"That's your call," Aizawa said turning away. "I suggest starting with being completely honest. Secrets rare families apart. I don't think Fumikage is going to willingly leave Sora, so I'm going to leave him here and return later this evening. Talk through your differences and I will see what sort of support U.A. can provide as well. Until then, try to make amends, or at least let Fumikage know you care about him and Sora. That kid is too used to being the only one to care for himself and his sister."

Hawks hung his head. "I do care, though."

"I know you do," Aizawa said. "That's why I know this will all be alright. You can't blame the kid for feeling hurt though.

Hawks rubbed the back his neck. "I suppose not. I guess I just assumed he'd realize the danger that comes with being a hero; intended or not."

"That's something he will come to understand, but as a mentor you have to help guide him through that. As a parent you need to be a person he can lash out at and still remain safe." With that Aizawa walked out the front door.

Hawks turned his head to look down the hall he watched as the bedroom lights turned out and hear the subtle click of a lock. Hawks' wings dropped. "Maybe It will be better after some rest." He went to the couch, turned off the television, and leaned his head against the back of a couch.

Hawks heard the slightest knock on the front door. After tonight, any strange noise set him on edge. He moved from the couch to the doorway, pulling a feather blade as he made his way. Once at the door, he took a silent breath to prepare for an attack. He flung open the doors and swing his sword. In mid swing he saw grey, terrified eyes staring back at him, and he stopped just millimeters from the bicolor-haired woman.

"Fuyumi?"

"I-I said I would stop by if I hadn't heard from you in two hours." Fuyumi's voice steadied as she spoke, though still cautious of moving.

Hawks drew back his feather sword. Had it really been so much time?

"Can I come in?" Fuyumi asked. "My father just thinks I'm out on an early morning stroll. I wouldn't want him- "

"Of course," Hawks said, cutting her off. He moved out of the doorway so she could enter, quickly closing the door. He stared at the ground, ashamed to look at the woman. "Fuyumi I- "

It was her turn to cut him off, not with words though. She pressed her lips against his and pulled him close. Immediately Hawks stiffened, but soon relaxed into the kiss. They held it for some time before breaking away to breath.

"I haven't seen you in almost two months," Fuyumi gasped.

"I know," Hawks said. "I'm sorry. A lot has been happening."

"Can you tell me?" She asked. Her hand gently reached out and stroked the feathers on his back. "Father said that you had gone off and stupidly injured yourself. If you're wings aren't hurt…"

"I'm fixed up now," Hawks said.

Fuyumi tilted her head. "So soon? How?"

Hawks' head turned back towards the bedroom hallway. The lights were out, and darkness Incased the rooms. He failed to see the two yellow slits lurking from around the corner and he turned back towards the woman. "I have a lot to explain."

Fuyumi nodded and the pair moved to the couch. Hawks informed her of the role he tried to play as a double agent. He told her about these interactions with Fumikage and Sora and described what the court was like. Fuyumi listened intently. Her eyes never let Hawks was he talked through every aspect.

"To sum it all up, I adopted two kids, blew by cover as a double agent, and almost killed a small child. Fumikage hates me, and I can't blame him. I've been a lousy parent."

"You would be a lousy parent if you didn't care," Fuyumi stated.

"I think getting a villain to attack one of your kids is a poor performance as a parent."

"For a normal parent, yes, but you a hero. My father gave us talks all the time about what to do if someone ever intruded our home and tried to take one of us. I think that's a small part as to why he pushed Shoto and Touya so hard." Fuyumi gently grabble Hawks' hand and brushed her thumb across the back of his hand.

He relaxed slightly at her touch. "I just wanted to help. Now I've lost Fumikage's trust. Sora's being hunted by the villains that now know I was a playing them. Everything I thought I had under control is now lost."

"He has the right to be upset, but I'm sure you have not lost your pupil's trust. As a teacher, I make students flustered all the time. They always come back. You are being too hard on yourself Hawks."

"What am I supposed to do to show him that I really am just trying to help?" Hawks asked. He slumped in the couch, releasing the small connection between himself and the woman.

Fuyumi pondered the question. She lightly bit her bottom lip, rolling it between her teeth. "What if…" Her voice faded.

Hawks turned towards Fuyumi. She was heavily concentrating, thumb cupping her chin as she thought. Hawks' eyes widened with hope. She had thought of something. The cute way she mulled over her lip as she thought made the fact certain. "What if… what?"

"What if Sora came to my school?" Fuyumi asked. "She actually would end up in my class. She is the right age."

Hawks' jaw slacked. "Is that even possible?" Fuyumi's school wouldn't be with in his district. That would be the perfect place to take Sora. The villains would be looking in the area, and it's not like travel is much of an inconvenience for him.

"I could talk with my principal today. Sora will need schooling. Why not my school? That way… you know someone you trust is watching her when you can't."

A small smile grew on Hawks face. He leaned towards Fuyumi and kissed her cheek. "I don't know what I did to deserve you."

Yellow slits in the shadows of the hallway pulled back. They slipped under the door to Sora's room until they had been pulled to the chest of Fumikage.

Dark Shadow looked at the teen with sorrowful eyes. "He seems to care a great deal about this mistake."

"It does appear that way," Fumikage thought.

"Everyone makes mistakes," Dark Shadow reminded the teen.

"I know," Fumikage said. He placed a hand on his sister's sleeping head. Her long, red feathers tickled between his fingers. "Not everyone can atone for their actions. I want to believe Hawks is different. I want to be leave he can atone. I'm wary, however."

"He accepts the blame. He knew what he did was a mistake," the quirk reminded his host.

"That he did. But accepting and acting upon them are two very different things."

Dark Shadow wrapped itself around the teen's waist. "He moves pretty quickly. I'm sure he will do everything he can immediately."

"I hope so, Dark Shadow. Otherwise this was all for nothing."