Chapter Twenty-Seven: Silence Is Golden

Ingenium and Fatgum escorted Hawks out of the hospital the next day. Miruko was still noticeably absent, and Hawks knew her well enough that it was difficult not to jump to any bad conclusions. He would have heard if Commission HQ 'mysteriously' burned down so at least she wasn't reacting too badly. Either that or she didn't know yet.

The moment the three Heroes stepped outside, reporters swarmed them like sharks smelling blood. Unfortunately, no one had given Hawks cosmetics to cover up with so all his bruises— and his bandaged wings— were on clear display. That was mortifying enough but they were not the only thing he wished he could hide.

Hawks uncomfortably adjusted his coat and resisted the urge to zip it up to cover the diamond pattern on his top. Showing the Commission's mark on his costume felt like adding gasoline to the fire now, like he was mocking them by flaunting the emblem that showed he was their Hero after having disobeyed them so openly. That was what they would think he was doing, anyway, rather than seeing the calculated move to get more pictures of Hawks's injuries out into the world.

Ingenium had mentioned getting all the evidence they could out there without outright saying what the Commission had done, citing how attempts to take down the pictures would only make people circulate them more. Hawks hated it but he had reluctantly agreed. The public loved their mysteries so here he was, walking into a throng of reporters will his wounds on display for everyone to pick apart and scrutinize.

Despite Orange's adamant belief the injuries were marks of pride because he fought dammit, Hawks struggled not to duck in his collar as much as he could as cameras flashed. He knew pictures— and the theories that would come from them— would be up on the internet within the half-hour. The questions the reporters shouted at him melded into a maddening cacophony of noise as soothing as nails on a chalkboard but he could hear each individual one.

"Hawks! Do you know who attacked you and why?"

"Was it the League of Villains?"

"Is it true a past stalker of yours was released from prison on good behavior?"

"How did the Villain get into your home?"

"What made you decide to apply for a teaching position at UA?"

"Do you suspect your attacker is linked to anti-mutant bigotry?"

"Why has the Hero Commission refused to comment on your injuries?"

"When did you decide to pursue a teaching job?"

"Is it true your wings have been permanently damaged?"

"Do you know who ambushed you?"

Before Hawks could answer anything, Fatgum put his hand on his shoulder with the slightest amount of pressure to push him along. Hawks got the message to remain quiet though he didn't see the harm in answering some of the questions. He had the feeling they had only taken him out of the hospital so publicly so the news could see him and confirm to the populace that he was not dead.

Hawks let Fatgum and Ingenium guide him through the throng and hid his trepidation when he spotted their destination, a black car with tinted windows.

Ingenium leaned over to whisper in his ear. "It's Mic."

Hawks relaxed and went into the back seat, maneuvering with care so he would not jostle his wings. Fatgum sat beside him while Ingenium took shotgun.

Present Mic grinned at him in the rear-view mirror. "Hey, Hawks. How are you doing this fine day?"

"I just want to get to my Agency." Hawks said vaguely. The realization that he might have made an assumption about where he was being taken hit him and he felt the feathers on his wings fluff up. "You are taking me there, right?"

"We are." Mic confirmed as he began to drive.

"See? They're not the Commission." Yellow crowed.

I know that.

"And yet you worried you were being kidnapped or dragged to UA for some glorified house arrest." Orange accused.

Hawks ignored him. He glanced nervously outside the closed car window every few minutes, though Purple reassured him that Fatgum acted as a good sniper deterrent.

"I can't believe this." Green said abruptly, his voice unsteady.

Grief unexpectedly stabbed Hawks and he jumped. He gave Fatgum a shaky smile to say he was fine and turned his attention inward. Green?

"I'm fine." Green lied, sounding close to tears. "It just hit me, you know? We came back to save Hero Society but its backbone will assassinate their own Heroes."

Hawks got a glimpse of his spiraling thought process and recoiled. Hero Society is still worth saving, he thought fiercely. It just needs to change. Your mission isn't to force it to stay like this.

Green took a shuddering breath. "You're right. Okay." His misery drained away. "Okay. Sorry for the cynical outlook."

"You almost sounded like Purple." Yellow joked.

Everyone chuckled except Red.

They arrived at Hawks's Agency and he got inside without being shot. He'd like to pretend to be confused why it seemed all of his sidekicks were in the building today but denial hadn't exactly helped him much before.

Mockingjay waited for him by the secretary's desk. As soon as he was in range, she grasped his wrist. "Your pulse is fast."

"Being fast is my thing." Hawks joked weakly.

Mockingjay ignored him and nodded to Present Mic, Fatgum, and Ingenium. "I'll keep him here."

Hawks frowned. "I—"

"You're injured. And staying here today. Good for you."

Of course she said that. What good news it was, that Hawks's injuries gave him the perfect excuse to remain in his Agency building, where his sidekicks could keep an eye on him while he worked.

And of course that same news meant Hawks' injuries gave Mockingjay the perfect excuse to make him remain in his Agency building where his sidekicks could keep an eye on him while he worked.

Hawks scowled petulantly and ignored how his skin had gone clammy.

"You can work on that serial killer investigation here." Mockingjay continued.

The look she gave him said she knew how he really felt about being forced to stay at his Agency while leaving who knew how many crimes not dealt with and people not saved because he was being lazy—

"Breathe." Silver said sternly. "You cannot expect yourself to shoulder the world's problems alone."

"No one else does either." Green added.

"Except the Commission." Red mused. "But they are, as Orange so eloquently says, 'shit'."

Hearing her curse made Hawks have to stifle a badly-timed giggle. Her attempt to calm him down worked and he breathed.

"Okay. Investigation it is." He turned to Tensei. "Did you get our request? Can you help out?"

Ingenium reluctantly shook his head. "We've had an influx of robberies so I had to decline."

"Fair enough." Hawks said agreeably. He bade Ingenium and Fatgum goodbye— reluctantly acknowledging he'd be seeing them again soon— and looked to Mockingjay as they entered the office elevator. "So, our investigation?"

"We'll have some help."

That should be a good thing.

Mockingjay's face said it wasn't. She had that carefully neutral expression she wore when she did not want to give in to her anger and throw something. Mockingjay was pessimistic but she did not look ready to blow up for no reason.

Hawks braced himself. "Who are we teaming up with?"

She scowled. "Endeavor."

White retreated.

Orange cursed.

Pink winced.

Yellow groaned.

Hawks kept on smiling until his cheeks hurt.

"Endeavor." he echoed tonelessly. "Of course it is."

Even before he angered them enough for them to send Amplifier after him, the Commission seemed determined to make his life more difficult than it needed to be.

Thankfully Hawks did not need to meet his former idol face to face today. Endeavor seemed content to look through evidence on his own, in his own Agency, and Hawks was not exactly inclined to rush over to join him.

Logically he knew Endeavor was one of the best investigators of the Pro Heroes.

Emotionally, he did not want to deal with the man now that he knew what happened in private.

The news— which he had playing in the background— did not help his mood. On the plus side, they had finally stopped speculating what happened to him. On the not-so plus side, they had moved on to the League of Villains, which Hawks would not mind if not for Dabi's face— Touya Todoroki's burned and scarred face— flashing across the screen every time he changed the channel.

With the exception of Dabi and Kurogiri, the members of the League of Villains who had attacked Shigaraki's escort had all been identified, which naturally led to speculation. Hawks watched Dabi's profile flash across the screen as the news romanticized the mysterious nature of this new Villain and turned it off. He texted Miruko demanding an answer from her before he started a nation-wide search and sat back, taking a moment to breathe.

He tried, anyway because every second he sat and did nothing felt like an eternity.

Hawks gave up, pulled a folder to him, and opened it, staring at the page. No matter how long he looked, the words refused to mean anything. He closed it and dragged his hands down his face.

Come on. You need to focus. You can't go out so you have to be useful from here.

Hawks glanced around his empty, quiet office and his stomach twisted into knots. He looked at the door and wondered what would happen if he tried to leave. Would Mockingjay stop him or would he find out he was locked in?

Stop it. Mockingjay isn't the Commission. Besides, this is temporary. You won't be stuck inside forever. You're not caged.

"That's right." Green said and Hawks jumped. "It sucks that you can't fly freely right now but you're not a prisoner or anything."

"Worry not. You will be able to move around a lot more at UA." Silver added. "The campus is quite large."

"There is a spot on top of Heights Alliance that is perfect for watching the sunrise." White murmured, almost to himself. "The sunlight reflects off the buildings and makes them look like they are the same colors as the dawn. It is very peaceful."

Hawks could almost picture it. His frantic heartbeat slowed. Thanks.

He shifted and pressed his lips together to hold in a pained grunt as he jostled his wings.

"Do you want one of us to take over?" Pink asked instantly.

Are you seriously asking if I want you to feel this instead of me?

"Yes." She said, unrepentant.

"Since we're supposed to rest we may as well test what Green did." Purple added.

"I'll take control so we're not unresponsive." Green offered.

Hawks shook his head at their obviousness. You all continue to be terrible at hiding your true motives.

"Let us help take some of the pain off of you." White requested.

A surge of guilt and the desperate desire to do something, anything to help jabbed at Hawks and he relented. Are you sure you want to feel this?

"So you can get a break? Yes." Green stated.

Hawks reached inward and felt a pull in his skull. He blinked and he was in the UA dorms with all the voices around him except Green. Pink immediately hugged him. Yellow joined in right after. Hawks wiggled briefly in protest but gave in. Being held with no expectations felt… nice.

"Green?" Red called towards the ceiling.

"I'm good," came the reply. He sounded slightly breathless but seemed fine.

Hawks was guided to the couch and made to sit.

"This is still so weird." Yellow noted as he sat beside him.

Hawks had to agree as Red conjured a blanket out of thin air. Silver took it and laid it over him.

I'm okay, Hawks insisted.

"You were tortured." Orange said flatly. "Again."

It was worth it to protect you, Hawks reminded them.

Silver brushed his hair back and Hawks belatedly noticed his bruises were on his… 'mental form' or whatever. He touched his wing— both of which were slightly tattered from the device used on them— and his fingers quivered.

Pink grasped his hand and held it while Yellow leaned against his shoulder. Orange's vague form climbed over the back of the couch and settled behind Hawks, covering his back, while White simply sat where Orange had previously gone over.

Hawks stayed still so he would not dislodge any of them. What's with the lack of personal space?

"It's called being silently supportive." Pink said.

"Emphasis on silent." Orange muttered.

Yellow leaned over to whisper conspiratorially in Hawks's ear. "It seems Orange is still afraid of emotional conver— Ow!"

Orange drew his hand back with a huff but did not move away. Hawks was tempted to trap him in a hug to see him curse, but decided to give him a reprieve. He could tease him later. As the voices huddled around him, comforting him with their presence, Hawks felt himself relax. It may be because of their influence, but the 'UA dorms' felt so safe, like nothing bad could reach him here. It was almost easy to forget it was all a fabrication, created by the minds of the eight other souls stuck in his head and body.

A thought struck Hawks and his stomach dropped. If I died would you die with me or would you go to your own bodies?

Purple grimaced. "We'd probably die with you."

"We are not finding that out." Red said simultaneously.

"Can we not have another existential crisis please?" Yellow begged.

Hawks shrugged and hoped he could keep his thoughts to himself. He couldn't help thinking like that. After all, things could not go back to the way they were before he decided to stick it to the Commission. He was not sure he wanted it to.

Green, being the saint he was, began working on paperwork and skimming through reports. Hawks trusted him to fill it out correctly and mostly tuned his body's actions out. It was so much nicer to be able to go in here when someone else was in control instead of floating in near-nothingness, only able to see what his body was doing while being helpless to control it himself.

He must have drifted off— the normal kind of 'drifting off', not the 'losing all senses' kind— because when he grew aware again, he felt close to rested for once.

Also, Green was shouting.

"Guys!" Green called. "We have company."

Hawks and the others peered outside to see Mockingjay had returned to the office. She handed Green a folder. "Here's the intel on the MLA you requested."

Hawks's eyes widened with alarm. Green, don't spea—

"Thanks." Green said, accepting the folder.

Mockingjay lashed out like a striking viper and grasped Hawks's body's arm.

"Who are you?" she growled.

Hawks felt his skin drain of color. I told you so.

"How?!" Yellow spluttered.

Hawks ignored him and ran for the door. He grasped the handle but it would not budge. He yanked on it frantically but no matter how hard he pulled, it did not move.

Green! Let me out!

"I'm trying. I'm kind of panicking here!" Green yelled back.

Mockingjay's grip tightened. "Who. Are. You?" she repeated.

Hawks sensed Green was about to come up with an excuse.

She'll be able to tell if you lie, he warned.

Green froze. His panic made the windows of the dorms rattle.

"Answer her, dumbass!" Orange bellowed at the ceiling.

"I'm Hello. Green." Green squeaked. He realized what he had said and his cheeks flushed. "I— I mean, I'm Green. Hello. Hi. I'm a Hero, too. Um… Gold— I mean, Hawks is busy right now?"

Hawks doubled his efforts to get the door open to no avail.

"Hawks is 'busy'." Mockingjay echoed coolly.

"Yes." Green cleared his throat. "I assure you he's okay. He just can't come out right now."

Mockingjay's grey eyes narrowed to slits. "And what does that mean?"

"Um." Green said, and it was strange for Hawks to hear his own voice sound so timid. "Well, I'm kinda stuck in Gold— er, Hawks's head." "After we went back in time." "So now I'm kind of like a voice? But—" "But not in a schizophrenic way." "But we've been getting used to being stuck like this and since he was in pain we switched out" "But we're still kind of new to this." "So he's stuck in there while I am in control, you see, and I'm not sure exactly why." "But I theorize it may be due to our emotional state and—" I didn't mention we can feel each other's emotions did I? We didn't want to tell anyone because we were scared we'd be captured, tortured, or killed." "Not that there are more than me in here." "I mean, I wasn't implying that there are more people in here than me. That is what I meant to say— Oh shoot Gold said you can tell if I lie." "I should have known better but—" "To be honest we didn't expect to meet you at all since you'd probably see us as crazy like Aizawa almost did but he turned around I swear—"

Mockingjay watched Green ramble himself into a deeper hole with a stoic and unaffected expression. Hawks yanked on the immovable door knob like his life depended on it. Which it kind of did.

Green, could you please be convincing for one second?!

Green stopped rambling with a wince. "What do I say instead then?!"

"So what you're saying…" Mockingjay began coldly, and Hawks felt his heartbeat quicken. "…is you're another person trapped in Hawks's head?"

Green smiled awkwardly. "Yeah."

"Did this happen because of Haw— 'Gold's' disappearance?"

"That was fast." Yellow whistled.

Green twiddled his fingers like Pink was prone to do when she was anxious. "Yes."

"Do you mean him harm?" Mockingjay asked sharply.

Green shook his head fiercely. "Never. We came back to save him so he wouldn't die again."

"…Did Green mention we were from the future in his ramblings?" Red asked slowly.

"I don't know." Purple admitted. "I couldn't keep up."

Orange palmed his face. "Deku, you fucking moron."

Green did not appear to hear them.

Mockingjay's face went blank. "Die again." She echoed faintly.

"Yeah. But he's alive now and we won't let the L— anyone kill him again." Green faltered and looked earnestly at her. "I swear we didn't mean for this to happen. We didn't mean to appear in Gold's head. We just… wanted to save people. Please don't punish Hawks for our mistake."

It's not your fault, Hawks reminded Green fiercely.

All he got in response was a burst of gentle acknowledgment.

Mockingjay closed her eyes and took a shuddering breath. Then she opened them and inclined her head. "It is nice to meet you, Green. Thank you for helping Hawks."

"She believes us?" Pink gasped.

"It seems so." Purple looked to Hawks. "What do you think?"

Hawks took in Mockingjay's responses as best he could from within the dorm. She seemed to be rather calm about the whole thing, as if something she'd expected had turned out to be true. He relaxed.

She won't hurt us.

Green blinked and smiled hesitantly. His thoughts turned to Aizawa and his good intentions and his smile vanished. "You're not going to try to send us to a psych ward to 'fix' us, right?"

"No." Mockingjay said firmly. She reached out and carefully ruffled Hawks's hair. "You don't need to be 'fixed', do you hear me? You are not broken. None of you are."

Green beamed at her. "Wow. You're… taking this better than we expected. When we first saw you you seemed kind of cold but you're really kind." He balked. "I'm sorry! I'm not used to keeping thoughts to myself. In here everything just… flows, you know?"

"I understand." Mockingjay said quietly.

"Does she though?" Yellow asked suddenly. "Or does she think Hawks has multiple personalities?"

Green paused, thoughts stuttering to a halt.

Apparently pure, unadulterated terror was the missing key to get Hawks back out because he jolted back into his body.

"I'm not schizophrenic." he blurted.

Mockingjay said nothing.

"I'm not." Hawks pleaded.

He could see the tremors in her fingers. "What did 'Green' mean by you dying?" she asked evenly.

"What?" Green asked, confused.

"You didn't tell her we're from the future!" Orange bellowed.

Green blanched. "I did."

"I don't think so." Red said, voice low with horror. "I think you did what Hawks does and didn't say everything you meant to out loud."

Hawks barely heard them, too busy drowning in the vague flashes of his future self's death. He swallowed and forced his voice to be steady even though he knew Mockingjay would be able to tell. "I didn't die."

Her expression crumpled before she forced it back into apathy. "You're lying."

"I'm not." Hawks repeated hopelessly. "Look, it's not what you think—"

Mockingjay stepped forward and despite telling the others he believed she would never harm them, Hawks flinched back. She caught his arm and pulled him into a hug.

"What happened to you?"

Hawks knew his eyes were too wide, his face too pale, his everything too out of control for him to appear reasonable and stable. But reasonable and stable was what he needed because Mockingjay was not someone who would accept half-truths. If he did give half-truths— like saying he technically did not die— she would see it as a lie and press harder.

He had to clarify things and tell her the truth. The whole truth…

…which she still might not believe. Mockingjay could see the impossible, but time traveling voices might be beyond even her tolerance level. Still, Hawks had to at least try. It was not worth it to let her think he had literal voices in his head.

He steeled himself. "I—"

A piercing scream tore through the air and made all fear for himself and the voices vanish. Despite the distance, he immediately knew it had come from within his Agency.

He grabbed Mockingjay and flew out the window, ignoring the pain in his wings. He swooped into the bottom floor and set her down, yanking out two feather-swords. Mockingjay stayed at his side with her bow drawn as other Heroes rushed into the lobby, searching for the threat.

The receptionist was pressed against the wall behind her desk, staring at the deceptively simple box that was on top of it. Beside her was Shatterpoint, who clung to her shoulder as he stood between the receptionist and the package.

Hawks was about to order an evacuation from the building but Shatterpoint shook his head, signaling it was not a bomb. Hawks exchanged a look with Mockingjay and she nodded. They carefully passed the hyperventilating receptionist and Mockingjay used her bow to flip open the top of the box.

Inside was a man's severed head.

XXXXXXX

The receptionist was sent home early with Shatterpoint and a few more sidekicks. According to her tremulous report, she had returned from a bathroom break to find the box on her desk. Its intended recipient had been Hawks Agency as stated on the label— not Hawks himself— so she had opened it to find the head inside.

The box had been delivered by a simple delivery girl in a uniform, whom the police were tracking down. Hawks's sidekicks and Tsukauchi were already working on identifying the victim and finding the rest of him. Hawks would join them but Mockingjay had put her foot down and refused to let him fly again. Despite Hawks's annoyance— so what if his wings hurt and bled a little from the short flight down to the ground level?— he understood.

The Commission was likely still lurking.

And they might be angrier than even he predicted.

Could it be a warning from the Commission?

"If it is, they are even more abhorrent than I thought." Silver said, sounding slightly nauseous.

"Do you recognize him?" Green asked.

Hawks forced himself to look at the photos of the head and felt Red and Yellow retreat. No.

"Then who else would send a random head to your Agency as a 'warning'?" White demanded.

"Is it a warning?" Purple asked suddenly. "Or did the sender think they were 'helping'?"

"What does that mean?" Pink demanded.

"It seems oddly coincidental that an unknown man's head was delivered to Hawks's Agency after he was attacked by Amplifier. Aizawa said he didn't catch up to that other Ennea, right?"

"That's a leap in logic." Green protested faintly.

"Is it?" Purple asked coolly. "They seemed pretty angry Gold was hurt."

Hawks was distracted by Mockingjay, who hurried right to his desk with a folder in hand.

She grimaced. "We found the victim. The… rest of him. He might be another of the serial killer's."

She handed him the folder. Hawks reluctantly opened it and skimmed the document. Masao Himura, age forty-four. Off-white hair, indigo eyes. Worked for an insurance organization and had some type of Quirk that let him give people a light zap if he touched them, no more painful than a static shock. Was a rather reserved man with no family or friends to contact or question. The thing that interested Hawks most was the lack of a mutant type Quirk.

"A 'static shock' Quirk…?" Green murmured.

Hawks ignored him as he began to mumble. "If he wasn't a mutant, how do we know it's the same killer?"

"The wounds and cause of death match the other cases. Forensics checked. The only difference is this body was…" She grimaced. "…decapitated postmortem."

"That suggests irrational anger." Hawks mused. "Think it was personal? Or maybe a copycat?"

"Possibly." Mockinjay scowled. "Regardless, that's seven deaths."

The 'It's your fault more people are dead. You aren't working hard enough.' went unsaid but was implied.

No, that wasn't right. Katniss was not like the Commission President.

"And our serial killer probably knows we're on his trail considering his delivery." she continued.

Hawks shoved away all of his worries about the Commission and focused on the mission at hand. The killer had escaped them for too long already. "Find out where that package came from. Put a majority of the sidekicks on this case. We need to find this guy yesterday."

"It's Amplifier." Green said suddenly.

Hawks nearly jumped. What?!

"Not the serial killer." Green elaborated hastily. "The victim."

"I think you're right." Purple said reluctantly. "Look at his profile. He just so happens to have no family or friends to talk to, his height, build, and weight are right, his 'static shock' Quirk could be a severely downplayed pain enhancing Quirk, and I'd bet the 'insurance company' he works for is a cover."

"His eyes are the same indigo shade." Red gasped.

Hawks studied the picture more closely and saw she was right.

"Could the other victims be Commission agents as well?" Silver asked.

Hawks held in a bitter scoff. I doubt that. The Commission would never have me investigating if they were.

Hawks blinked and saw Mockingjay was watching him carefully. "Were you..." she frowned. "...talking with your friends?"

Hawks nodded hesitantly. "Yeah. They think the victim was Amplifier. Could you look into that 'insurance company' and see if it's a cover for the Commission?"

"Consider it done." she said simply.

Hawks felt the knots in his stomach ease. Mockingjay may not believe him, but she would still have his back. He glanced self-consciously around his office and stepped closer, gripping the folder with both his hands.

"About our conversation earlier… would you let me explain?"

She inclined her head in silent acknowledgment.

So Hawks told her.

About the voices and their future, about the Paranormal Liberation Front and his future self's death, about the Nomu and Eri, about how the voices had given him other Quirks and encouraged him to fight the Commission.

He watched every twitch of her face and hands and the knots slowly twisted back together in his gut, squeezing so tightly his fingertips felt cold.

"I can tell by the look on your face that you don't believe me." he stated.

"I know you believe what they say, but I'm not sure I believe them." Mockingjay said bluntly. "There are plenty of ways to mess with minds in this world, Hawks."

Translation: She thought the voices were either the result of a Quirk or that Hawks's mind had finally fractured on its own.

Hawks was too tired to be frustrated with her conclusions. "What's with everyone thinking I'm being deceived? Do I come across as that naive?"

"Not naive." Mockingjay noted. "But overly willing to lose yourself for the sakes of others and their 'save the world' type missions." She hesitated and put a hand on his shoulder. "You already give up so much of yourself, and they want you to give up more."

The voices flinched, their hurt, guilt and anger melding together.

Hawks scowled. "They're not—"

"They might not mean it maliciously." Mockingjay noted. "But they do expect you to let them use your body for themselves. To… save the world, yes. But also for their own comfort." She held up a stalling hand. "Do not think I am incapable of empathy. I cannot imagine what it must be like for them in there, without a body to call their own. However— benign as it may be— they are using you, Hawks. And for that reason, I cannot trust them."

'Or their word.' went unsaid.

Hawks opened his mouth to argue, but could not find the words to say. The voices did not know Mockingjay from their previous timeline, and they had no stories they could share to convince her they were telling the truth. And with Hawks putting himself in the line of fire to stop the world from becoming what they warned, he had the feeling she would not trust them or their claims for a long time. Not unless he could definitively prove they told the proof and were not using him solely for their own goals.

"In a few weeks, the UA students will be going on a training camp trip." Hawks said quietly. "On that trip the last time, the League of Villains attacked and Katsuki Bakugo was targeted. If that attack happens again, will you believe them?"

He did not ask if she would believe him, because believing him was not the issue. Believing the voices in his head was.

"Perhaps." Mockingjay admitted. "But even if I believe they are from the future, even if I believe they do not consciously mean you harm, I don't think I can trust them with your life, Hawks. Not after..." A hand gently touched his bandaged wing. "...what you gave up for them."

Oh.

Hawks found himself struck speechless by the declaration, realizing his assumption had been a bit off the mark. Maybe Mockingjay already believed the voices' story. But it would not affect her view, because Katniss always prioritized her loved ones— in this instance, Hawks— while the voices might not. He may as well have asked her to trust a complete stranger with his life.

He should have realized Mockingjay would take issue with his being injured out of a desire to protect the voices. While she would undoubtedly do the same in his position, the fact that the voices were causing him further grief with the Commission could not put Katniss's mind at ease.

Not after what her own 'Commission'— the Capitol— had done to her Hero partner, Finnick, when he had tried to break free and failed.

"I won't let them kill me." Hawks said quietly.

"Experience has told me it has nothing to do with 'letting'." Mockingjay replied. She pulled him into a brief hug. "Survive."

"I will." Hawks stated, eyes glassy.

Mockingjay stepped back and headed towards the elevator door. Hawks hesitantly stopped beside her as she pressed the button and waited for the lift to come up.

"We may be at a disagreement on their… methods, but your friends do not need to hide from me." she said. She stepped into the elevator but did not turn around to face him, fingers clenched. "Though to be honest, I'd rather see you doing your paperwork."

The elevator doors closed behind her before he could respond.

"That could have gone better." Pink said weakly.

"It could have gone worse as well." Silver pointed out.

"She hates us." Yellow said flatly.

She doesn't hate you, Hawks denied.

"Pretty sure she does."

If she does she honestly would be trying to kill you so—

"Can you blame her?" Green interrupted tiredly. "We ruined Gold's life."

Hawks felt an irrational burst of anger that they could even think that. You did not.

"Didn't we? Because I don't remember you being on the Commission's hitlist the last time around."

Hawks wondered if it was possible to literally mentally smack some sense into people. Come on, guys. Don't make me be the inspiring one. Stop blaming yourselves. You didn't ask to be stuck in my head, or for me to tell the Commission to stick it. I made my choices, and I don't regret them. I know Katniss understands. She just… doesn't want me to get hurt.

"You've already gotten hurt." Red murmured.

He could feel her attention shift towards his aching wings. Mockingjay will come around once she realizes you're telling the truth. She's a naturally suspicious person, so she just needs some time to learn to trust you guys and see you truly don't mean me harm. Once she does, we'll have another ally to help out.

"You're right." Green said, but Hawks could tell he was forcing himself to agree. "Sorry for being cynical again."

"You have been less cheery lately." Pink noted.

"Well, duh." Yellow huffed. "We're kind of stressed out all the time. Three guesses why."

Hawks felt Red shrink away like she could not bear to hear the conversation. Are you okay in there, Red?

She jumped. "Huh? Oh, yes. Of course."

Hawks frowned. Are you sure?

"I am simply still unnerved by today's… unexpected events."

She was hiding something. Hawks wondered if the other voices could tell.

He did not push her, trusting her to talk when she was ready. He glanced towards the files Mockingjay had gathered on the Meta Liberation Army and momentarily put them aside— he could look them over with Miruko— opening up the folder on the man who might be Amplifier. He also grabbed the other folders pertaining to the serial killer case. One look at the growing pile made him feel as if an entire building was sitting on his shoulders. He knew it was too much to hope for that he and his sidekicks could solve the case before he inevitably had to meet with his 'partner'.

It looked like he was inevitably going to meet Endeavor for the first time since he found out the man's dark secrets.

XXXXXXX

This is so damn stupid, even for me.

Every part of Twice was in agreement for once. Hiding out in Fukuoka was an awful idea. It was a terrible idea. Hawks probably knew he was a Villain by now and that woman he met at the bar who was also probably a Hero definitely did, yet here Twice was, running around in their city.

No Heroes had dropped out of the sky to arrest him yet, so Twice did not do the smart thing and leave. Instead he moved from place to place in Fukuoka, keeping an eye on the news and the sky. Though he had to wonder if Hawks would arrest him if he saw him.

Deep down, he doubted it even though he knew he shouldn't. Twice was an official League member now. He had taken part in an attempted convoy attack and everything.

Yet Hawks still helped him and treated him like a person.

Damn it. Twice had hoped to escape these conflicted feelings by getting some ill-advised fresh air but now they were worse than ever.

He glanced at his phone but there was no word from Dabi or Giran. He shoved it back into his pocket and pulled his hood over his head, one hand remaining clasped around his mask.

That woman's advice to befriend Hawks was off the table, and the League was laying low, leaving Twice alone again. Damn, he hated the quiet. It was too loud. Yet there was little he could do about that.

All he could do now was wait.

XXXXXXX

A/N: Originally next chapter was a part of this one but I decided to split this chapter into two so it wasn't super long. So yeah, I'm still playing around with the chapter count, haha.

Next update will be the 20th-ish.