Well… this holiday season is off to a bad start…

All plans for a nice, cozy holiday went out the window when news finally came back on Mr. and Mrs. Takami.

Airi was still not sure how to feel about the fact that she hasn't seen Keigo cry yet, when it's been a week. She doesn't want to ask or push either, because she doesn't want to break him if he's at that point. But he's been doing so well at hiding how he's feeling about the situation that she doesn't know.

The funeral ended up being postponed too, because Hawks has been too busy for it or to plan it.

Mirko even offered to take some of his hero duties off his hands for a bit to give him a chance to plan it, but he briskly shut down that idea.

Airi is certain that the hero duties he's refusing to pass off are his manhunt for Dabi. The man who hasn't been seen or heard since that day when he gave the ominous warning about Keigo's parents.

But now Christmas is a few days away, Keigo is no where in the mood for it, and to make matters worse for his situation, her parents are coming to town.

It's like some divine being is just flipping the bird at Keigo, and she feels awful for it.

Airi's parents were due to come visit for a day or two. She hadn't told Keigo either because she knew it wasn't fair to him. Her parents would be there, his wouldn't. Even if he wasn't close to his parents, that doesn't justify what happened.

It doesn't mean he doesn't care.

Airi couldn't tell her parents no either because they were coming all the way from home. It was a four-hour drive for them, not an easy journey for them. Plus, they were excited to meet her boyfriend who they've heard so much about.

Mostly through social media and news articles. Airi's a bad daughter in the sense of alerting her parents to her romantic life.

How is she supposed to do this? How is she supposed to tell the man that just lost his parents that hers were coming to town? That they wanted to celebrate Christmas with them?

They themselves haven't even discussed the holiday much, due to Keigo's schedule. She honestly wouldn't be surprised if he chose to work that day, because he's dead set in his ways.

"Hey, your mom sent you something." Kyo advised as he walked past a shelf she was restocking, tossing her a small package.

"What? She's going to be here literally in a few days." Airi grumbled, walking off to find something to open the little box.

"Does Hawks know yet?" Kyo asked, coming to stand behind the counter with her as she found a knife to open the box.

"No, and don't you dare tell him." Airi warned Kyo, not wanting Keigo to hear it from anyone but her.

"What about that feather you have? You aren't worried he might already know?" Kyo asked, pointing to her chest where the feather lay hidden under her clothes. Asleep for the moment.

"No, because I can feel when he tunes in on them." Airi reminded, finally getting the box open.

Her heart ached when she saw what her mother had sent. It was a stocking for Keigo, his hero name hand stitched into it followed by a little hawk sticker.

"Aww!" Kyo gushed next to her, he's long since had his own handmade stocking from her mom. Her mom loved handcrafting things for their whole family and even family friends. Kyo's been a part of the family since they first met.

Airi couldn't help but frown as she set the stocking back in the box, unable to find her holiday spirit this year.

Kyo sighed, taking the box and stashing it beneath his counter. "This because of his own parents?" Kyo asked, leaning next to her when she folded her arms over the counter.

"How am I supposed to give him a good Christmas with what's happened? You don't think it's unfair that he loses his parents, and then mine come to visit almost right after?" Airi asked, frowning as Kyo sighed next to her.

"No, you're right, it's not exactly the best time. It's not fair for anyone to lose their parents the way he did, close or not. But this is you we're talking about. You're literally the most positive and happy face most people will ever meet. You can make this hard holiday better for him if you give it your all." Kyo reminded her, his pep talk raising her spirits slightly.

Kyo was right. She did always work her hardest to make others happy. Maybe she can give Keigo a good holiday if she works extra hard. She can't let him have a bad end to his year, he deserves a happy holiday!

"In return for my pep talk, how's about a hint to what you got me?" Airi turned to him with narrowed eyes at his attempt of manipulating her.

Sneaky mind reader.

"What're you doing?" Keigo asked the next day when he walked into his apartment to find her decorating his apartment for Christmas. His visor and face were covered in soot, and she didn't feel like asking what happened this time.

"I'm decorating." Airi answered, continuing to string lights through the living room.

"Why?" Keigo asked again, kicking his boots off near the entryway before padding over to where she was taping Christmas lights to the top of his walls.

"Because Christmas is in two days?" Airi responded with a question of her own, stepping down from the step stool when he came next to her. He pressed a dirty kiss to her cheek before she shoved his face away because of the soot. "Eww, you're filthy!"

"Oh, come on, I can't get a kiss before I go shower?" Keigo asked with a pout, Airi sighing before stepping down to kiss him herself. He looked back up at the lights after she pulled away. "I don't know why you're bothering with that." Keigo waved a hand towards the lights before heading off to wash up.

Airi's heart sank a little once he was gone, hoping that if she decorated his spirits might raise a little bit.

Her phone rang from the kitchen counter, blaring the ringtone loudly through the whole apartment and sending her skittering to grab it before Keigo could hear it.

She has terrible luck though, because the moment her socked feet touched the tiled kitchen floor she slipped and slammed into the counter with a loud bang.

Airi groaned before sighing when her phone buzzed its way off the counter, landing on her stomach. At least one thing worked in her favor.

"Hi, Mom." Airi greeted with a groan as she stood back up.

"Hi, honey, did we catch you at a bad time?" Airi's mom had a kinder heart than Airi did, and that's saying something. Sweet as candy, she always worried about interrupting Airi whenever she called.

"No, I just slipped because I ran into the kitchen in socks." Airi admitted, hearing her father laugh at her in the background.

"That's not funny, Katsu! Our daughter could have been hurt!" Airi laughed softly as she heard her mother lecture her father for laughing. She was nice, but her relationship with her Dad was amazing and funny to watch.

"Airi, we're going to be getting in around noon tomorrow." The deep boom of her father's voice came in over her Mom lecturing him. "We'll be staying at a hotel downtown; we hope to see you as soon as we're in." Dad revealed, Airi doing a quick mental check of her schedule tomorrow.

"I can leave Kyo to run the shop and come to your hotel." Airi offered since she knew Kyo wouldn't mind so long as she brings them back to the shop after. They were basically his parents too.

"Good. Then we look forward to seeing you tomorrow." Dad said before static let her know Mom was taking the phone back.

"Did you get the package we sent?" Mom asked, obviously excited to hear her opinion on it.

"Yes, it came in today. Why didn't you bring it with you?" Airi asked, never understanding her mother's wasteful spending like sending a package at this time of year.

"I wanted to make sure you had time to hang it. Did your boyfriend like it?" Mom asked, Airi's heart sinking again as she for a few minutes forgot that Keigo was completely unaware of everything happening.

"He hasn't seen it yet. He just walked in from work fifteen minutes ago and is showering." Airi answered honestly instead of voicing how she was trying to hide the holidays from the unfortunate man.

"Wait until tomorrow then, I want to see his face myself! Ooh, I'm so excited to meet your hero boyfriend!" Mom gushed happily over the phone, Airi smiling softly at how excited she was to see them tomorrow.

"Be proud that she found a man worthy of her. For once, I'm unashamed by the boy dating my daughter." Dad said in the background somewhere, Airi sighing loudly at him as usual.

"Dad- "

"Katsu! Have respect for our children's choices!" Airi heard something be tossed, rolling her eyes at the antics of her parents.

"One of our children is travelling the world with a bum, and the other is dating a- " Airi tuned out as her father started to drone on about her brother and sister, used to this as the youngest child.

Airi heard Keigo close his bedroom door, panicking as she didn't want him to hear her on the phone with her parents yet. "Mom, I gotta go! I'm finishing decorating, I'll see you tomorrow, love both of you!"

"Love you too- "

Airi hung up just in time for Keigo to walk into the kitchen in sweats and a t-shirt. "Did you slip earlier? I heard a crash." Keigo pointed out, walking up to her at the counter.

"Yeah, I'm fine though." Airi assured him, kissing his stubbly scruff as he wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Okay…" Airi wasn't sure what to make of his response, feeling like he had something he wanted to say. But he left it with that, so she left him be.

Besides, she has more important things to handle.

Later after finishing her decorating, she walked back into Keigo's room to find him waiting for her with a thoughtful look. "You okay, babe?" Airi asked, walking over to him and hopping onto his legs, one of his wings swinging around her.

"Were you planning to tell me tonight or tomorrow?" Keigo asked, confusing Airi as she didn't know what he was talking about. "Your family." Her heart never sank so fast.

"Were- were you listening to my phone call?" Airi plucked the feather out of her shirt and it shot back to his wing.

"Not on purpose. I heard you fall and tuned in to make sure I didn't need to come save you." Keigo answered with a shrug, but his neutral expression worried her. She couldn't tell if he was apposed to them visiting or not.

What was she supposed to say? That her parents wanted to meet him? That they wanted to spend the holiday with them? When he just lost his own parents?

"Is this why you've been decorating around the apartment? Are they wanting to meet me or spend the holiday with us?" Keigo asked, still eerily calm even though he just pulled a Kyo and predicted her thoughts.

"I was afraid to tell you." Airi admitted, Keigo leaning back on his arms. "They're coming in tomorrow and they'll be going home the day after Christmas." Airi admitted, a little disheartened with how Keigo still showed no interest in what she was telling him.

"You were afraid to tell me because of my parents." Keigo said flatly, Airi staring back at him in disbelief over how he can be so blunt over his situation. "If they want to see you for the holiday, dove, I don't care. Don't be all skittish and afraid on my count, I'm fine." Keigo reminded her of what he's been saying since his parents first went missing.

Airi still doesn't believe him either.

"Keigo, how can you keep telling me you're fine over what happened?" Airi questioned, feeling bad that she was pushing but she didn't like the masks he put on. How he wore it around her.

"Airi, I'm- "Keigo stopped when she got up off his legs.

"Keigo." Airi sat next to him instead, taking his hand in her own. "I know when you put your masks on, please don't try to do it around me. I love you, I'm here for you, I want to help you if I can." Airi reminded him, feeling his wing bristle behind her as a warning that his mask is cracking.

"There's nothing to help, Dove." Keigo brushed her off, still refusing her help. "They're gone, there's nothing any of us can do about it other than put them in the ground. I'll catch Dabi and he'll pay for what he did, and he'll never lay a finger on you. That's all that needs to be done." Keigo said firmly, Airi sighing before letting go of his hand that never even squeezed hers back.

"So, what? You're saying you feel nothing from the fact that your parents died?" Airi asked, knowing it was a bad idea but if she needed to push to get him to accept his grief she might have to.

"Of course, I'm not saying that."

"Then what?"

Keigo looked up at the ceiling with a frustrated groan, wings flapping and bristling behind him briefly as he took a deep breath.

"They didn't even act like real parents to me."

"Keigo, they were still your parents though. Regardless of how they treated you, they brought you into this world."

Airi narrowed her eyes at him when she heard him sarcastically remark under his breath about how fortunate he was for that.

"It doesn't mean I have to cry my heart out or fly off highspeed after Dabi for revenge." Keigo argued against her after realizing she caught his snide remark.

"You don't have to cry, Kei, but you could at least acknowledge that it still hurts you. Instead of bottling up what you're feeling and hiding behind a mask." Airi pointed out, earning a bored expression in return that honestly pissed her off.

"So, what time are your parents getting in tomorrow?" Keigo asked, changing the subject back to her instead of taking what she's saying as help.

Airi just gaped at him for his gall for a moment before standing.

"Where are you going?"

"My parents get in at noon tomorrow, I hope you can visit with them between work. I'm going back to the flat with Kyo for tonight." Airi answered him, walking for the bedroom door.

"No, you're not. It's not safe for you!" Airi was out of the door before he could stop her though, making her way for a window like he would since she had a pen on her anyways.

If Keigo doesn't want her help, then fine. She won't give it to him. For Christmas, he can be a Grinch all he wants.

To say she was surprised when Taiki called her the next day around noon to ask if she knew why Keigo bailed out of work early for the day would be an understatement.

Airi immediately called the bird brain who bailed off work, but he sent her to voicemail. What is he doing? He never misses work, even when he's sick!

Airi was pulling her coat on and slipping on her boots to go get her parents when the door chimed out front. "Oh, did you skip work?" Airi scrambled for the front when she heard Kyo, knowing who he must be talking to.

Keigo stood at the counter when she came out of the back, wearing his hero costume even though he bailed early from work. "Eh, I had something important to do." Keigo shrugged at Kyo before noticing Airi at last.

"Why aren't you at work?" Airi questioned, walking up to him and swatting him on the shoulder before hugging herself into the brat that scared her.

"I'm going with you to pick your parents up; work can wait a little while for me." Airi pulled away from him at his words, heart fluttering at the soft smile he gave.

What? Keigo left work early to go with her to pick up her parents?

"Let's go then, can't keep them waiting, can we?" Keigo asked before taking her by the hand and leading her off.

What… what happened to change his mood?!

"You're such a gentleman, Hawks! Thank you!" Mom chimed happily as Hawks held the door for her to walk into the restaurant. He offered to take her parents to lunch, further confusing Airi as to what changed.

Last night he was indifferent towards everything. Today he's all smiles and happily placating her parent's whims.

Her Mom was in love, she couldn't stop smiling at the man who called himself Airi's boyfriend. Her Dad was watching him like he was the hawk though. Expected, considering she's his youngest.

Once they were sat down, the questions started flooding out of her Mom's mouth about his hero work. Hawks answered each with a smile and occasional laugh, while Airi just watched him in utter confusion.

A complete three-sixty from last night.

Looking to her Dad, she realized her mistake. He had his eyes trained on her, aware that something was up with her. There never was any point in trying to hide anything from him, he always finds out.

When Hawks escorted her Mom to find the ladies room, her Dad pounced. "Want to tell me what's going on that you're looking at him like he's a different man?" Dad asked, taking a bite of his noodles after.

"His parents died. I didn't expect him to be so…"

"Open to meeting us. I know, did you think I wouldn't do my homework before we came to visit?" Dad responded with a smug smirk, Airi glaring at him for abusing his power to investigate her boyfriend.

"Dad!"

"What? I had to make sure he's right for you, sunshine. He's a hero, which is good, but he also has enemies. Hence." Her dad ended his statement with a wave off in the imaginary direction of what happened to Keigo's parents.

"That doesn't give you the right to abuse your job like that." Airi chastised him, but he held no remorse for his actions. He never did when it came to their family.

"With how many heroes I see on a daily, I think he's just trying to lie to himself." Dad said with a shrug, confusing Airi on what he meant. "He's trying to tell himself it's part of the job and that he's paying the consequences, as all heroes do when something happens to their family. But if he has any anger towards his parents, he's holding onto that, so he doesn't have to feel the grief over what happened." Dad further explained for her, Airi's eyes widening at how she hadn't thought of that.

Keigo wasn't close to his parents, for reasons. But would he really hold onto his anger, so he doesn't have to feel the pain of losing them? Try to forget so that he can placate her parents wanting to meet him when he's hurting?

Their conversation ended when Keigo brought her mom back, the hero stretching a wing behind her as he sat back down next to her.

Airi reached over and dragged her fingers over his hand, immediately having it taken by his own hand. His squeezing her own like a lifeline.

Dad was right…

"Kei?"

Airi was met with a kiss as soon as he walked in the door that night, having had to go back to work after lunch.

"I love you." Keigo reminded her quietly, pressing her back against the wall next to the door. "I'm sorry for last night." Keigo murmured, nosing at her cheek lightly as her hands fisted onto his coat.

"No, Keigo, I- I'm so sorry." Airi felt herself weakening, having tried her hardest to be strong for him.

Keigo pulled back and looked down at her before frowning, pulling her closer. "Hey, you're not allowed to cry." Keigo reminded her, his own goofy rule he set. So long as she was with him, she couldn't cry sad tears.

"You were doing everything to make my parents happy, and I didn't notice why. My dad had to explain to me that you're using your anger towards your parents to not feel the pain." Airi cried against his shoulder, his wings coming around to hold her tighter to him.

"Oh, Dove." Keigo began to lead her towards the couch. "I was trying to give you a good holiday, lovebird. I didn't want to bother you with it, you were excited about your parents visiting. By the way, your mom is such a sweetheart. I see where you get it now." Keigo teased gently, Airi laughing despite her tears over not understanding his actions till today.

"Watch it, or my dad might clip your wings." Airi teased him back, pulling away when his chest rumbled with a deep chuckle.

Keigo gently wiped her tears away with a thumb. "Come on, Dovie. Just enjoy the holiday, enjoy having your parents here. I'm sorry for not talking about it with you until now, but I promise I will after the holiday." Keigo offered, Airi smiling up at him before leaning up for a kiss.

"I love you too, big bird." Airi replied to his earlier love, hugging herself back into him as he hummed happily.

"Merry Christmas!"

They were celebrating at the flat, Airi and Kyo had spent so much time decorating the entire building when they had slow hours during work. They were both so proud of their work.

Keigo had helped her cook too, since Kyo couldn't cook to save his life. The amount of food in the kitchen for one holiday was spectacular, she was so proud of Keigo too in that he didn't once suggest take-out.

After exchanging gifts, and lots of laughter, awws and squealing over the gifts, they sat down to eat.

Airi was content, happy to have her family all together. Happy that Rumi had agreed to come because originally, she was going to work.

But what she was happiest about was how great Keigo was getting along with her parents. The biggest surprise came in that he was referring to them as Mom and Dad already. Made her mom cry with that one…

Airi sat in her usual spot on the couch, watching her Mom nitpick her boyfriend. She kept trying to fix his permanently messy hair, to no avail. She was acting like the real mother hen.

Maybe Airi would be free of the nickname now that he's met her Mom.

"Let the boy be, Miki. He's a grown man, he can clean himself up." Dad said from the other end of the couch from her, sitting with Kyo and Rumi watching TV.

"Fine, fine." Mom did one last thing, smoothing back Keigo's hair one more time, before scurrying over to the couch with them.

Keigo came over as well, at a slower pace. When he sat with her, she realized something was wrong.

Airi snuggled herself into his side, and his face immediately went into her neck with a shaky breath. "Pretty bird?" Airi whispered, smoothing a hand down one of his wings gently.

Her mom noticed it before her though, mothers' senses. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I wasn't trying to- "

Airi wrapped her arms around Keigo when she felt the warm tears against the skin of her neck. Why was he crying? What happened?

"Sorry, just… never had someone treat me like their son before." Keigo spoke after a minute of her trying to calm him, Airi's heart breaking at his revelation.

Her mom joined her in seconds, sitting on Keigo's other side and giving her famous warm hug.

"As long as you treat our daughter right and ask her to marry you before you do something you'll regret, you're our son." Dad spoke without getting up. Keeping his eyes on the TV.

"Welcome to the family, dear. You're safe here with us." Mom said as she hugged his back, smoothing down his puffed-out wings.

Airi felt him sniffle against her neck, burying her face against his head and whispering how much all of them love him. Especially her.

"Thank you, all three of you." Keigo thanked her parents and herself after he was calm again.

"Hey! What about us!" Kyo butted in, earning a pillow thrown at him from Airi without hesitation.

Airi switched places with Keigo, putting him in the corner of the couch before laying back in his waiting arms.

This so far is her favorite holiday yet. Sitting here with her family and the man she loved. It couldn't get better.

An unintentional Christmas in July, hope it cools down your hot summer day! I also hope that this cute little fluff warmed your heart! Mine always breaks at the idea of Keigo crying, but at least he has his family there to comfort him.

Including the family that doesn't get to see them that often. I had ideas for Airi's parents in mind, but threw them out the window with this instead. My story runs with a mind of it's own I guess. Poor Keigo though... At least Airi's parents where there to treat him like the son he never felt like. One more chance to feel like he has a family of his own, and with his Dove none the less.

Thank you all so much for reading! I'm doing this edit quick again before work. There's like two or three chapters left, plus that bonus still waiting, but don't worry! Still lots to come! I've gotta go, I'll see yall next chapter!