Author's Note: Time to get back to heroes and storyline and character growth! I hope you enjoyed three chapters of family fluff for the holidays.
Disclaimer: I don't own MHA or its characters. Original characters are mine but that's it. Story is rated for sensitive subject matter and content both mentioned and written by the author.
Chapter 53 - Life Goes On
Things proceeded normally for the slowly growing family. After the new year, Dabi left to continue following Stain. He promised to keep in touch, and left a simple blue flower for Mila when he left because the four year old had decided over the holiday that she loved Dabi. A fact that had them all cracking up, especially when Azumi and Soji could see what was building between Dabi and Keigo. Jin also finished his physical therapy in February of that year. He maintained the excuse to the doctors and school he just woke up to find his eye was corrected on its own. He returned to Ketsubetsu Academy and graduated that year in the early summer.
Soji continued his law work and researched both Azumi and Mila's case files. He even hired a private investigator to look into what happened with Mila's mother first. That case was the most recent so the leads were a bit fresher. Azumi continued to work at the clinic with Dr. Seeks. She was scheduled for the daytime again, with Mila staying with Sion during the day. The little 4 year old celebrated her 5th birthday that spring, and Keigo volunteered to give her flying lessons after Jin's graduation.
Azumi continued to keep her family supported emotionally and did her best to listen when Keigo came home from a rough patrol. He would go straight to his room and shut the door. Azumi would warm up a plate of raw chicken strips and slip into his room to comfort him and listen as he went over how he should have been faster, stronger, better. Keigo was his own critic when it came to his hero work. The Commission worked with him on patrol routes, missions with other heroes and agencies, even operations to increase his skills in the field. They were playing nicer than they ever had been, and Keigo had thought he could breath once he got his own office and was able to do hero work. But he was still only 17, and every failed rescue, every time it took too long as far as he was concerned, every time a bad guy got away, he would take it hard on himself.
While she would listen, Azumi would talk sense into him. Hawks couldn't save a person 100 miles away if he didn't know about it. Hawks couldn't stop two burglaries at the same time. Hawks was not the only hero in Fukuoka or all of Japan, and she wanted him to realize that. Azumi was concerned that if Keigo spent too much time being a hero, and not enough time being Keigo Takami, then he would become what the Commission had tried to force on him. Their conversations would always end with her helping him out of his uniform and pushing him to the shower.
Dabi, for all his talk of following Stain and keeping in touch seemed to disappear after a month. Keigo sent him text messages, pictures, even invitations to hang out. Everything was read but never replied to. The night of Keigo's birthday, Dabi had left him with a wonderful memory and new outlook on their relationship. Keigo wasn't interested in seeing anyone else. Even when Dabi told him he would be gone for months at a time, Keigo didn't care. For Azumi, she was glad Dabi hadn't shown up to the clinic injured or in need of new sutures. It meant he was safe and well. She missed his visits but she could take some comfort in knowing he hadn't been hurt or needed medical attention.
Things were as normal as they could be with everyone and their plans. Jin was planning to move back to Fukuoka now that he had a provisional license from graduation, allowing him to sidekick once an agency accepted him, and was looking for an apartment for himself and Keigo. Hawks was becoming a slow rising sensation everywhere he went. Soji and Azumi were working and Mila was getting excited about being of age for primary school. She loved watching Keigo on TV, running around a room flapping her wings quickly with her arms out trying to mimic him.
In the early Summer, Hawks had a joint hero situation to go with his rescue experience. It also showed the Commission their golden boy was not as perfect as they believed.
/
The West Blossom Park in Fukuoka was a beautiful park during the transition from Spring to Summer, with multiple colored blossoms on trees and the flowers blooming in flower beds. There were bright red benches along the jogging and walking paths. Bike trails and two different playgrounds. There was a game area with the park including a half sized basketball court, ping pong tables and round tables for board games with bench chairs. On a beautiful day like that Saturday, the park was full of children and families enjoying the weather and the amenities in the park.
The floating rail had a bridge that ran along the north side of the park, with small arches underneath. Hawks sat perched in one of these arches, wings curled behind him like a gargoyle as he grinned down at the people playing. Sion had mentioned she was taking Mila to the park today, and Hawks was unable to help himself as he watched his little sister climb to the highest points on every piece of playground equipment, and then jump off, flapping her wings quickly to stay in the air. It never accomplished more than a slow drift down to Sion's waiting arms, but he gave her points for enthusiasm.
He knew she was being impatient and unlike him, she had the promise of someone to teach her. Hers was not going to be a survival instinct as his first accidental flight had been. But those were memories of an old life that troubled him no more. Sitting up a bit, he moved his feathers further out to get more range for crimes in the area. A few of his feathers alerted him to people who would trip, and he would catch them with a feather, propping them upright before the red flickering extension would zip away. Hawks even sent a few to spin in a little cyclone with the tree leaves and blossoms when a gust of wind came through.
Hawks liked to think his feathers being seen would help people know he was around and would help them as needed. He was careful to keep them from Sion and Mila. He didn't need Mila getting clingy while he was working, but this happened to be his patrol route today. A rumbling noise was picked up east of the park and Hawks turned his vision in that direction. What could only be described as a wall of six foot flood of mud was rumbling through the streets on its way to the park. The radio sparked with chatter that sounded scared as Hawks heard other heroes speaking in earnest.
"We have a runaway criminal headed for West Blossom Park. He can expand his form to meld and manipulate the dirt around him and is currently in the form of a large wave of mud moving at about 20 miles per hour! We need help evacuating people from his path and stopping him!" Hawks took off for the coordinates as fast as he could as another hero spoke. "His body is encased in the middle of the mass!" Hawks directed feathers to move people and hit crossing signs to stop people from getting in the way. He shot up into the air as heard someone with a bullhorn calling for the evacuation of the park behind him.
Trusting Sion to mind Mila, Hawks let his wings catch a thermal so he could look down at the brown muddy mass that was filling multiple streets. "This is Hawk! I'm in the air and evacuating people in his path. His mass is taking over almost an entire block from Maple St. to Hardison Ave. and Oak St to The other end of Maple. I have speed, rangs and wings, advise what you need!" There was emergency chatter from EMTs and police. A small explosion erupted near the park and a growl came from the mass in that direction. Flying that direction, Hawks was looking for a place to land as his feathers were getting stretched thin.
A hero with a heat quirk had heated up a section of the mud until it combuated and broke apart. The damage had caused the mass to stop moving as it made a pained rumbling noise. They were reporting their success in causing it to stop when Hawks saw a large tentacle formed of mud coming at the young woman with the heat quirk who was not watching her back. He took off in a dive calling available feathers back as he prayed he would have enough wings to lift them both as he tackled her from the side and scooped her out of the way just as the muddy wet tentacle slapped the ground where she was.
She screamed right in his ear and Hawks was so grateful his headphones muffled those types of noise, his wings flapping and then banking as she held onto him for dear life and he kept her in a bridal carry as he swerved and dodge more attacks on his way to a safer spot. It wasn't until he had finally gotten them both to the main police set up just a street over that he set her down and let his large wings flap a few times in irritation. He put on a charming grin despite his annoyance as Hawks kept his hands on her shoulders to stabilize her. "Are you ok? Sounds like you are from the strength of your voice."
The young woman who he could see now, was wearing a skintight red jumpsuit that revealed a lot of the skin on her legs, arms and even her midsection. The temperature stabilizers all over showed him she could heat up parts of her body so it had to show, various reds, oranges and yellows made up her costume. At his words, her face became the reddest thing as she lost her words when she took in his cocky grin and windswept hair with hands casually going into his pockets. "I-uh-he was- you- I" Hawks reached over and patted her on the head. "You're welcome and good work getting him to stop. Any ideas how to get him out of that muddy mass?"
She turned dark red, almost purple as she turned and mumbled to herself, causing Hawks to tilt his head in a curious bird like gesture. "Oh…..kay." he didn't get to say anything else as a heatwave slammed into the police and Endeavor stood in the middle of the mud on one of the streets and was projecting heat and fire along the mud. People were being pulled back and Hawks had to raise both hands against the heat, his wings closing near his back to prevent himself from rising with the heat. "Whoah, Endeavor is on a roll doing what you did, miss. Seems you had a great idea."
The female was still a blubbering mess sl Hawks went airborne to see what Endeavor was doing and potentially back him up if needed. There were other heroes watching the flame hero ranked number 2 as he was drying out all of the mud so fast, the criminal would be forced to come out or roast. He finally came out, a sickly skinny man without a shirt, running through the drying and thickening mud. Endeavor didn't see him, he was too busy heating up the area without lighting fire to the surroundings. The level of control was as marveling to behold as the scene itself.
Hawks, however, wanted the criminal caught and shot up into the air making for the guy running. The man turned and screamed seeing a large red winged bird like man swooping down on him. The winged hero easily grabbed his arms and slapped the quirk suppression cuffs he carried onto both wrists that were effortlessly tugged behind the guy. He was pulling weakly and begging not to go back to jail, but Hawks ignored him as he walked the guy towards the police. "Sorry guy, you do the crime, need to serve the time." The man actually doubled over and started crying as Hawks got to the police with the guy.
"Hey there! Got your guy. He popped out while Endeavor was heating up the mud. Can I give him to you and the credit to him?" Hawks tried to sound jovial with a wide smile as the police seemed relieved to have their escaped criminal. As they re took custody, Hawks felt people patting him on the back and shoulder as the other heroes involved congratulated him for the catch. Hawks tried to point out Endeavor and the other girl had done all the real work getting him to come out, and there was cheering and clapping from the civilians nearby who had seen him turn over the criminal. And Hawks heard ringing in his ears.
The more they clapped, the more ringing Hawks heard, causing him to bring his left hand up and pressed his headphone tighter to his ear. He kept the grin on his face, thanking those who were congratulating him and trying to pass off credit to Endeavor. It became overwhelming, even as Endeavor stepped up to him, peering down his nose at the young hero he had not yet met and people calmed, to see what would happen. Hawks looked up at him and offered a hand trying not to yell because his senses were overloaded.
"Endeavor, I'm a huge fan. Thanks for the opportunity to help you catch this guy." He swallowed, trying to keep his hand from shaking. He needed to give this credit to Endeavor because he did most of the real work. Hawks needed to not spit in this man's face. This man who had hurt Toya. Had caused someone he cared about so much pain. He was so overloaded that he barely felt the hand shake. He didn't hear Endeavor's comment about his own good work. He didn't realize he was in a stunned fog until a voice came over his headset.
"Hawks? Hawks can you hear me?" He shook his head as people were clapping again and Hawks took to the air as safely and quickly as he could with a smile and wave to everyone, keeping up the image of happy and fine as he flapped and soared through the air. The cold air was a needed shock to his system as he went straight for the Commission building. He knew people were talking on his radio but he was on autopilot as he made it to his open office window at Commission Building. He managed to climb through before he mumbled on his radio set. "Pan pan pan- office."
And Hawks collapsed next to the window.
/
Azumi was walking home when her phone rang. She didn't recognize the number, so she tried to sound polite as she answered. "Hello?" The lady on the other end was very formal, and Azumi could recognize a medical expert when she heard it. "Hello, ia this Azumi Nakamura?" She stopped walking and gripped her shoulder strap on her bag as she answered. "Yes it is." The lady continued with very little small talk. "My name is Hana, and I'm a nurse with the Commission's medical division. You are listed as Keigo Takami's emergency contact. He's fine, a little disoriented, but he asked me to contact you to come get him." Azumi's free hand shot out to hail a taxi without waiting.
"Where is he? What happened" Hana was unphased and continued. "He had a bit of a sensory overload while he was on patrol today shortly after his last job. He made it back here safely and we are giving him a good look over before clearing him. We're on the fourth floor of the Commission building, room 201. I'll make sure security will let you up." Azumi was already climbing into a taxi and giving the information to the driver. "I'll be there as soon as I can. Can you give me any more details?" The lady sounded apologetic, and Azumi supposed she understood being in the medical field herself.
The taxi didn't take long to get to the Commission building, and Azumi sent a text to Soji to pick up Mila and Sion to let her know Soji would be by to get her. Then she paid the taxi driver and hurried up into the Commission building. Azumi hadn't been here since Keigo's graduation, and that had been walking in, going to the elevator, going to the rooftop gardens and then going home. Now, she had to show her ID, have her purse checked, walk through a metal detector and past security guards who were all eyeing her like a suspect. It was difficult to remain smiling and calm with what little she knew and the lobby.
She was given a visitor ID, and escorted to the elevator. Once she got to the fourth floor, it looked more like a hospital than an office building. Room 201 was around the corner, and Keigo was sitting on a bed, his wings behind him in his compression top and pants. His jacket was gone and so were his headphones and glasses, making him look closer to his age of 17 instead of when he looked older on TV. Keigo looked up to see Azumi, eyes wide as the nurse with him finished administering a shot.
"Mom! You got here fast." He nodded to the nurse as Azumi smiled and did her own visual once over of her son. "Are you ok? They wouldn't tell me much on the phone, but you look alright." He grinned and motions back at his wings. "My new wings seem to be way more hyper sensitive when they're hot. Between the thermals and all the clapping of more people than I have ever seen I got overwhelmed with all the vibrations." The lady who had spoken to Azumi on the phone walked in with a clipboard speaking suddenly. "It's like putting your fingers on a hot plate and then running them along the top of a dryer. It's a wonder you got here before you collapsed."
Azumi looked from Hana to Keigo worried. "You collapsed? No one told me that." Hana sighed as if she was annoyed to have to explain something to a civilian. "Because it wasn't important to tell you. He woke up before we even got to him and was asking where Endeavor went. He seems to be fine now, and the feather samples he gave are going to R&D for study to see if we can find a way to keep it from happening again. It doesn't help our aspiring heroes if they can't be in large crowds of people applauding their good work." Azumi narrowed her eyes at Hana but gently put a hand through Keigo's hair, earning a happy chirp that sent Hana's eyebrow twitching.
"So I'm good to go home now?" Keigo asked as he leaned into Azumi's hand. Hana blinked before she nodded. "Yes. Just make sure you avoid larger crowds and applause until we figure this out completely and we'll see you tomorrow." Keigo grinned and hopped off the bed as Hana walked out. He slid his jacket on, Azumi watching his feathers scatter off and then back on before he offered her an arm. "Want a pro hero escort and flight home?" Azumi laughed and took his arm. "How about we get a cab and pick up dinner on the way?" He pouted but nodded as he picked up his glasses and headphones on the way towards his office. "Guess that means I gotta change first."
She laughed as he led her through to his office, a wing protectively curled around his mother.
