Author's Note: Some info on how Mila's quirk works. Healing quirks are not infallible. Recovery Girl can only have your body recover quicker but it's also only as much as your own body can recover. Madame Medic can stabilize anyone. But that's about it. Even Cell Restoration is limited to fresh injuries and only those that the body can ideally restore. Also I'm sorry to Soji fans. That is all.

Chapter 59 - Search and Rescue

Mila woke up coughing, dust and dirt all over the place. She felt like her mouth was full of dirt and she tried to spit it out before realizing she wasn't really able to move from her pinned down position. Looking around, the dark was only broken by very thin cracks in the debris letting light in, and it took her eyes a bit to adjust to. The kiosk had been showered in debris and rubble. The space that they had been hiding in was cut in half, the other lady that had been with them was nowhere to be seen. The exit that the mom and son went through was now buried, leaving the same amount of space she was able to see and move in the same as under a dining room table. Mila was pinned under a warm body, which she recognized as her daddy, Soji.

Blinking a bit, she realized the more her eyes adjusted, the more trouble she was in. Soji was on his side, an arm over her holding her against his chest which is where she was pinned. His legs were buried in debris from mid thigh and she saw a dark color all over the left midsection of his shirt. His face also had a dark color from his scalp down the left side of his face to his neck. His eyes were closed, but he was warm and she could feel him breathing, albeit shallowly. When she reached up to touch the dark color on his face, her hand came away wet and warm and dark as well. Eyes widening, she realized he was bleeding in both places and a distressed chirp left her throat.

"Daddy!" She struggled to get out from under him and managed to crawl out of his grasp, his head and shoulders slumping a bit when she moved, but he didn't wake up. She could hear noises outside the rubble, screams, yelling and explosions. Mila could tell there were still bad guys out there and fighting, but her daddy was right here and needed her help. She shook her feathers and wings to get the dirt and glass out of them, and then carefully brushed her wings across his face. If she healed his head first, maybe he would wake up and tell her what else to heal. Mila waited and frowned when she didn't feel the familiar tingling of her feathers healing.

Mila looked at her wings and then her daddy, trying again on his midsection as she tried hugging him with her wings. Still nothing. She let out a scared chirp and whined as tears formed in her eyes. She needed to heal her daddy! Why wasn't it working! Looking down at herself, she saw she had a few cuts and bruises, so she wrapped herself in her wings and felt the comforting warm tingling of her feathers healing each cut and bruise. As soon as she was done, she tried to move her wings to his face again, but there was nothing. Frustrated, she squeezed her eyes shut trying to think. Why wasn't it working?! What would Nii chan do?

A rumble and bang caused her to throw herself over Soji's upper half, wings spread out like a blanket to try and keep him safe as she heard people yelling. She whimpered and began chirping, scared and hoping her loud pitch of chirping could be heard by anyone coming to rescue them. When the rumbling stopped for a bit, Mila moved to try and unbury Soji's legs, being careful not to cause more debris to fall. She also found his cellphone amidst the debris, but it was crushed and didn't work so she couldn't use it. When she got most of his legs cleared, she curled up next to him and covered him with her wings again to keep him warm. His hands and face were starting to feel cold. Trying not to cry, she began to chirp and whine loudly, despite her dry throat. She even whistled as loud as she could to get someone's attention that they were buried where they were. Her mommy had told her if she ever got lost ro make as much noise as possible to be found.

There was some noise above her and Mila paused in her noises, trying to hear who it could be. When she heard movement and digging near where the kiosk entrance was, she whistled as loud as she could and started yelling. "Help! My daddy is hurt! Help! Help!" A crack that had been giving off a tiny bit of light was blocked and she whimpered clinging to Soji again. "Please help?" A soft feather seemed to race in through the crack to circle her and Soji, followed by a second one moving around to get a feel for what was going on and then a third one. Relieved and emotionally overwhelmed she started crying, crawling towards the crack as she heard muffled talking from the other side. "Nii chan! Nii chan daddy is hurt! Nii chan!"

She could feel more feathers coming in through the crack, noises like a bunch of people were moving the rubble and debris. Mila kept crying, staying near the crack where the feathers were coming from until she felt pieces falling in on them. She screamed and hurried over to cover Soji with her wings. "Nii chan the roof is coming down!" She felt a feather settle under her chin, trying to comfort her and she realized any debris or stone falling down was being caught and dumped to the side with the feathers inside where they were. With the feathers keeping her and Soji safe, the cracks giving light got bigger and she could hear voices clearly. She could also see her daddy clearly and he looked as pale white as her hair, even though it was now dirty from the collapse. His eyes were closed as if he were only sleeping, the red blood on his face contrasting the pale complexion.

She whined and chirped, clinging to Soji's arm with her eyes squeezed shut. As more was cleared away, she heard Keigo clearly, allowing her to feel relieved. "Mila! Don't move, we're almost to you!" She smiled a bit and clung to Soji, wings tightly around him. She wasn't going to let go until they could both be pulled out. Her brother was here to save her. Jin's voice was heard because he didn't have his synthesizer so she recognized the lisp and she chirped in relief. Both her brothers were here. They would help get her and daddy out.

She was almost to safety and could try to heal him again.

/

Hawks informed the Commission that he was enroute to the mall attack, and that he had Echo from Hook Shot's agency with him. They confirmed which hero was taking point on attack and which for rescue, ordering him to prioritize the rescue of civilians over attacking the villains. The dispatcher also confirmed they would approve Echo to work with Hawks and would let Hook Shot know. With that handled, Hawks and Echo flew as fast as they could to get on sight. When they arrived on sight, Echo could only stare at the mess, overwhelmed on what to do.

More than half the mall had collapsed on itself. The entire area was blocked off with police, fire and rescue personnel. Some were trying to put out the small fires and get large rubble off of civilians for rescue. There was a medical station set up where survivors were being taken to get checked. If they were severe, they were being sent to hospitals. If not they were being treated and then sent home or trying to help as best they could. There were still villains attacking parts of the rescue effort and rioters still causing a fuss, but a number of police and heroes arriving were quickly dispersing them or taking them into custody. The villain with multiple quirks that All Might had been fighting was nowhere to be seen.

Hawks realized Echo had never been to a real evacuation and rescue scene, nudging him briefly. "Hey. You have to put everything personal aside and focus on helping people get to safety. Just follow my lead, yeah?" Echo nodded quickly, steeling himself as he followed Hawks to. Tall man covered in denim with what looked like the front of jeans over the bottom of his face. Hawks grinned and waved as he gave Best Jeanist a mock salutem "Jeanist. Hawks reporting for duty to help with Echo." The tall man turned to look at them both and nodded. "Hawks, glad we have you. I'm not familiar with you, Echo. What's your specialty?" Echo swallowed, realizing he didn't have his synthesizer, but he tried to speak clearly regardless. "Thir, I have echolocathon and nighr vithon. I can altho fly and cling to surfatheth. Bathically, anything a bat can do."

Best Jeanist said nothing at all about his lisp, and didn't seem to have any trouble understanding him. "Perfect. You and Hawks search this area near the food court for survivors and send a signal if you find one. This area had a lot of small pop up kiosks, so it's possible a number of civilians hid in them for cover before the mall collapsed. If that happened, it could mean dozens of pocketed areas with people in them. You two would have the perfect quirks to find them. We'll send paramedics and the fire department to places that you flag as fast as you and others flag them. The villains nearby are being handled, so you don't need tk focus on them at all right now." Hawks nodded and lowered his voice. "You should know I have family here somewhere. I know my duty first and foremost, but I didn't want you to be surprised if I need to bow out." Jeanist eyed Hawks for a moment before nodding. "Understood. If you need to take care of them once found, let me know." With that, both teenagers took off to the designated area Jeanist had told them to cover.

It didn't take long for them to start finding people both living and not. The dead were recovered with equal speed and care as the living, Jeanist working with a number of pro heroes to help move large debris and slabs of the upper floors and roof. It felt like every time Echo used his quirk, he found another person buried, and he stayed to talk with them as they were dug out. Hawks was sending so many feathers into the rubble, it was amazing for Echo to see how large of an area he could check and clear at a time. His wings were a quarter of their normal size, but he was finding so many people and Echo was able to help identify that they were living or dead. They really made a good team together, so in sync with each other's actions and plans. Echo was about to start looking again when a large hand grabbed him by the right forearm, causing him to shriek in surprise and pain.

"Echo! What are you doing with the rescue crew!? We were ordered in to fight the villains!" Echo flinched and his eyes widened at the sight of an angry Hook Shot holding his arm tight. Trying to stand up straight, he realized he didn't have his synthesizer or gear and Hook Shot looked downright pissed. "Thir, I had the day off and wath with Hawkth when we thaw the fight on tv. We thowed up and I wath athigned to help him with rethcue." Hook shot narrowed his eyes and glanced over at Hawks who was watching them both with a sharp intensity in his eyes. "I told you not to work with that guy, didn't I?" The pro shook the teenager a bit as he spoke and before Echo could reply, a large red wing slapped Hook Shot's hand off of Echo's arm and Hawks stood between them facing the taller pro hero. His wings were full of feathers that were flared up and pointing dozens of sharp lethal knife like feathers at the bigger pro. Hawks may not have been tall, but right now he looks intimidating and threatening

"What is your problem? He's helping us recover people. The Commission should have sent the request for him to work with me. Back off on the attitude, buddy." Hook Shot grit his teeth taking a step back as Hawk's wings had entirely hidden Echo from view, but his hands went into fists. "Echo is my sidekick and we were asked to handle the villains. He should be with me and my agency doing what I say." Hawks glared with golden eyes and pupils as slits. "Like wearing his support gear all the time so as to hide his voice?" Hook pointed a finger at Hawks. "Don't you push me you brat. Just because you're a hot shot favored by the Commission doesn't mean you get to tell me what's good for my agency or not."

Hawks didn't get to reply before Best Jeanist was standing between them. "Gentlemen, this is not a discussion for right now. I am in charge of this scene and my word is final. Hawks, Echo, continue the rescue operation. Hook Shot, you and I will go to the medical base to see how your work against the assailants is going." Best Jeanist didn't leave any room for argument as he moved Hook Shot away. Hawks turned to look at Echo and saw his friend was torn between panic and relief. "Thankth, Hawkth." Hawks nodded. "Of course. You know, you could always leave his agency. '' Echo shook his head. "He made it clear he would ruin my chantheth of being your thidekick or anyone eltheth if I did that." Shaking his head, Hawks was about to reply when Echo's ears swiveled. "Shhh."

There was silence for a moment before Echo started for a pile of rubble. "I can hear Mila'th whithle!" Hawks followed and Echo listened before holding up a flag for survivors found. Peering at some of the rubble and layers of flooring and rock, Hawks managed to get his feathers to start searching through as Echo frowned. "I'm getting three bodieth. Two have heart beatth." Hawks seemed to perk. "I got a feather in there! It's Mila and dad. I don't feel a third person but both of them are breathing." They both could hear Mila trying to yell to them once Hawks could feel her with his feathers. "She says dad is hurt. If you're right about three bodies and two heart beats, than that third body is dead."

They signaled for paramedics and fire rescue, Echo running over to inform Best Jeanist that Hawk's father and sister were found. Despite the fact it was a high profile rescue operation, the news was restricted back to the vehicle line so that there was respect and privacy for those injured or dead. Once the message was relayed, Echo hurried back and heard Hawks yelling to Mila to hold on, they were almost there. "She said dad is hurt and he hasn't moved since I got my feathers in there." Echo leaned down to the crack that had the most air flow to where they were. "You going to the hothpital when they get out? If tho I can thtay and keep helping."

Hawks nodded as he watched them remove a large piece of the floor that had fallen onto the kiosk, Mila now visible clinging to Soji who wasn't moving. As soon the paramedics got into the space and checked Soji, one of them signaled that they needed Mila to move. Hawks was next to them in the blink of an eye, arms around Mila as she started crying and clinging to him. He carried her up and out of the kiosk area as he stayed near enough to listen and wait for the paramedics. He rubbed the back space between Mila's wings as he tried to calm her down, Echo also trying to pat her head to reassure her. The concern now was what the paramedics were saying about Soji. They couldn't get him to respond when they tried to speak to him or wake him. Hawks told them his name and offered to call his wife.

They were getting him onto a flat board keeping him on his side, a neck brace slid on as Hawks tightened his hold on Mila seeing all the blood. The two paramedics reported his vitals to each other including his low blood pressure, unsteady pulse and unresponsive pupils. The outward injuries were a deep gash on the left side of his head that covered half of his face in blood, it appeared his ribs may have been fractured or broken, and there was a large piece of glass that was sticking out of his lower back. The paramedics hadn't pulled it out, but they were stabilizing it as one of them called for a healer fast to try and stabilize him. Mila whined and buried her face in Keigo's shoulder.

"I tried to heal him, Nii chan. It didn't work! I'm sorry, I tried!" Hawks trilled softly as he pulled his phone out. "Don't apologize, little bird. There could be any number of reasons it didn't work. We will let the doctors take care of him. Are you hurt anywhere? Do you need anything?" Echo had a bottle of water, noticing the little girl covered in dirt. She reached for the bottle of water through her tears and sipped the water. Hawks paused as he was about to call his mom because one of the paramedics had flagged him down. Since Mila was gripping him tightly, similar to his own stress gripping, he carried her with him. "Yes?" They briefly glanced at her before talking.

"If you're calling his wife we are taking him to Yukina Mercy Hospital right away. She should come as soon as possible. Is that his daughter?" Hawks nodded as Mila hid her face in his shoulder. "They're both family to me. I'll bring her along to the hospital and meet our mother there. Anything you can do, please do it." He held Mila a bit tighter as the family connection seemed to click to the paramedic. No EMT wanted to lose a life, and especially not a pro hero's parent. "I'll radio for some specialists on route. We have to go now though, his vitals are not good and honestly I don't know that he'll make it to the hospital." Keigo sucked in a breath as he nodded, with a silent glance and nod to Jin, before hurrying to follow them with Mila so he could see which ambulance Soji was going in and fly after it.

Mjla was safe with him. Now he had to tell his mother that they were racing the clock to save his father and how grim it looked. In the back of his mind, he wondered what had caused all of this, and where was All Might at? Because right now he needed to see a symbol of peace and positivity.

/

Azumi was sitting on her sofa staring at the tv with her cellphone in one hand. Dabi had opened the balcony door to get some air flow in the apartment and had made a pot of tea for Azumi. He was now sitting next to her, gripping her free hand as the news showed the rescue operations from where the cameraman was at. They were restricted on what would be shown and how close they were allowed to get. Hero after hero showed up to help find survivors, and there were clips here and there of Hawks and Echo seen on TV. The concern was that they were still looking for Soji and Mila since they were working to find survivors with Best Jeanist, Uwabami and others.

Dabi glanced at Azumi and wondered if Uncle Soji was this distressed when she had been kidnapped. If she got this scared and intense when she watched Keigo on TV as Hawks. He knew Hawks and Echo had amazing quirks for search and rescue, and he also knew they would find the missing duo by whatever means. There had been rumors at the bar about villains planning to hit the graduating class to cause discourse and trouble. There was a name that had been showing up more and more named All For One. He too was planning to make a showing to see what quirks were being used. The man was rumored to be able to give and take away quirks to others. Part of Dabi hated that Stain was so accurate in what was going on with Hero and Villain society.

Azumi's phone went off and she fumbled it to try and answer. "H-hello?" He listened with anticipation as he saw her shoulder slump with relief, her hand gripping his tightly. "Thank god. Are they alright?" She listened, her posture going tense as she bit her bottom lip, tears forming in her eyes. Dabi hated seeing her so distraught and could see she was losing her composure on the phone. He held out a hand to take it, letting go of her hand to put an arm around her and pull her into a hug. Azumi broke and started crying into his shoulder as he put the phone to his ear. "Keigo? What happened?"

Hawks sounded out of breath, the sound of wind rustling in the back and Mila's scared chirps could be heard. "Hey, Dabi. I have Mila with me, she's alright. Dad is headed for Yukina Mercy Hospital. He's not good and they aren't sure he will make it to the hospital. Jin is still at the site helping with the rescue." Dabi hugged Azumi and was silent. He didn't wait for Keigo to ask before speaking. "I'll bring Auntie to the hospital. As soon as she's able we'll go." Dabi heard Hawks choke before speaking in a rough voice. "Thanks. Dabi… I-" The older teen interrupted.

"I know. Me too. I'll see you there, pretty bird."