Endeavor-san…said that I need to move on. Kaere tugged at the bandage wrapping her right wrist, exposing where her hand had been removed. She stared down at it for a moment and when she remembered Dabi's hand gripping hers, his flames devouring her flesh, she forced herself to focus on something else.
She had been so nervous about going out in public. So nervous about facing the hero she had idolized for so long. It was exactly what she needed, though. He gave her the push she needed to move forward. Hawks had given her the opportunity to restart her life and she had spent the last handful of days cooped up in his home.
Kaere heard a rustling behind her in the bedroom and looked through the open doorway from the couch. Hawks had moved in his sleep and he had the sheets tangled around him. His bright red feathers ruffled for a moment as his wings stretched and then they settled against his back again.
I need to move forward, but…I don't even know how to start. Her left hand ran through her dark hair and she frowned to herself. I want to work, but Hawks…is so protective. He doesn't want me to push myself too hard. I need to, though! I need to do something because…I feel like everything's been at a standstill since the attack.
She saw her phone screen lighting up on the coffee table and her pulse quickened. Her blood ran cold as she saw what was on the screen; "unknown, 21 new messages". Kaere knew without checking that she had a multitude of missed calls as well. The more messages he left, the clearer it was that Dabi was unhinged. His messages ranged from taunting to death threats to the very occasional attempts at coaxing her back with promises of keeping her punishment to a minimum.
It made her shiver in her Hawks hoodie and she wrapped her left around herself. Lowering her head, her glasses slipped forward a little. Dabi. But I can't think about him. I can't…think about what happened if I want to move forward.
Rustling came from behind her again and this time it was followed by footsteps approaching the back of the couch. Arms slipped around her and Hawks nuzzled his cheek against hers. "Thought the bed felt kind of cold. Everything okay?"
Kaere blushed and smiled. "Yeah. Just…thinking about what I want to do," she admitted. "Um…I made some tea, if you want some. It's green tea."
Hawks looked down at the table, saw the lack of a mug, and drew away from her. "Be right back." When he returned, he brought two mugs of tea and beamed. "Can't believe you didn't pour yourself some. Are you sure you're okay?"
"M-maybe a little distracted." She accepted the mug and blew on the surface of the hot tea. As she took a sip, she caught Hawks watching her with a hint of pink on his cheeks and she flushed red. "Um…I-I'm sorry. Maybe I should make breakfast first-"
"Come on. You think that's why I was staring?" he teased. He leaned against the back of the couch and reached out his free hand to stroke her cheek. "You're cute. Especially when you blow on your tea like that. So what do you want to do today? I could run to the book store before I head to the agency and grab some books, if you want. I'd get you a new gaming system, but that's going to have to be after work. But you could make a list of the games you want."
Kaere lowered her eyes to the cup of tea in her hands. "Hawks…I…um…"
"Maybe we could get some two-player games. I haven't played a lot of them so you could teach me and we could play together. Wouldn't that be fun?"
"That does sound fun, but…I want to work." She timidly glanced up and saw the color drain from his face. That warm, easygoing smile had fallen to a frown and Hawks was unable to keep himself from sighing.
His hand slid away from her cheek and he rubbed at the back of his neck. "You really want to work? Are you sure you're ready? Maybe you should wait until you get your prosthetic. Endeavor ordered it, right? He probably put it on rush delivery so-"
"Hawks, I need to try. I need to…move forward." Her watery hazel eyes dropped to where her right hand used to be. "I know I can't do a lot, but…I want to do something to help. If you…if you don't want me at your agency, then maybe I could try to help at a clinic. I just…" Kaere's voice faltered as she struggled to not confess the truth; she felt like she was trapped.
He set his cup of tea aside and ruffled his messy golden hair. When he looked at Kaere again, it was with a strained smile. "You're too sweet, you know that? And you know I can't say "no" to that face." Hawks leaned forward, his fingers running through her hair as his lips brushed her forehead. "Alright. I know what you can do, but I'm going to have to make a trip to the store first."
She was a little confused, but she nodded. Hawks got ready for the day and set off to run his errand. The girl brushed her teeth before she got started on the struggle that was making breakfast. She was still adapting to using only her left hand so it was admittedly a little messy, but Hawks never seemed to mind the presentation.
When he returned, he was carrying a shopping a bag and held it out to her. "I think I got the right sizes. Try them on and if they don't fit, I can get something else."
Kaere took the bag, but tilted her head a little. When she was in the bathroom, she removed the contents and found a black button-up shirt with long sleeves and a pair of black jeans. They fit her perfectly and she looked in the mirror, frowning. She looked oddly professional and started to wonder if the support staff in his agency dressed this way.
Hawks walked a circle around her when she emerged and half-grinned. "Pretty cute. Just have to add the finishing touches, okay?" He held up her Endeavor hoodie and a hairband for her dark brown hair.
The winged hero helped her into the hoodie and then sat on the edge of the couch with her between his legs. He brushed the tangles out of her shoulder-length hair and pulled it into a ponytail. "There we go." His arms slid around her waist and his chin rested on her shoulder.
"You know, I'm kind of jealous. I wish I could take you with me, but it has to be this way for now."
"Wh-what? Wait…Hawks? What do you mean?" Her pulse accelerated.
"We've got to keep a little distance in public for now. I can't give you all the details yet, but soon, okay?" Hawks hesitated to keep talking, but pushed himself forward. "Kaere. You wouldn't hate me, right? If I told you something, but it wasn't completely true. You'd forgive me, wouldn't you?"
She was silent. Her eyes watered and she trembled a little. What is he saying? What…does that mean? He said something that wasn't true? Did he lie to me? What is it? Why would he lie? I don't understand.
"Kaere, please." His normally warm, cheerful tone was gone and his voice sounded strained and broken. "I love you."
"I…love you, too. And I-I don't think I could ever hate you." Her chest felt tight as she said this, wondering what he was hiding from her.
"Thank you." Hawks kissed her cheek and squeezed her a little bit tighter in a hug before he released her. "Alright! We should probably head out. Don't want to be late on your first day. I called him and let him know that you're coming so they'll be expecting you."
When Kaere thought about working, she imagined working in a small clinic or with Hawks' agency. She had mentioned it to Endeavor the previous day, but she never imagined she would end working at his agency. Hawks dropped her off a short distance from the agency and she was accompanied by Burnin the rest of the way to the building.
She walked with her head down and the hood pulled up on her hoodie, but she was smiling. Despite being nervous and a little anxious about being out in the open, she was excited about being able to do something. Something heroic instead of tending to the wounds of villains and petty criminals.
"Didn't realize yesterday was a job interview!" Burnin joked, mistaking her silence for sheer nervousness. "We don't have a ton of healers so this is perfect! Hey, how old did you say you were?"
"Um…I'm twenty-one." She pushed up her glasses and looked over at the older woman, who was grinning.
"You've kinda got a baby face, huh? I thought you were just out of high school! So what kinda training do you have? How's your quirk work?"
"Ah…" Kaere lifted her left hand and looked down at it, curling her fingers. "It's…um…kind of complicated. I'm self-taught. And my quirk…I can donate blood, organs, and flesh to anyone; it adjusts to match anyone's blood type or body so it'll be accepted. And my body can repair itself and regenerate. Just…I can't regenerate appendages…apparently."
"Hang on! So you could take out your heart and it regenerates?"
She blushed and looked down, shoving her hand into her pocket. "Y-yeah. Um…it's tricky, though. S-someone else has to remove it, but…my body immediately makes another heart so I won't die. This is my third one."
When Burnin commented about her being indestructible, Kaere's frown deepened. Dabi was able to burn away her hand faster than her quirk could try to repair it. If his flames engulfed her whole body, she was sure she would just die; her quirk would have no time to repair the damage.
I just…won't let it happen, she told herself as they entered the agency. Dabi. Dabi's my past. He's from my past, but this is my future. I just need to keep looking forward…and do my best.
She usually felt secure in her hoodies, but when she was standing in front of Endeavor's desk wearing her Endeavor hoodie, self-consciousness made her stomach churn. Thankfully, the hero seemed unfazed. Kaere bowed her head, now with the hood pulled down, and spoke quietly. "Th-thank you for…for letting me work here today."
"You mentioned yesterday that you wanted a job." He stood up behind his desk, fiery facial hair flickering. "I was surprised to get that call this morning. I was positive he would try to hold you back, but he must have realized the importance of letting you be independent."
He walked around the desk to where she was standing. A large hand settled on her right shoulder. "You won't be going out for a while, though. Just as a precaution. Today, I want you to follow Burnin. She isn't patrolling today, but she can show you around the agency and give you something to do."
Shift P.O.V
When she said she wanted to start working, he felt his heart start to race. The thought of her being out in the open filled him with dread. Especially because Hawks knew that having her work at his agency was out of the question. As much as he would love to have her there, it was too dangerous. Dabi still seemed to think Endeavor had taken her into his care after he saved her so there was really only one place Kaere could work.
On top of that, he knew he would have to confess to her. Hawks had been lying to her since the day he introduced himself. It was only supposed to be a little white lie at first; just so he could lure the League's only healer away from the group and hinder them. It was when he fell for her that it became a problem.
He told her that he was double-crossing the heroes so he could gain her trust and as far as she knew, that was still true. In her eyes, he was working against his fellow heroes and had just decided to get her away from the League for her own safety. He had never corrected her so she probably just thought he was distancing himself from Dabi right now.
It gave him such a heavy feeling, even as he soared on the wind high above the city. Hawks knew he would have to tell her the truth, but it terrified him. She said she'd never hate me, he remembered. But I wouldn't blame her if she did. It's messed up. I know it's messed up. But if she hates me…I don't know what I'll do.
She was in good hands at Endeavor's agency. He knew she was and he knew he had no reason to worry. She was probably happy to be able to do something besides sit in his apartment and wait around for him to get home. Thinking about this only increased his guilt.
She must've been really lonely. I was trying not to think about it, but it couldn't have been fun for her to be alone for so long. At least this way, she's got people she can talk to. This gave him a good feeling for a few seconds until jealousy began to eclipse the relief. Knowing that Kaere was spending most of the day with Endeavor and his sidekicks made his frown deepen.
Hawks knew what he had to do now. He needed to resolve the issue with Dabi. He had to figure something out so the villain would stop looking for her. As soon as Dabi stopped caring about finding Kaere, she would feel safe and Hawks would be able to take her to his agency with him during the day.
He landed on the roof of a building and checked his phone for messages. Nothing from Kaere or an unknown number. Hawks ran a gloved hand through his hair as the wind whipped at his feathers. He was tempted to send her a message and ask how her day was going, but he stopped himself when he felt someone's eyes on him.
