Substitute Nightmare

Author's Note: If you guys have any suggestions for the upcoming tournament be sure to leave it in the comments. Midoriya, Todoroki, Bakugou, and Shinsou are definitely going to be in the top 16, but I've got several ideas for how the tournament will end so I wanna hear what my readers want. Give it some thought, comment on who you'd like to see participate and what scenarios you'd like to see unfold, and let's have some fun with it! :)

Chapter 8: My money is on you, kid.

Ryan pulled her house keys out of her pocket, laughing at the story Hawks had just shared with her.

"You're horrible!" She playfully shoved at him and turned to open her door.

"Hey don't stand there and tell me you wouldn't have done the exact same thing." He called her out and gripped her by the waist, giving her rib cage a little tickle and having her slap at him.

"Hey, 'ey, 'ey! You know I hate that!" She wriggled away, struggling to get her door open.

"Do I know that? I think you have me confused with someone else." He teased her and kept close even as she scurried inside.

"Hands off bird brain!" She laughed and squeaked when he pinned her to the door to close it and then assaulted her with tickles.

"Say mercy!" He opened his wings, blocking her escape path and had her wheezing with laughter. "Come on, Kitten, you have to breathe sometime."

"Jerk! Stop! Hahaha! Okay! Okay! I give! I-MMPH!" Ryan's laughter and pleas became muggled and then silenced as Hawks halted his ticking to kiss her breathlessly.

There was fire in the kiss; it was hot, intense, and threatened to burn them both alive. Neither of them had ever felt such an insane urge to be engulfed. Hands stroked, bodies brushed, and clothes started coming off one piece of fabric at a time. Soon it was skin to skin, and fire spread from their mouths to every inch of their bodies.

"Ryan…" Hawks moaned her name and pinned her up on the door. "Ryan…"

"Keigo…" Ryan whispered back, her voice trembling and needy. He continued to call out her name, the sounds of it drowned out by the rapid beating of her heart. As he slid inside her, their eyes met and she let the words she'd been holding back come out. "Keigo I-"

~End of Flashback~

"RYAN!" Hawks shook her by the shoulder, snapping her out of the vivid flashback. Ryan's head jerked up, her cheeks flushed and eyes still glazed over from the memory.

"Huh? What?" She looked around, noticed they were standing in front of her apartment, keys out, but she'd yet to put them in the door.

"You alright?" He noticed the flushed and dazed look on her face and showed concern. "You look feverish, you're not getting sick are you?" He removed his glove in order to place a hand on her forehead.

"I'm fine, just tired. It's been a long day." She brushed his hand away and fumbled a bit with the key in order to unlock the door. "Thanks for dinner, I'll see you later."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa… OW!" He squeezed into the door, grunting a little as his wings got caught in the frame and he shimmied himself out. "Hold on, what's gotten into you all of a sudden?"

"Nothing, I just…" she sighed and dropped her keys and purse on the table. She placed her hands over her face. "I was reminded of why this whole outing tonight was a bad idea."

"I thought we were having fun." He frowned and rubbed the back of his neck. "I know I'm not exactly your favorite person but-"

"No, no we were, I mean we did have fun, and that's precisely the problem." She stripped off her jacket and tossed it onto a chair. "Things would be so much easier if I hated you… but you keep reminding me that you're not really the jerk I made you out to be."

"I am a jerk, but that never seemed to phase you for long." He pulled a chair out from the table and sat her down in it. He then pulled one out for himself and leaned in. "Is us being friends really such a bad thing, Ryan?"

"Friends, no…" She folded her hands in her lap and gave him eyes that were full of emotion and confusion. "...but can you honestly sit there and tell me there's even the slightest chance that we won't want more from each other?"

"Then let's just have more." He lay his hands over hers. "We'll enjoy each other while we have this time together." He pulled them up to his lips. "I know I wouldn't mind it."

"Kei-" she stopped herself and yanked her hands free. "Hawks, we can't. We can't go down that road again. There's too many ways for both of us to get hurt, and on top of that it's distracting and I need to stay focused. There's not much time before the U.A. Sports festival and I have to make sure my kids are ready for what's coming."

"Ryan…" he scooted closer to her, cupping her face in his hands. "I'm not just gonna let this go, yah know."

"Why not?" She grabbed his wrists, her eyes hardening. "You were able to so easily before." She pulled his hands away and got up. "I'm going to bed. Please leave."

"Seriously? You're never gonna forgive me, are you?" He threw his hands up in the air. "Yeah I'm the one that called it off, but you didn't exactly stop me yah know. You just accepted it and walked away, taking the first plane out of Japan."

"What did you want me to say?!" She threw her hands up. "Did you want me to beg? Plead for you not to break up with me? Would that have pleased your male bravado?"

"No, but you could have shown that you cared. There were times I didn't know what the hell you were thinking because you were completely cut off from me and the rest of the world. Hell I wouldn't have been so inclined to break up with you if you had just opened up a little more rather than continuing to keep secrets."

"Well I'm sorry that my work entails me to keep secrets that I can't share with you." She whirled around, throwing her hands up in the air.

"That's not the secrets I'm talking about and you know it. You were curious enough to go picking at my family background, yet I wasn't allowed to ask you a few questions about your own."

"THAT is entirely different and you know it, Hawks!" Ryan sneered. "I looked into your file for work, not for personal use. And I deleted all the records I copied and kept that information to myself all these years. It's part of the burden of working in covert operations. If you have a loose tongue you're just gonna wind up killed or get other people killed."

"Even the things a boyfriend has a right to know?"

"I was honest with you as much as I could be. You're one of the few people in the world who knows about my family and what they really do. You even went to our house for Christmas one year and met them face to face. I NEVER take boys home! You were different, you were special, and you tossed that all back in my face because I wouldn't tell you about my military background, or my time abroad, or other work related crap?"

"Yes!" Hawks pointed at himself. "You know everything there is to know about me, my life and my job, even when I don't tell you. If we're in a relationship then there needs to be equal footing, give and take, but you hide far too much from me!"

Ryan's back went rod-straight and she scoffed out a laugh.

"I get it now… so that's what this is all really about. You're still poking your nose in where it doesn't belong! How DARE you use my feelings for you as leverage for your government mission?"

Hawks went stiff, realizing he'd fucked up. He lowered his hands to his sides and then tucked them casually in his pockets.

"I did what I had to. If I didn't do it, then the HPSC would have found someone else to, and I'll be damned before I let some silver tongue slick back phony cosy up to you and persuade you to tell them what you won't tell me!"

"Did it ever occur to you that I may not show any interest in whoever the commission sends to loosen my tongue?" She crossed her arms. "I've been put through some of the most extensive training for interrogation and tortue do you really think I'd slip up for some handsome skeeze with empty flattery?"

"Well I-" He cleared his throat as he realized his mistake. "Honestly, I didn't think much about that."

"You're such an idiot." She shook her head and rubbed her face. "Hawks... if I can't bring myself to trust the man I love with my work, then what makes you think I can trust anyone else?"

"Well I…" he trailed off and raised a brow, his smirk coming in slyly. "Did you just say love?"

"Wha…" she shifted uncomfortably and crossed her arms. "No.. yes.. Maybe!" She turned her head away. "Anyway, what makes you think that I'm talking about you? I could just as easily be talking about someone else."

"Well, are you?" He stepped closer to her and she backed away from him. "Are you talking about me? If not I'm gonna need a name and address so I can break their legs."

"That doesn't sound very heroic, Hawks." She circled the couch. Hawks got a little thrill at seeing her prickle up like an irritated feline. "Would you stop trying to corner me? You're freaking me out!"

"I want to hear it again." He backed her towards the bedroom, and Ryan debated on whether to open the door and risk letting him in, or staying caged between him and the door. "Come on, kitten." He bowed his head and looked her in the eyes. "Tell me you love me."

"No…" the rejection came out mediocre as she felt the control of the situation slip away. She had to take a firm handle on it again or things were gonna get dangerous, "Hawks this is stupid, we can't do this. We can't be together, it'll only end badly."

"Only if we let it." He lay his hand over her cheek and stroked his thumb over it. "Fuck what the HSPC wants to hear, I don't care about that right now. The only thing I care about is hearing those three little words again." He leaned his body the rest of the way in.

"You first…" She suddenly demanded, looking him directly in his eyes. He'd never been able to be so straight forward with his feelings. If this didn't get him to back off then she was out of ideas. "I'll tell you how I feel, when you tell me what you're feeling right now when you look at me."

"Right now?" He questioned, and Ryan smirked hearing the discomfort in his voice.

"Yes… right now." She gripped the front of his shirt, challenging him. "If this is just some sick game, or an itch to scratch, then you'd better leave right now because I won't be telling you a damn thing. Now what's it gonna be, bird brain?"

Hawks stilled at her words, his eyes narrowing some as he mulled over what was going on in his heart. He looked into those vivid green eyes, full of so much chaotic emotion and temper, and had to smile.

"I want you, Ryan." He spoke honestly, catching her off guard. "You're the only woman who's ever made me feel the way I'm feeling right now." He bowed his head, nuzzling noses with her. "I don't know if it's love, or lust, or just a sick obsession I have. I just know that when I'm with you I feel like I'm in mid-air experiencing the best kind of high, I don't care about anything else in the world… but when you're gone, I feel like I have weights on my feet; chained down by my responsibilities and status."

"Keigo…" Ryan's eyes went wide and wet as his mouth cruised over hers. Her heart skipped and she felt his fingers stroke intimately over her face and down her neck, over the shoulder and firmly gripped her on her bicep. "Keigo please don-"

"TELL ME…" He whispered the words to her, but Ryan heard it like a thunderous command. Her knees went weak and she bowed against him. His strong arms held her up, and she found herself lost in his hard and serious eyes… and the final trigger unlocked.

Ryan Clark

Hero Name: Hellcat

Quirk: Dynamic Obedience...through unknown triggers and circumstances she can compel someone to obey her commands… but under other circumstances she can be compelled to obey someone else's commands.

"I love you." She sobbed the words out, tears spilling freely down her cheeks as she felt herself submitting to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him firmly. Hawks returned it, with as much gentleness as there was fire. His gentleness completely broke her. "I love you, Keigo."

"SHOW ME…" He whispered to her again, the bedroom door opening and closing with both of them on the opposite side.

~The Next Morning~

Ryan woke up with feathers in her hair. She could hardly process what had happened yesterday, and cursed herself for allowing it to go so far. She slowly turned her head, Saw Hawks was still sound asleep, his face half buried in pillows, and his arm and leg slung over her.

"My father is gonna be pissed." She whispered and slowly pulled herself away from him. She heard his grunt of complaint and paused to glance back at him. His eyes slowly blinked open and he gave her a sleepy smile.

"Morning…" he reached up and tugged on one of the feathers in her hair pulling it free. "Guess I got a little carried away."

"A little…" Despite herself she returned the smile. "Sorry, I gotta get up and dressed so I can get to class on time."

"Yeah, I gotta get ready to go back into work." He rolls onto his side and propped his face up watching her slide out from under the cover to find clothes. "Though we could both call-in sick… claim it was food poisoning from dinner last night."

"This is precisely what I meant by distracting." She laughed and eyed herself in the mirror so she could pluck the rest of the feathers out. "I told you, I've got kids I need to train for the Sports Fest."

"You're really taking this seriously…" he sat upright, letting his gaze follow her around the room.

"Well it's important… The Sports Fest is the first time those guys will be witnessed by pros and I want them to make a good impression and get sponsored." She lay the clothes out she was gonna wear and made her way to the bathroom to jump in the shower and brush her teeth. Hawks yanked on his pants and followed her in leaning casually on the jamb.

"Why do I get the feeling it's more than that?"

"That's because it is…" She adjusted the water temperature and slid under the hot spray. "Though I'm not really supposed to talk about it."

"So what else is new?" Hawks scowled at first, but then smirked when she let out a little squeal. The remaining feathers in her hair started to move and tickle along her neck and back and she quickly snagged them stopping their torturous fluttering.

"Stop it! Damn it, fine. I'll tell you but will you stop being such a bully and actually listen to me before you judge?"

"I think I can do that." Hawks shifted his position as he let the feathers slip back into place. He grabbed one, placing his lips on it. He could still smell her perfume on them and it made his wings flutter. "So, what's motivating you?"

"You have to keep this a secret, okay?" She peeked her head out eyeing him coolly. "I mean it, you're not to tell anyone or I could lose my job."

"Cross my heart." he made an X over his heart, and raised a brow when Ryan started to fidget. "Is it really that big of a secret?"

"No… but it could very well mean the difference between me making this move to Japan permanent or not." She closed the curtain and hugged herself. "If everything goes the way I want, then I could become a permanent member of the U.A. Staff."

"Whoa, wait a minute, Seriously?" Hawks grinned. "They're offering you a full-time position?"

"It's not set in stone yet, Hawks, so don't get too excited." She turned off the water and pulled the towel around her stepping out. "I made a bet with Eraserhead."

"What kind of bet?"

"I'm not giving you the details, but basically if I win the bet then Aizawa is going to offer up his position to me, and he's gonna take over my position as a substitute."

Hawks whistled and twirled the stray feather in his fingers.

"What if you lose?"

"Then I have to quit." She gripped the towel tighter around her waist. "Aizawa has been determined to keep my employment with U.A. temporary and he's doing everything he can to keep that temporary as short as possible."

"Why?" He moved so she could walk past him, but he stayed close. "From what I saw you're a great teacher, and the kids really seem to be learning a lot from you."

"He's held a grudge against me since that incident in Tokyo. He doesn't trust me, and he's really protective of those kids. I'm hoping that the Sports Festival will show him just how serious I am about this job." She pulled out the case with her newly designed Hero Costume in it. She opened it up and pulled up the black camo shirt rubbing the material in between her fingers.

"This job really means a lot to you, doesn't it?" He lay a hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah…" She laughed a little. "It's funny, when Nezu first offered it to me I couldn't wait to get it over and done with… but now?"

"Now?" He took her other shoulder and gave them a firm rub, encouraging her to keep talking.

"Now… I feel like I've gotten just a little taste of true freedom." She turned around to face him, the smile on her face bright and genuine. "I'm not ready to let it go."

"Then don't." he bent his head down and lay his lips over hers. "If it's what you want, then go for it. Don't let anything or anyone stand in your way of what you really want, Ryan."

"Yeah, I won't…" Her lips slowly curved. "Do you know what else I really want?"

"Mmm, what?" he cupped her face in his hands. "Tell me."

"I want…" she brushed her lips on his and let the towel waited until his eyes dipped down before gently pushing him back at arms length. She sent him a teasing smile. "...to get dressed."

"Now that's just cruel…" He tried stepping towards her again but she poked a finger in his chest pushing him back again.

"No… that's practical." She tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Besides… you know where you can find me if you'd like to reminisce again."

"Yeah…I do." He summoned the remainder of his feathers to him, a few carrying him the last of his clothes. With immense regret he finished getting dressed, watching her strap on her hero gear. She had a way of making combat boots, and cargo pants look sexy. "I really do."

~Later at U.A. High School~

Ryan had modeled her hero costume after the image of her father who she considered to be among the top tier heroes of the world. The man had a plethora of medals, ribbons, and had spent the majority of his life serving their country and training the new generation of heroes. Her childhood had been grueling with its daily routine of school, combat, and chores… but it had also been the happiest days of her life.

By the time she'd received her quirk, she'd learned what most didn't learn until their first few years in service. She learned to, crawl, walk, and run by the age of one, learned to ride, swim, and climb by the age of two, and could run the entire boot camp obstacle course in under two minutes by the time she was three. When she turned four, however, her training took a dramatic 180.

Everyone in her family had some form of "command" quirk, but the conditions for hers were unique and unlike anything they'd seen before. Once her father had become aware of the conditions of her quirk he immediately changed course. He knew that were she put into the wrong situation she could be compelled, nay, forced to do solicitous things, and no daughter of his was going to be part of such scandal and humiliation. He made absolutely sure that she grew up tough, independent, and knew precisely what her self-worth was. No man would ever take advantage of his baby girl.

Which was probably why he'd been so furious when she'd come home heartbroken after receiving Hawks' rejection. He'd lectured her for hours, before finally soothing the pain away with kind words, and half-serious death threats aimed at Hawks. From that point on he made her swear that she wouldn't put herself into that kind of situation again, and would always remember that her self-worth was more important than the affections of any man.

"My money is on you, kid." He'd always told her, being the kind of man who enjoyed the occasional sports bet, and poker game. The phrase was his way of telling her that he was proud of her, and showed confidence in her abilities… but it also reminded her of what he expected from her.

"I'm sorry, pop." She rubbed a thumb over the picture of him on her phone. The tall and strapping man smiling into camera; her mother and younger sister tucked under his burly arms. "I did my best to keep my feelings to myself… but Keigo's the only one who's ever been stubborn enough to get past the armor you helped me build."

A fresh tear slipped down her cheek and she quickly brushed it away, lifting her chin up. She would NOT walk into class with a sour expression. Whatever was happening between her and Hawks had nothing to do with her classroom. She would NOT let it distract her any further.

"Everyone stand!" Iida shouted as she entered the room. "BOW!" The class all bowed their heads in respect, and Ryan felt the command of the room instantly shift in her direction. It made her smile.

"You may be seated." She slapped her folder on the podium and stood hipshot so the class could take a good long look at her in the new gear. The looks of admiration and wonder made all the flutters and doubt from last night and this morning fly away, and she stood tall and proud. "Before I excuse you all to continue your individual training, I'd like to commend those who joined me for the extra curricular class yesterday. All Might and I will once again be in the gymnasium all day and everyone is more than welcome to join us again."

She flipped open the folder, took a quick attendance, and then dismissed the class. Midoriya lingered behind, waiting for the majority of the class to disperse before approaching her.

"Miss Ryan!" He fidgeted a little when she turned her eyes on him. "I wanna thank you for all your help, and for introducing me to Shinsou."

"You're welcome." She crossed her arms, her smile gentle but coy. "I take it you hit it off?"

"Oh yeah, he's great. The two of us didn't realize we had so much in common! We're planning on training together again today." He bounced excitedly.

"I'm glad to hear it, Midoriya. The two of you are very well suited and you can learn a lot from each other in terms of strengths and defenses." She tapped his had. "Though remember, the Sports Festival is an individual competition in the end. It's good to be friendly… but don't give him too much information. The more the two of your know about each other, the harder it'll be to compete against one another. Your goal is still to win, right?"

"Yes!" Midoriya's eyes went serious. "I made a promise to All-err-Always do my best!" He quickly corrected, nearly giving away his promise with All Might to strive to win and announce to the world "I AM HERE".

"That's the spirit…" Ryan grinned, and ruffled his hair, then tilted his head up so he looked her in the eyes. "My money's on you, kid."

"Eh?" Midoriya blinked in confusion and had Ryan laughing and shaking her head.

"Never mind… just get moving." She gave him a little push towards the door. Once gone she locked the door to the classroom and gave a hefty sigh. She pulled her phone out of her pocket, turning it back on. She eyed the picture of her father, and winced as she forced herself to call him.

It rang once… twice… and on the third ring she closed her eyes as the familiar sound of her father's voice spoke into her ear.

"Hey Wild Cat! Bout time you called."

"Hey pop…" she smiled affectionately and held the phone closer. "Sorry, I've been busy."

"You should never be too busy to call home. Your ma, she worries, and then nags me to death when you don't check in. It's damn irritating." He complained and made her laugh.

"Alright, I'll be sure to check in more often then." She sighed softly and bit her lip. "Hey Pop?"

"I don't like that tone…" his voice went gruff and put her on edge. "What happened?"

"I'm… seeing Hawks again."

There was a long moment of dreaded silence, before Ryan heard him speak again in a low deep tone.

"What for?"

"It just… happened… and before you say anything Dad I… I really think I need to tell him the truth about my quirk." She gripped the phone in her hand. "He's the only one who's affecting me, and if he was more aware of it maybe he'd finally back off and leave me alone."

"Do you honestly think if someone like him, in his line of work, knew the truth about your quirk that they'd just leave you alone? Now don't let this feather brain buffoon turn you into a sobbing and simpering priss. You show him and any other man that YOU are in charge, YOU are the boss. If you truly want your relationship with him to work then take the reigns, Hellcat. You're the Alpha. ALWAYS!"

"Yes sir…" Ryan muttered.

"I can't hear you, soldier!"

"SIR YES SIR!" She shouted into the phone with a huff, but then smiled when her father laughed.

"That's more like it. My money's on you, kid. Do me proud." He hung up and Ryan blew out a long breath looking down at her phone.

"You never change, old man." She shook her head smiling and pocketed her phone. "And you call mama the nag."

~Ask Briry~

Bri: Little by little the circumstances of Ryan's quirk and why she keeps them secret are coming to light. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, sorry I've been posting so few and far between. I blame adulting.

Next Chapter: Let the Festivities Begin!