Sorry this chapter got delayed - I needed to finish two stories for Hetalia's hetabang first. No warnings for this chapter. Just Hawks and Tokoyami FINALLY getting to talk! Reviews are always appreciated 3

Chapter 10: The Hawk and the Crow

Hawks gets all of two minutes to contemplate his life choices alone before the door to his cell opens again. When he sees Shigaraki and Mr. Compress he prepares himself for more questions or gloating. Instead, Mr. Compress tosses a marble to him. "Catch."

Luckily, Hawks' reflexes haven't completely deserted him yet; he reaches out without thinking and the marble lands smoothly in his hand. He holds it up to the light, trying to make out the details of the black shape inside. "What's–"

"A roommate," says Shigaraki. Mr. Compress snaps his fingers, and Hawks finds himself buckling under the sudden warm weight. Tokoyami looks just as bewildered to find himself in Hawks' arms.

"We're not running a hotel, so accommodations are scarce," Shigaraki continues. "Don't bother trying to escape. We'll be watching. Our chat today was only the beginning."

Mr. Compress tips his hat and bows, then follows Shigaraki into the hall. The door slams shut. Hawks' gaze slowly slides from the door to Tokoyami. He isn't sure how to proceed from here. Whether this development is a blessing or a curse, it's certainly not helping his guilty conscience.

Tokoyami recovers first and scrambles off Hawks, moving to the far end of the cot. "Hawks! You're here, you really came! But what happened? You're hurt. I'm sorry, this is all my fault. I should have been more vigilant, I shouldn't have let them–"

"Whoa, whoa, slow down!" says Hawks. "If there is one thing I can guarantee in this nightmare, it's that none of it is your fault." It's mine.

Tokoyami opens his beak to protest, but Hawks holds up a hand. "Neither of us are in the shape to argue right now, so just let me win this one."

"I…yes, of course," Tokoyami replies. His shoulders remain tense, still ready to fight and likely reeling from pain.

Hawks runs a hand through his hair – it's dirty, which means his usual, artfully windswept cowlicks are just hanging in his face. "Alright. Okay. First, we're going to take care of your injuries. That creepy doctor left some supplies in here last time he visited, I think."

He walks over to the table. He's both pleased and disturbed to find a fresh water bottle and a first aid kit sitting on top of Tokoyami's writing. The League was planning for this.

When he turns back to Tokoyami with the supplies in hand, the teen holds his left hand tight to his chest and backs away. "Please don't. I don't think…I can't…"

"I'm not going to touch your fingers, I promise. I won't touch you at all, if you don't want me to," Hawks says gently. He sits at the head of the cot and sets the supplies between them. Tokoyami makes no move to reach for them. Hawks doesn't push it. Eraserhead once accused Hawks of not sticking around to help victims after a fight was over. While he can't deny there's some truth to that, he's attended enough commission-approved trainings on trauma to understand the basics.

"How about we look at my injuries first?" Hawks offers. He points to the bandaged wound on his side. "I'm not going to poke this one since the doc patched it up. He probably stitched his initials into it or something. Oh, hey! Maybe we should take the bandage off. We could guess his name."

Tokoyami doesn't smile. Instead he bows forward until his beak brushes against the blanket. "I'm sorry. If it weren't for my foolishness, you would never have endured such an injury."

"I thought we agreed this isn't the time to talk about blame? Because if we're going to trade apologies, mine is going to have to be a lot longer," says Hawks.

Tokoyami glances up, the rest of his body still bowed. "You? Why?"

"In the spirit of taking my own advice, I'll tell you later." The thick knot of guilt twists in his gut. He turns his back to Tokoyami and stretches the shabby stubs of his wings as much as he dares. "Take a look at those for me. I can't see much of them when they're this small."

Tokoyami shuffles closer. "They're…patchy. And you have scabs. I've never seen that before, even when you use most of your feathers. What happened?"

"Bastards plucked me like a chicken," Hawks replies. He hesitates before his next question, a little afraid to hear the answer. "They're healing though, right?"

"Yes, I think so. I can see a few pin feathers," says Tokoyami.

Hawks sags with relief. "Thank goodness. I can handle getting stabbed, but my wings…I mean, can you imagine how much photoshopping my PR department will need to do if I end up with bald spots? Then again, I guess the only cover I'll be gracing now is Japan's Most Wanted."

"Spinner said something along those lines. What happened? Our captors are not exactly forthcoming on current events," says Tokoyami.

Hawks slowly turns to face him. From what he read in Tokoyami's essays and what he saw today, the teen is nearing the end of his rope. If Hawks isn't careful, he could break down entirely. He deserves the truth, but what Tokoyami really needs now is hope. Hawks is a firm believer in the healing power of little white fibs – and, in special circumstances like this one, complete, bald-faced lies.

"Let me take a look at your injuries, and I'll tell you," he says. "Can I touch you?"

Tokoyami nods. "Yes. I trust you."

The words are a barbed arrow through Hawks' heart. He steels himself against them and places a gentle hand on Tokoyami's arm. His skin feels like ice, and he can see goosebumps raised across Tokoyami's skin. "First thing's first, we've got to warm you up."

Hawks pulls the blanket out from under their legs and wraps it around Tokoyami's shoulders. Tokoyami immediately protests, "I can't take it all for myself. You must be cold as well."

"I wasn't asking," says Hawks. He pushes the blanket back just enough to see the cigarette burn on Tokoyami's shoulder. It's pink and raised, with a small blister forming in the middle. The antiseptic and bandages aren't going to do much for it, but Hawks can at least clean out the streaks of ash. He tears off a strip of gauze and folds it over, then soaks it with water from the bottle. "This might sting a little."

"I doubt it will be worse than what I've already experienced," Tokoyami replies. He leans back against the wall and shuts his eyes.

"Pain is pain. Comparing one to the other doesn't change how much it sucks," says Hawks. He dabs the gauze against the burn. Tokoyami stiffens and squeezes his knee with his good hand. Hawks is gentle but relentless. An infected wound could lead to a slow and agonizing death in a place like this.

"When's the last time you ate?" Hawks asks as he works.

"I don't know. Mr. Compress's quirk makes it hard to keep track of time," says Tokoyami.

Hawks finishes dabbing at the wound and sits back. "Well, if the dates on your essays are accurate and my own sense of time hasn't gone sideways, it's November 15th."

Tokoyami's eyes fly open. "My essays? You read them?"

"Sorry," says Hawks. "I was trying to figure out what happened to you."

"That's alright. I wanted someone to read them, someone other than Dabi. Sometimes I even hoped it would be you. I wanted to document my captivity for the heroes, should I ever find a way to escape or send a message."

"It was a good idea," says Hawks.

"It was a half-formed one," Tokoyami replies. "I kept thinking I could find a way to slip pages outside with the trash. It was foolish; no one would have found them in the garbage but rats. At the very least, I thought…if I died, someone might find them here and tell my family how it happened. That I fought back for as long as I could."

"That's a noble goal, and it worked. Your descriptions gave me an idea of what was really going on here," says Hawks.

"I'm pleased my musings were of use," Tokoyami replies. He pushes himself off the wall, grunting with apparent effort. "I should continue. It's important to document recent events while they are still fresh. If you escape, you could take them and–"

Hawks cuts him off. "Absolutely not. You can't think I'd leave you behind now. I promised I wouldn't. Although now that I think about it, I made that promise to Toga. It's the thought that counts, right?"

Tokoyami snorts. "Of course. I would expect nothing less from you, Hawks."

"You can always count on me!" Hawks puts on a grin, and though it falls short of his eyes Tokoyami doesn't notice. He's still attempting to inch his way toward the paper on the table. Hawks throws out an arm to stop him. "If we're getting out of here then I'm going to need you at your best. I know how important that essay is, but we've got to get you all patched up first. Where else are you hurt?"

"Bruises, mostly, and a few minor burns," Tokoyami admits. He pulls the blanket aside so that Hawks can see the rainbow of pinks, purples, and yellows decorating his torso.

Hawks lets out a low whistle. "You look like you've had a hell of a time."

"Thanks," Tokoyami says dryly.

"Can I make sure nothing's broken?" Hawks asks.

Tokoyami leans back against the wall. "As you wish. I do not believe anything is broken. I cracked a rib once during a simulation at school, and this doesn't feel anything like it."

"Oh? I don't remember that story," Hawks says. He splays his hands over Tokoyami's chest and gently prods at the bruises.

Tokoyami hisses. "It is not nearly as exciting as it sounds. I failed to dodge a punch from Satou when we were sparring."

"He's got the sugar quirk, right?" says Hawks.

Tokoyami nods. "It increases his strength, enough that he sent me flying across the room and into Kouda. Kouda's soul is gentle, but his body is solid muscle and I landed awkwardly. He and Satou insisted on treating me like an invalid for days, even though Recovery girl fixed my rib in less than an hour."

Hawks chuckles. "It's too bad we don't have her around now. The good news is that nothing feels broken. Anything else we should look at?"

Tokoyami goes quiet. Hawks sighs and prompts him again. "I just want to make sure you're as safe and healthy as we can manage. There's nothing to be embarrassed about."

"It's not that. Well, it's partially that. There's really nothing you can do," Tokoyami says. He tilts his face up and to the side, displaying a thin crack along his beak that begins with a chip in the upper mandible.

"Shit. Is that…how bad is that? I've got to be honest, I'm a terrible bird. I don't know anything about beaks," says Hawks.

Tokoyami shrugs. "It's not so different from feathers or nails. They're all made of keratin. It bled a lot, but it should grow out. I'm not even sure the blood was mine."

Hawks raises an eyebrow. "That sounds like a story."

"Shigaraki threatened to pull out my teeth. He failed to account for the strength of my beak. Toga tried using a knife to pry it open. She slipped and cut me, so I…bit her. Not with my teeth, just the mandibles. It wasn't very heroic."

"Are you kidding? That's why her arm was all bandaged up? That's badass!" Hawks exclaims. "You're telling me you've had a close-range weapon this entire time, and I never trained you to use it?"

"I had blood in my mouth, Hawks. It was disgusting."

"Just think of the potential, though!" Hawks continues. "You could peck people's eyes out!"

"That's vulgar and beneath the standards of a hero," Tokoyami retorts.

"I'm not saying you should actually do it. I'm just saying knowing it's an option is threat enough. No petty villain is going to give you shit when you say you're going to eat their eyes and have the power to actually do it," says Hawks.

Tokoyami shakes his head. "Even now you are incorrigible. It is, admittedly, refreshing."

"You have no idea," Hawks says with a grin – a real one this time. "I once annoyed a villain into surrendering. It was probably the highlight of my career."

"I don't think that will work this time," says Tokoyami. "Half the League could be classified as chronic annoyances, and Shigaraki seems to trust them nonetheless."

Hawks has to concede the point. He peers at the crack in Tokoyami's beak. It's still raw, with a bit of dried blood down the middle. "Are you sure this is going to be alright? I could wash it, or something."

"Thank you, but no. It will grow out in a few weeks unless the tissue beneath it is damaged," says Tokoyami.

"Alright," says Hawks. He sits back, gauze and antiseptic still in his hands. "You know, I don't recall that story from your essays."

Tokoyami picks at the edge of the blanket. "There's something I must confess. The essays…they are not a completely accurate account of my time here."

"I kind of figured that. I noticed a couple of things that didn't match what you've told me before about your family and friends. It was the right thing to do. It kept the League from getting into your head."

"That's not what I meant," Tokoyami says. "I…I did attempt to include some misinformation for my captors, but there were things that happened that I am…not proud of. Things I did not want to leave for any hero to find. I claimed to have no memory of certain times, when in fact those are the moments that occupy my thoughts the most. I'm sorry, I should have written them down. I will. It is imperativethat someone knows of my failures, because that is where the greatest danger lies."

Hawks' smile falters into something sadder, more serious. "I know that, too."

Tokoyami looks up, surprised. "You do? Was I so obvious?"

Hawks shakes his head. "No. Honestly, you've got one hell of a poker face – and it's not just because of the beak. But I know people, and people don't survive this kind of thing without breaking a little. It's okay."

"It's not," Tokoyami snaps. The force of the response seems to tire him, and he hunches over beneath the blanket. "It's really not."

Hawks sighs. "Yeah, you're right. There's not a damn thing about this situation that's okay, and you shouldn't have to pretend otherwise. I wish we could both be as broken as we feel, but the League is watching us. We can't forget that. Those vultures will exploit every little crack they see, so we've got to pretend anyway," says Hawks.

With obvious effort, Tokoyami straightens his spine. "You're right. It's unbefitting of me as a hero to do anything less. Although…" He slumps again. "I don't think that's what I am anymore."

"Because you got kidnapped? That happens all the time. It's practically a rite of passage," says Hawks. He tries to keep up his smile; if Tokoyami has to pretend, than so does he. "I've gotten captured twice, not including the present circumstances. The first time I was about your age, and the second time there was this really attractive – you know what? That story involves nudity and poor life choices, so I'll save it for when you're old enough to drink too much sake with me."

Even that doesn't break through Tokoyami's dour mood. "It's not that, either. I do regret that I was taken. It feels like a weakness and a failure on my part. However, I have seen heroes come back from such experiences stronger than ever before. I wouldn't dare to look down on them. What I've done is far worse."

Hawks sighs. "Look, I have done some shitty things in my time as a hero. Sometimes because I had no other choice, sometimes because I made mistakes. Sometimes both. Whatever it is you've done, I've done worse. Your teachers have done worse. Fucking All Might has probably done worse. You can tell me if you want, I'd appreciate any information you've got on the League. But if you want to add to your very own collection of deep dark hero secrets, I have absolutely no room to judge."

"You're not becoming a villain! I am, just like everyone said I would!" Tokoyami shouts. Hawks sees a shadow dart over Tokoyami's skin, just like it did when the League was torturing him. It's gone just as fast, and Tokoyami refuses to look at him. "I told them things, things about All Might and U.A. I lied in those essays because I couldn't stand the thought of anyone knowing my treachery. But you have the right to know. It's my fault you're here, and you can't tell me not to blame myself this time."

"Oh, Tsukuyomi…" Hawks whispers. He reaches out carefully, giving Tokoyami plenty of time to move away before setting his hand on his shoulder. "You gave them information because you were tortured. That doesn't make you a villain. That makes you human."

Tokoyami shakes his head, and Hawks can feel him tremble beneath his hand. "You don't understand. I didn't do it because they hurt me. I did it because I was angry."

"Angry?" Hawks repeats softly.

"Furious," Tokoyami admits. "The world deserves to know the truth. I don't want anyone else to be hurt because I couldn't control my emotions. I just – I need to tell you. Just in case I-"

"Forget," Hawks finishes, leaving no room for any other option. "In case you forget and need my help to get the details right." Not that anyone will trust me now.

Tokoyami doesn't look convinced, but he nods and takes a deep breath. "Is there any paper left? It will be easier if I write it. Then neither of us have to remember."