As always, thank you for all the comments! I think we're about halfway through the story at this point. This chapter is a little gentler and offers another glimpse into the world outside. There's even a bit of music at the end - though probably not what you're expecting. Music inspires a lot of my writing, so I created a playlist on Youtube. You'll have to check out the Ao3 version for the link, since Fanfiction doesn't allow hyperlinks.

Chapter 14: Broadcasts

Over the next week Hawks and Tokoyami see more of the doctor than anyone else. They even manage to get a name out of him: Dr. Daruma Ujiko. Given the League's track record on names Hawks doubts it's real, but Hawks isn't in any position to call him out on it, not with Keigo echoing in his head.

At least the doctor isn't lying about his medical skills. The wound in Hawks' side is healing well and his feathers are growing back. He's surprised no one plucks them again. Once his primaries are fully grown, he has every intention of escaping with Tokoyami. The League must know that, which means they have some other contingency plan. Hawks doesn't like it. There are already too many unknowns for him to feel confident in an escape plan. He doesn't know the full layout of the complex, its true location, if there are any nomu in the building, or where to go once they get out. He makes plans anyway, sharing ideas with Tokoyami when they rest or spar so the League can't hear or read their lips.

Dr. Ujiko takes Hawks' blood every day, and the television continues to flicker to life and taunt them with clips of Toga as Hawks. She wreaks havoc everywhere she appears and escapes practically untouched by the heroes. Her high-end nomu incapacitates or kills anyone who manages to get close, and Toga calls on the warping quirk every time it looks like the heroes will win.

In between footage of the attacks, Shigaraki inundates them with clips of heroes condemning Hawks' apparent betrayal and the public calling for his head. He's not surprised when the Public Safety Commission makes a brief statement denouncing him and disassociating themselves from his agency. Whether they actually believe he's a traitor or not doesn't matter. They can't afford to acknowledge any part in this, and they told him from the beginning that they wouldn't waste their resources on a dead man if he was captured. They do promise to make use of their information on the League (collected by Hawks) and detailed knowledge of the winged villain (taken from Hawks) to put a stop to the attacks. Knowing that doesn't do much to ease the sour taste in Hawks' mouth.

The media labels Hawks a monster, and the number of civilians killed or seriously injured in the League's attacks keeps rising. The entire country is scared, and rightly so. The heroes have only been able to limit the damage and perform rescues in the aftermath. They curse Hawks' name, and some reporters begin to speculate out loud about the possibility of other spies in the heroes' ranks. Hero society may not be toppling just yet, but it has been dealt a significant blow.

There are no mentions of Tokoyami's disappearance or death, nor his connection with Hawks. Someone at U.A. probably pulled some strings to keep that out of the media's hands. It's a kindness to the Tokoyami family, not watching the world drag their dead son through the mud. But for the boy himself, who feels abandoned by those he trusted, the silence is devastating.

There is, however, some good news accompanying the daily broadcasts. In order to taunt their captives with the heroes' failure, the League must also allow them to hear about the people who were saved. Fat Gum's statement condemning Hawks as a traitor also mentions that both Suneater and Red Riot survived their encounter with the nomu, albeit with serious injuries. The mother of the toddler saved by the two young heroes shares her heartfelt thanks and sincere wishes for their speedy recovery, and encourages the public to put their trust in the heroes who are so clearly putting their lives on the line to take down one of their own.

Several press conferences have Endeavor at the helm, finally confirming Hawks' belief in his survival. Endeavor has fresh scars on his arms (and likely elsewhere) from his first battle with Toga and the nomu, and the circles under his eyes become more apparent with every interview. He tries his best to assuage the public's fear, his tone stiff and determined. For the most part he dodges questions about Hawks, especially any that mention their past work together. However, his answers are clear enough in his expression. His mouth is set in a thin line, his eyebrows are drawn together, and the podium smokes under his hand. Hawks can't blame Toga for that. He should have found a way to tell Endeavor the truth about his assignment sooner. If - when they manage to escape the League's clutches, they certainly can't go to Endeavor for help. Hawks will be cremated on sight, and Tokoyami with him.

Miruko is only slightly more positive regarding her one-time colleague. And by that Hawks means she curses so foully and threatens such graphic violence that the news has to censor her whenever she's interviewed. After a particularly heinous rant that probably has Dabi taking notes, Tokoyami sets his hand on Hawks' shoulder.

"She's talking about Toga, not you. You know she doesn't mean it," he says.

"No, no, she absolutely does. She'd mean it especially if she knew what really happened. But frankly, if you haven't been called a 'two-faced motherfucking shit stain' by Miruko when she's pissed, you were never really friends with her to begin with," Hawks replies. He cracks a smile. "Thanks for checking in, though."

"Her approval ratings are going to drop," Tokoyami says. It's easier for them to focus on the mundane aspects of all this, rather than the damage that's been dealt to them or their friends. It keeps their spirits up – at least, that's what Hawks tells himself each time he avoids another opportunity to tell Tokoyami the full truth of his involvement with the League of Villains.

"Actually, they might go up. She's under suspicion since she and I worked together so many times. The more she threatens my genitals the less it seems like she has anything to do with the attacks," says Hawks. "At this rate, she might even gain a rank or two. Endeavor has been taking down more criminals than ever, but he's not making the best impression as a speaker. He just doesn't have All Might's popularity or reassuring personality. Obviously I'm out, and Best Jeanist is…missing. That leaves Edgeshot and Miruko. She might take a hit from her association with me, but at the very least she'll stay in the top ten."

"As if that matters," Tokoyami mutters darkly.

Hawks sighs. In the end, it's impossible to truly ignore the situation. The tension mounts every time the television turns on or the door to their room opens. At Dr. Ujiko's insistence, they've been given heat, food, water, and clean clothes – although Tokoyami had to help Hawks rip a hole in the back of his t-shirt to make room for the wings. None of it is truly comforting. The doctor isn't caring for them out of the kindness of his heart. Hawks is certain that Ujiko's delight with their improving health is going to end about as well as a pig raised for slaughter.

Later that day, as the broadcaster goes on about all the attacks, the fear permeating the country, and the reactions of the pro heroes, Hawks notices Tokoyami's picture pop up on the screen. He nudges the teen, who was napping beneath the slight shade of his outstretched wing. "Look."

"There is some good news today," says the reporter. "The villain known as the Mutant Killer has finally been arrested. He is believed to be responsible for several high-profile murders, most recently including grocery store owner Ito Asami and high school student Tokoyami Fumikage."

Tokoyami's picture sits across the screen from a woman with bat-like features: massive ears and eyes, an upturned nose, and an elongated jaw. In between them is a photo of an average, middle-aged man. Whereas Tokoyami and Ito probably garnered the attention and even disgust of strangers due to their appearances, the real monster is someone no one would have looked at twice.

The video switches to a live feed of Gang Orca and the police arresting the man. The killer's neutral expression is gone, replaced by an ugly, twisted sort of hatred. He struggles against Gang Orca's grip and spews anti-mutant slurs at the press. Suddenly, a grey strip of fabric wraps around the man's mouth and pulls him away from the cameras. Gang Orca glances to the side, and there stands Eraserhead, tugging on his capture scarf a touch more violently than necessary.

"Don't give him a platform for this idiocy. We don't want another Stain," Eraserhead drawls.

Gang Orca nods and shoves his captive into the waiting police car. Eraserhead yanks his scarf back into place as the door slams closed. The press surge forward around the two heroes, shouting questions.

"I'll leave the rest to you," Eraserhead says. He waves to Gang Orca, then ducks out of frame.

"That stubborn bastard!" Hawks laughs.

Tokoyami looks at him sideways, an eyebrow raised. "I fail to see how the struggles of a bigoted murderer are cause for amusement, particularly when this is the man blamed for my own demise."

"Not the killer. Eraserhead." Hawks turns to Tokoyami and smiles. "He never stopped looking for you."

Tokoyami's eyes widen. "For me?"

"Of course. He wasn't supposed to be on that case, and yet here he is helping make the arrest. He came to me in person while you were still considered missing, asking if I was harboring you as a runaway or something," Hawks says. "The moment they attributed your death to the Mutant Killer, I bet he dropped everything to get on the case."

"You see, Fumi? People still care. I told you so!" Dark Shadow crows from beneath the relative safety of Tokoyami's Stain-themed t-shirt. (Hawks still isn't sure if that's Spinner's idea of indoctrination or a joke.)

"You're right. I should never have doubted Mr. Aizawa, not after all he did to protect us during the other attacks. He was looking for us after all, just…" Tokoyami's face falls. "Just in the wrong place. I suppose he'll stop now that I've been 'avenged.' My parents will sleep easier, too. Everyone can move on."

"Hey, that's not-"

"…Hawks!"

Hawks should be accustomed to people on the news shouting his name with such revulsion, but he still jumps as if he's been called. The reporters are interviewing civilians now, and there's a couple, neither with obvious mutations, offering their opinion.

"Yeah, I agree," says the man. "What that guy did was awful, and I'm glad he's off the streets, but it really is hard to trust people with mutant quirks. There've been studies on mutant instincts, violence, and bestiality. The government wants to cover it up, but after all the stuff with Hawks they can't keep lying to us. You never know when they might go savage, or if they're all in on these new attacks together."

This must be why Shigaraki is forcing them to watch this particular broadcast. The killer may have been arrested, but Hawks' name is cited by many anti-mutant speakers. It's only going to lead to more hate crimes and discrimination. Hawks never expected the consequences of framing the Mutant Killer to be this far-reaching.

He was trained to believe that everything he did at the Commission's behest was for the greater good. He's held onto that through national and personal tragedies, spoken excitedly about a better future with Miruko and Endeavor (well, he spoke at Endeavor), and accepted it as justification from his handlers when they gave him tasks deemed 'distasteful but necessary.' He still hopes that the world can be better, that the heroes will rally even if they rally against him. Which brings up a question Hawks has been asking himself for years – is there a place for him in a peaceful future?

"You ever thought about staying dead?" Hawks asks aloud, still staring at the television.

Tokoyami jerks his head up. "What?"

"Not actually dead. I mean fake dead, like you are now."

"And stay with the League?" Tokoyami asks warily.

"Of course not! I mean we get out of here and then keep flying." He gestures to the television. "Why go back to all of this nonsense? We'll find somewhere to land where no one knows or cares who we are."

"We'd be caught immediately. Neither of us are particularly good at blending in," says Tokoyami.

Hawks shrugs. "You'd be surprised what people overlook. Give the news some time to die down and people will forget. They don't go looking for dead men. I'll lose my feathers for a while, and you could wear a mask or something. We'll keep moving. Start over in a new country."

Tokoyami leans back against the cot and shuts his eyes, apparently satisfied to listen to Hawks daydream. "And where is that?"

"A nice little island chain, maybe. We could fly between them, feel the ocean in our feathers. Ever heard of the Cook Islands?"

"No."

"They're right by New Zealand and Australia. Crystal clear water, mountains, palm trees…we could breathe easy out there. Dark Shadow would like it, too. It gets really misty on the mountains, and there are no big cities to fill the sky with light once it gets dark. We could watch the stars."

"Sounds like you've really thought this through." Tokoyami replies. "And I suppose no one needs money in this picturesque afterlife of yours?"

"Oh, don't worry about that. I've got an offshore account under a name even the Commission doesn't know about. Well, I'm like 95% sure they don't know about it. I've been funneling money into it for years, a little at a time. It's not a lot and to be honest I never accounted for another person, but it would get us by for a year or two."

Tokoyami opens his eyes and sits up. "Wait. You're serious."

Hawks frowns. "Yeah. You thought I was joking?"

"Of course I did!" Tokoyami exclaims. "Who the hell actually fakes their own death so they can retire to a private island?"

"They're not private, there's a lot of indigenous people and tourists who-"

"That's not what I'm talking about! What about your family, your friends, your fans? What happens to all the people you save?" Tokoyami asks.

"I don't have a family – not one that would miss me, anyway," Hawks says casually, wishing it didn't sting after all these years. "As for the people, some other hero will save them. They don't need me. They might even be better off."

"That's not true," Tokoyami insists. "There are plenty of people here who need you, who care about you."

"Like who?" says Hawks.

"Like me!" Tokoyami shouts. "And what about Miruko? You said she was your friend."

Hawks thinks of the numerous interviews where the rabbit hero has sworn to kill him herself, and the fury twisting her smile into something ugly. "Friendship among pros is a funny thing. It only lasts as long as you're useful to each other."

"You don't really believe that," says Tokoyami.

"Don't be naïve. You can't tell me you expect to be best friends forever with all your classmates," Hawks replies.

"I know things will be different once we graduate, but I believe we will continue to call each other friends. We will always care for one another," Tokoyami says.

"Yeah? Then where are they now?" Tokoyami's eyes go wide with hurt, and Hawks regrets the words before they even finish leaving his mouth. "Shit, I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"

"You're right," Tokoyami says quietly.

"No. I was being stupid, pushing my own experiences on you. I'm just…tired," Hawks finishes lamely.

Tokoyami's expression hardens and his fists clench. "That doesn't change the truth. But at least my friends didn't come here just to make everything worse."

That strikes Hawks deeper than anything said on the news, cold and sharp in its honesty. Hawks looks away. "Okay, I deserved that one."

Tokoyami opens his beak to reply, then shakes his head and turns away. He curls in on himself and pulls the blanket around his shoulders, facing the wall. "I think I'll rest a while longer. I hear that's what dead men do."

"Tsukuyomi…" Hawks reaches for him, but Dark Shadow hisses in warning, his eyes glowing from the blanket.

"Go away," the quirk demands. "We don't need you."

Hawks sighs and steps away, dragging a chair to the other side of the room. The television prattles on in the background, tuned to a well-known conservative channel that is currently interviewing a law enforcement official with clear anti-mutant bias. Hawks ignores it and sinks into the chair, letting his head drop into his hands.

Excellent work, Hawks. Glad to see all those years of publicity and trauma training were wasted, he thinks, though the voice in his head sounds distinctly like the Commission's president.

Another voice, one that sounds like his old therapist, reminds him that all that training included learning to recognize his own trauma. He's witnessed, experienced, and done terrible things. The Public Safety Commission is well aware of the high rates of PTSD, anxiety, and depression among pro heroes, and they actually encouraged him to see a therapist and take medication to help him manage it all. He hasn't had access to his antidepressants since he was captured, and he hasn't seen his therapist in even longer. That doesn't excuse his argument with Tokoyami, but it does help him rationalize where it came from. He's lonely, hurt, and frustrated, and as much as he denies it, the constant broadcasts showing the whole country against him are getting to him. He feels helpless, and he's starting to expose that to the only person here he trusts.

Hawks glances over at the lump of blankets on the cot. The poor kid is going to need his own therapist after all this, if he doesn't have one already. Tokoyami's entire class has already seen more than most, and he has a feeling a quirk like Dark Shadow required counseling early on. He certainly needs to talk to someone better suited to help him than Hawks. He's no good with emotions. He can barely handle his own.

With a sigh he leans back, shuts his eyes, and tries to think of something, anything to drown out the gnawing emptiness building in his chest. Somewhere, from the very depths of Hawks' memory, comes a tune he used to sing to himself as a child, after the Commission caretakers decided he was too old for lullabies and bedtime stories. He doesn't recall all the words, but they start to come back as he hums.

My child, my very own,

Don't be afraid, you're not alone.

Sleep until the dawn for all is well.

Long ago this song was sung to me

Now it's just a distant melody

Somewhere from the past I used to know

Once upon a time and long ago.

"Hawks."

Hawks stops. In the silence that follows, he realizes that the television has switched off and he was singing out loud. He blushes. "Sorry."

Tokoyami is quiet for a moment, still facing away from him on the cot. Then, so softly Hawks can barely hear him, he says, "When you reach the islands, send me a postcard so I know you're safe."

It isn't an acceptance of Hawks' apology. Rather, it's an acceptance of Hawks as he is, flaws and all. It's enough to make his voice crack when he replies, "Yeah. How should I sign it?"

"An idiot."

Hawks chuckles and wipes at his eyes. "Fair enough."

There's another beat of silence. "Will you sing again? Dark Shadow likes it."

"So do you!" comes the muffled response.

Hawks smiles. "Sure. I don't know many other songs, though."

"I'll teach you then. Next time," says Tokoyami.

"Next time," Hawks agrees.

The lullaby is "Distant Melody" from Peter Pan. It popped up in my Youtube suggestions and it just...fit. Honestly the whole concept of Peter Pan (especially the original, darker story) fits Hawks pretty well. Again, see Ao3 for a full playlist!