Hawks has always been a huge fan of Endeavor. So naturally it was excruciatingly hard for him to contain his excitement when he heard the announcer call Endeavor's and saw him take his place right next to him.
As the announcer introduced the top 10 heroes, they walked onto the stage one by one. Each of them having mixed emotions about their rankings on the Japanese Billboard Chart for Heroes. It was tiresome to hear them babble about how they didn't deserve their rank, or were unworthy of the praise.
Hawks sighs inwardly when the announcer asks the heroes to say something about their placements, one by one. He turns to Endeavor.
"So, how does it feel to take the top?"
He asks coolly, his demeanor calm and collected. He always appeared as if he did not have a care in the world. On the inside right now though, his little bird heart was beating fast in his chest. This was his favorite hero since he'd been a kid, and here he was standing beside Hawks himself. Looking tall, fearless and proud, as he should, Hawks mused.
Endeavor stared at him as if Hawks was nothing but an annoying bug on the sleeve of his shirt and ignored his question.
Hawks grew restless as the announcer moved up with her mic, allowing the pros to say their piece one by one. By the time she'd reached Edgeshot, Hawks was just about ready to break through the ceiling and fly away.
When Edgeshot started talking about how he did hero work in order to save people, not for fame, Hawks' patience was through.
"Come on guys, who wants to hear this kind of can-crap? Stain maybe?" His words managed to silence everyone, the heroes and the audience, and most of them stared at him in disbelief.
It was the wrong time and the wrong place to make jokes about Stain.
Edgeshot muttered in annoyance, "As always, you enjoy causing a commotion."
Hawks smirked, "I just have a problem holding back sometimes."
He walked towards the unsuspecting announcer and took the mic from her outstretched hand. She sputtered but was too surprised to protest
Hawks realized that he had everybody's attention now, so he decided to make the most of it.
He fluttered his wings and continued, "If we're simply talking in terms of approval rating, Best Jeanist, who's gotten a huge boost in support thanks to his break, would be number one, or close to it."
He takes into the air then, still talking, making the people in the audience simply gawk at him, "Then I'd be second, and third would be Edgeshot." Then he sneaks a glance at Endeavour, who's staring at Hawks, infuriated. He continues, "And Endeavour would be lower than fourth, etc. In my opinion, approval rating is the most important statistic right now."
Then he goes on to say that in a time like this, when Japan has lost their symbol of peace, the heroes should focus on boosting the morale of their society, instead of playing it safe and making sad speeches.
The audience muttered amongst themselves.
"I was wondering why he was scowling the entire time…"
"Ya just never know what the dude's thinking…"
Sure enough, Hawks' speech had made an impact, but exactly what kind, it was yet to see.
Then he passed the mic down to Endeavour, "Now, let's hear from Mister No. 1, who has a lower approval rating than me."
Endeavour glared at him blazing with fury, but took the mic nonetheless. He was going to have to teach the brat a lesson later on.
Later on, backstage, in Endeavour's dressing room.
Hawks knew that perhaps he'd rambled on a little too much for his own good on stage, but oh well. He'd meant every word he'd said, though he felt he shouldn't have said what he did about Endeavour, even if it was true. The guy terrified people, even if he was trying to save them.
He was leaving his own green room, shutting the door behind himself when somebody grabbed his collar and dragged him into the room next to his. He was a little surprised, he would've protested, but he was amused as well. This hand clearly belonged to Endeavour.
Endeavour was practically lifting Hawks off the floor by his collar, making his legs dangle over the floor, but Hawks didn't seem to care very much.
What's wrong with this boy? Endeavour thought to himself, glaring at Hawks, unknowing that Hawks was internally having a mental breakdown.
He tried to appear cool and carefree. "Oh boy, I sure stirred up some trouble for you back there, didn't I?"
Hawks pulled him closer, hellflame blazing with fury. "What the hell were you trying to pull back there, boy?"
Hawks let his eyes stay shut, for looking directly at Endeavour up close was too much for him to handle.
"Everyone was giving such boring speeches, I felt I had to say something to make an impact, you know?"
Endeavour wasn't satisfied with the answer.
"You were testing me, weren't you?"
"No! I was trying to help you! It went pretty well, don't you think? All Might's retirement came as a shock to everyone and we need a new symbol of peace, someone who can put the public at ease and I think that you were really cool back there!"
Endeavour was still glaring at him, not quite ready to put him down just yet, he wasn't sure whether this kid was being serious or simply mocking him.
He snarled, "Are you saying that you're not ready to be a leader?"
Hawks huffed a laugh, "Do you think that I'm fit for something like that? I would be much more comfortable in the lower ranks, out of public's scrutiny."
Endeavour groans in annoyance, dropping Hawks and moving away from him. "You think this is a joke? You're the kind of person I hate the most. I'm done with you, go apologize to everyone else."
Hawks' heart sank at having been pushed away so suddenly, but what else from he expecting from the Flame Hero?
He reached out with his hand to stop Endeavour but made sure not to directly touch the man, he didn't want to be punched in the face after all.
"Wait! I have to talk to you about something…"
"I don't want to hear it! Get lost!" Endeavour spat, not even bothering to turn around to look at him.
"I want to team up with you." Hawks continued anyway, "the number of villain sightings in my area has been increasing lately."
Endeavour snorted, still not interested in the conversation, still walking away, but what Hawks says next makes him stop in his tracks and he finally turns around to get a good look at Hawks.
"You remember those Noumu things, right?"
