SUMMARY: Ishikawa tries his best to be a good guardian to Hawks, slowly filling in all the blanks that was missing from the teenager's' life. The teenager learns to be a kid and he finally gets to meet this new training partner!

TO BE A KID

Hawks had been waiting impatiently to meet the new recruit. He hadn't been given the green light to meet the boy yet because he was given a flight assignment. He had to fly to several different cities across Japan for over three weeks to get new data for his flight time. To say he was exhausted was an understatement, he was given only a day rest between travels. He swore he thought his wings would fall off his back. However, the thought of finishing the task as soon as possible so he could finally meet the boy named Bakugou Katsuki AND Ishikawa's promise of his famous honey garlic tender roasted chicken had kept him going. He remembered the first time Ishikawa served him the roasted chicken and it was the best meal he ever had in his young life!

It's his last flight from Sapporo, the furthest he had flown, and he can't wait to take a bite of that chicken! Just the thought of the juicy and tender meat made him drool and his stomach growl. Hawks wiped at the drool that escaped his mouth as he flew back to Musutafu. His stomach growled again and he sighed as he pulled out an energy bar from his pocket. It's not much but he needs the energy for this flight. He took a bite and grimaced at the slight bitter taste of dark chocolate. He quickly finished it and then pulled out a bottle of water from his inner coat pocket and took a few sips. He checked his watch, looks like he'll make it before dinner! When he gets home, he wants to sleep as much as he wants and wake up to a feast! He grinned, that sounds like a good plan.

It took him another hour before he finally landed on the rooftop of the building where he took off hours ago. The sun had set a few minutes ago but the light from the helipad had guided him to where he could land. He stumbled as his feet touched solid ground. Ishikawa caught him and smiled, "You did well, Hawks."

The teenager grinned, "You owe me a whole roasted chicken!"

The man chuckled and lowered him to the floor. Hawks heaved a sigh as he lay on his back gasping for air, "Please don't make me do that again. That was torture!"

Ishikawa's eyes softened, "I can't promise that."

The teenager groaned, "My wings will fall off my back!"

"Don't be so dramatic. You finished your assignment so you'll get a whole week off."

Hawks raised his fists weakly, "Yay."

The agent patted his shoulder, "Alright. Let's get you inside. Need help getting up?"

"I don't think I can get up. Just drag me in by my feet or arms, whichever, you choose."

Ishikawa snorted. He pulled the teen to a sitting position. He turned around so he could pull Hawks onto his back. The teen perked up, "Are you giving me a piggyback ride?"

"I believe it's the appropriate way to bring you in. Your wings are kinda in the way and my arms aren't that strong to carry you."

"I'm not THAT heavy!" said Hawks with a pout.

Ishikawa chuckled, "It's easier to go down the stairs if I carry you on my back."

"Oh."

"Don't lose your grip," said Ishikawa as he hooked his hands behind the teen's knees. He took in a deep breath and got onto his feet. Hawks wasn't that heavy; his wings may make anyone think that they'll affect his weight but in truth the teenager's wings are lightweight. The feathers on his wings are flexible and tough and can harden to cut things when Hawks commanded them to do so telepathically.

Ishikawa frowned when he remembered reading the files about the things the agency had made him go through to test his wings abilities when he was younger. The worse one was destroying most of his feathers once, to see how long it'll take for them to regrow. He remembered his father had told him Hawks was devastated and traumatized by that event. The child feared his feathers won't grow back and he'll lose his ability to fly. But that's also how everyone ended finding out that his feathers grow back within two days. The information did come in handy because Hawks had a few more mishaps during training where he lost a lot of his feathers. The boy had concluded that fire is his worst enemy.

"You're awfully quiet," said Ishikawa as he descended down the stairs.

The boy hummed, "You try flying for hours with little to no breaks."

"I don't have wings."

"Try running then."

"I bet you can't feel your wings right now."

"And that's why I'm getting a piggyback ride."

"Well, don't think I'll give you another piggyback ride after today."

"That's alright. Let me have my moment," said Hawks as he tightened his grip around the man's neck slightly.

That's another thing about the boy that Ishikawa had learnt. Hawks finds the simplest gestures of kindness and affection as precious moments. Growing up lacking love and attention made him hungry for any form of affection once he got a taste of it. He'll do anything for a praise, a pat, a hug and even an offering of gifts and food. The agents who were in charge of Hawks before he became Ishikawa's responsibility used that as the boy's incentive. They would tell him that if he accomplished a task, he could ask for whatever he wants. The boy never asked for anything grand. It was always something simple.

"I just remembered something," said Ishikawa.

"What?"

"I haven't got you anything for your thirteenth birthday. You got anything in mind that you'd like?"

Hawks smiled, "You don't have to give me anything Ichiro-san."

"It's alright, Hawks. Just tell me what you want. And don't choose food."

The boy hummed in thought. He sighed and let his chin rest on the man's head, "I… dunno. What do kids my age like?"

Ishikawa was quiet as he thought about it. He pressed the button on the elevator and while they waited a thought crossed his mind when he stared at the glowing button, "How about a game console? Or maybe a phone?"

"I've never thought of owning one of those," said Hawks honestly.

Ishikawa smiled sadly, "I have a PlayStation 3. You can try it first and see if you'll enjoy playing games."

Hawks grinned, "Didn't think you'd be the kind of guy who'd own a game console!"

The man chuckled, "I was once a teenager. Besides, playing games helps relieve stress. You can even play games on cell phones too."

"Really?!"

"I'll drop you off at the infirmary. Dr Tsuruta needs to look you over first and you need to rest. I'll come get you after I'm done writing my report to Ogura-san."

When they reached the floor where the infirmary was, they were met with a few bewildered looks from the other staff working in the building. Ishikawa kept a straight face as he walked to the infirmary. The doctor on duty looked up, "Ah, he's back already? Drop him off on the bed and I'll check his vitals."

Ishikawa deposited the teenager on the bed and Hawks smiled at him, "Thanks for the ride!"

"I'll be back soon. It won't take long. You better behave yourself," said the man as he patted the teen's head.

"Aye, aye, sir!" said the boy with a mock salute.

Tsuruta returned, rolling an EKG machine beside him. He smiled, "It'll be the usual. So, it won't take long. After I gathered all the data you can take a nap while you wait for Ishikawa-san to come get you."

Ishikawa walked to the door. As he was closing the door, he glanced at Hawks who answered the doctor's questions. The door clicked shut and he adjusted his suit before he starts walking to his office to finish his report. His thought wandered, what's the best gift for Hawks?

Hawks couldn't stop staring at the shiny and sleek device in his hand. He flipped it over and grinned at the flame pattern. He turned to Ishikawa who was staring at him with a pleased smile, "Do you like it?"

"I love it! Thank you, Ichiro-san!"

"It was pure luck that I found that Endeavour themed casing for your phone," said the man as he took a seat beside the teenager.

Hawks' eyes sparkled as he admired the details on the casing, "I didn't even know there's such a thing!"

Ishikawa took the phone from him, "I already saved my number in your phone. Let me show you how to use it and what kind of apps that can be useful to you."

Hawks nodded eagerly and was focused on the man as he explained the different apps and functions the phone provides. He gasped when Ishikawa told him he can customize his wallpaper and ringtones. When the man was done, Hawks was brimming with excitement.

"If you need help, don't hesitate to ask. But I'm sure you can figure it out on your own."

"Thank you again for this!" said Hawks.

Ishikawa was filled with pride and joy at the teenager's genuine smile. He had considered about getting him a game console but he believed it would be better if he owns a cell phone so he could keep in touch with anyone. And he had the feeling that Hawks would use it more often than a game console with the line of work he'll be involved in the future. He could still give his Playstation to the boy if he's interested. He himself barely have time to play his games too.

"Oh, can I have a look at your PlayStation?" asked Hawks.

"Sure, wait here."

Hawks played around with his phone while he waited for the man to return. Ishikawa entered the living room with a box, "Most of the games I play are RPGs."

"What's RPG?" asked Hawks curiously.

"Role-Playing Games."

"Oh."

"It's a game where you get to assume the role of a character in a fictional story. It's like you're going through the character's life and adventures since you'll decide their decisions. Uhh, kinda like acting."

"That sounds fun!"

"Aha! This is one of my favourites! Aeon: Azrae's Awakening!" said Ishikawa as he pulled out a box. He handed it to the teenager who raised a brow at the characters on the cover. Ishikawa chuckled, "Most of the character designs are inspired by well-known heroes. The story is pretty much set up in a fantasy world and it's about the main character going through adventures to prevent the end of the world by beating the Demon God, Jaha. The story's pretty interesting and it's a series so the story continues with each new release, revealing more secrets."

"So, it's like a show with many seasons?"

"Yeah! I got the first until the fourth series. The fifth one will come out sometime in Spring, I think. I haven't been keeping up to date with the gaming news…"

"I think I'll give it a go."

"Alright, I'll set it up for you. You can play while I get lunch ready."

Ishikawa took a peek at the teenager every few minutes to see his progress and sometimes answer his questions about the characters and different skills that the characters have. He leaned against the counter as he watched Hawks try to beat the first boss. He lost the first round and after getting a few tips from his guardian, he tried again.

"Make sure your healer doesn't die, she's important. Use the correct skill to beat the first boss villain. And don't forget to use some items to fill up the mana and health bars."

"I think I get it," said Hawks as he concentrated on the TV screen.

"Lunch is almost ready. Don't forget to save your progress after you beat the boss."

"Got it!"

Ishikawa watched in amusement as Hawks barely beat the first boss. After saving his game, the teen approached the dining table and his eyes sparkled at the sight of a whole roasted chicken being served, "Is that-"

"The reward I promised," said Ishikawa with a chuckle.

Hawks pretended to wipe a tear from the corner of his eye, "Thank you, Ichiro-san!"

"So, what do you think about the game?"

"The story's interesting! I like the main character, Einar. He's so cool! And his bodyguard, Freya, she's such a badass!"

"I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it. The Aeon series is pretty good and has been around for nearly ten years now. They release a new game for the series every two or three years. You won't get bored of playing because there are a lot of side quests and side stories you can unlock too. The characters can be relatable with their struggles and you just get hooked with the Aeon lore- what?"

Hawks grinned widely, "I've never seen you so… animated."

Ishikawa blushed. He cleared his throat, "Ah… yes. I guess I haven't been able to enjoy something like this for a while."

"I know you're busy with work and all but I think you should spend some time doing what you enjoyed. When's the last time you played any of your games?" asked Hawks with a small frown.

"Two, maybe three, years now? Sometimes I just get too tired after work I just head straight to bed after a shower and dinner."

"Well, you gotta make time for your hobby! Set some 'fun time' in the weekend to chill," said Hawks as he snapped his fingers.

"I'll… think about it."

"C'mon, promise me you'll set some 'fun time' for yourself! You're overworking yourself, Ichiro-san! You need time to chill and have some fun!"

Ishikawa raised his hands, "Alright, I promise."

"Good! Now, let's enjoy this wonderful meal you've made!"

Hawks kept his eyes on the little blond boy shown on the screen. So, that's him? Bakugou Katsuki. His new training partner! He was impressed at the explosions the little boy can make. Not only that, the kid was pretty agile and knows when to dodge and attack the training bots. He leaned forward against the console next to Kitamura, "He's as impressive as you say, Kitamura-san."

"Isn't he? He was able to handle a one on one with Manual and Monk when they came over last week. They were quite impressed with his abilities too."

"They weren't kidding when they say he's got talent."

"You think you can take on the kid, Hawks-kun?" asked Kitamura with a smile.

"Hmmm, I definitely know I shouldn't let him touch me but speed-wise, I think I can beat him."

The bearded man chuckled, "Why don't you go meet him?"

The door swung open as Ishikawa arrived and he barely dodged a blur of red. He watched in stunned silence as Hawks made a dash downstairs.

"Sorry about that, Ishikawa-san!" said Hawks.

Kitamura tried to shout after him, "But be sure not to ann- Ah, he's gone."

"What did you want to warn him about?" asked Ishikawa curiously.

"Welllll… Bakugou has a really short temper. I don't want them to start off in a bad way."

Both men watched as the blond destroyed another drone with an explosion and landed in a crouch, a wide crazed grin adorned his small chubby face, "Hah! That all you got?!"

Kitamura pressed on a button, "That's it for today Bakugou-kun."

"What?! No! I want more! I'm not tired yet!" said the small boy indignantly. Kitamura rolled his eyes with a sigh. Ishikawa chuckled beside him as he pressed on the button to talk to the boy, "Well I'm afraid your time is up. We have to keep our end of the deal with your parents. Time to clean up and go home, kid."

They watched him stomped toward the door. Kitamura got to his feet, "I'm gonna get down there before Hawks start anything to set him off."

Hawks grinned mischievously as he held the towel in his hand. He threw the towel over the boy's head as the door swished open. There was a startled squawk from Katsuki and he grabbed at the towel angrily and was about to yell at Hawks but he paused when their eyes met. Hawks grinned down at him, "So you're the newbie, huh?"

Katsuki glared at him warily, "Who the fuck are you?"

"Wow, mind the tongue kiddo!" said the teenager with a chuckle as he reached down and ruffled the boy's already messy hair.

Katsuki let out a yelp and then jumped away from him, "Don't touch me! I'll blow your face off!"

The older boy laughed, "I'd like to see you try, shrimp!"

Katsuki let out a roar and shoved a hand forward, hands sparking. His eyes widened when the teenager vanished from his sight. Suddenly, he was upside down. Hawks was holding one of his foot and they were flying off the floor, "What the- put me down you bastard!"

The teenager tutted and wagged a finger, "Gotta ask Kitamura-san to put you in behavioural therapy. You can't be a hero with that attitude and that mouth!"

Katsuki glared at him menacingly and he growled. His hands sparked and there was an explosion. The teenager nearly lost his grip on the younger boy when Katsuki's other free foot hit him in the chest, "Hey!"

There was another explosion, larger than before, and the teenager had the air knocked out of him as the little ball of fury slammed into his chest. He lost his grip on Katsuki and he watched the boy's eyes widened as he fell, "Shit!"

Hawks swooped down and snagged him in the air. He slowly lowered him to the floor. Katsuki stood on shaky legs, clearly shaken. The winged teenager landed in front of him, face pulled in a grimace, "Oof! Sorry, kid."

He yelped when the boy gave his arm a swift punch, "Ow! Okay, I deserve that!"

"Hawks, stop teasing him," said Kitamura exasperatedly.

Hawks grinned as he rubbed the back of his neck, "Hey-yo! Kitamura-san!"

The man sighed, "Bakugou-kun, this is Hawks. Hawks, this is Bakugou Katsuki."

"Nice to finally meet ya, kiddo!" said Hawks cheerfully as he offered a hand.

The smaller blond stared at his hand as if offended. Hawks wondered if the boy will reject his hand. Katsuki scoffed and reluctantly shook his hand, "Feeling's not mutual."

Hawks put a hand on his chest, "Ouch!"

Kitamura tossed a bottle of water to Katsuki who caught it with ease, "Alright kid, get cleaned up and Hawks here's going to escort you home today."

Hawks eyes widened and he turned to Kitamura in shock. The man gave him a knowing smile. He heard Katsuki sputtered, "W-what? No, I don't need him to escort me home!"

"Aww why not?" said Hawks with a slight pout.

"Y-you're annoying!" said Katsuki as he glared at the teenager.

Hawks grinned and pinched his cheeks, "Well, you're adorable!"

Katsuki slapped his hand away and snarled, "Don't touch me!"

"You remind me of a street cat," said Hawks distractedly as he tapped at his chin. Teasing the younger blond is so much fun for him!

Kitamura gave Katsuki a nudge toward the exit, "Alright kid, get a move on or you're gonna be late. You know what your mother's like if you're late again."

Katsuki grumbled as he stomped toward the shower room. The agent sighed and scratched his head. He turned to Hawks when the teenager chuckled, "Kid's a spitfire! I like him!"

The man rubbed his neck with a grimace, "And he's got quite a temper. I might take up your suggestion and send him for behavioural therapy."

Hawks laughed, "Well, good luck bringing that up to the kid! He's not going to be happy about it!"

Kitamura sighed and his shoulder sagged. He pulled himself together, "So, how was your mission?"

The teenager beamed and gave him a pair of thumbs up, "Easy! I just swooped in and took the package without anyone noticing!"

"Have you reported to Ishikawa-san?"

"Yeap! He said I can take the weekend off! Hey, do you know if Katsuki plays video games?"

"Why don't you ask the kid yourself?"

"Oh yeah, about that. Why'd you ask me to escort him home?"

"I need to discuss something with Ishikawa-san. Besides, I think this is a good opportunity for you to get to know him and explore the neighbourhood. Think you can handle it?"

Hawks beamed, "Sure can!"

Hawks wondered who Katsuki looked after. What kind of people are his parents? The younger boy had been ignoring him during their walk and Hawks was left talking by himself. He didn't mind though; he just had a lot of things in his mind and sometimes talking things out loud helped him sort his thoughts. He heard the boy let out a loud sigh, "Do you ever shut up?"

"When I need to be quiet, yeah! Oh! Do you play video games?"

Katsuki glanced at him over his shoulder, "Yeah, what kid doesn't?"

Me, apparently. He thought to himself. He skipped next to the boy, "Cool! I'm free this weekend! Wanna play some games?!"

Katsuki rolled his eyes, "Don't you have friends around your age to play with?"

"Nope!" said Hawks without missing a beat.

Katsuki stopped walking. Hawks stopped as well, wondering what made the boy stop in the first place. The boy turned to him, his red eyes studying him and Hawks tilted his head in confusion. Katsuki sighed, "You're a hopeless loser, you know that?"

"Ouch, Kats! That's mean of you! You're such a little meanie!"

The boy rolled his eyes and turned around. He started walking and Hawks followed him closely, his arms behind his head and he hummed a tune that randomly popped in his head. It was the theme song from that video game that he's been playing, Aeon. They soon stopped in front of a big house. Hawks let out an impressed whistle, "You live here?!"

Katsuki shrugged, "Yeah."

The boy hopped up the steps and rang the doorbell. There was a voice behind the door and it opened to reveal a man with brown hair and kind eyes. The man smiled when his eyes landed on his son, "Welcome home, Katsuki! Oh, and who might this be?"

Hawks raised a hand in a mock salute, "The name is Hawks, sir! I'm Katsuki's escort for the evening!"

The man smiled kindly, which reminded Hawks of Ishikawa's father, "Thank you for bringing my boy home safely, Hawks. I'm Bakugou Masaru. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Hawks shook the man's hand, "Same here! Your kid's a ball of angry energy! It's fun having him around!"

Masaru's eyes widened slightly, "Oh, uhhh thank you?"

Katsuki rolled his eyes, he's doing that a lot, Hawks mused. His eyes will roll out of their sockets if he keeps doing that. Katsuki waved his hand in a shooing motion, "Alright, you got me home, now go home, you weirdo!"

Masaru frown slightly, "Katsuki, that's not a nice thing to say to Hawks."

Hawks grinned and chuckled, "Naw, it's okay. I got used to the shrimp's attitude!"

Katsuki's hands sparked, "Stop calling me shrimp, y-you rooster!"

The teenager burst out laughing, and Masaru couldn't keep the grin off his face at his flustered son. Hawks wiped a stray tear from his eyes, "That's your best comeback, shrimp?"

Katsuki's face flushed red in embarrassment and before he could leap forward to pummel the still laughing teenager, his father easily caught him, "Alright, that's enough Katsuki. Why don't you go in and greet your mother? She misses you."

The boy scoffed, "I doubt that."

He paused and turned to Hawks, "Where do you wanna hang out?"

Hawks brows rose in surprise. He thought Katsuki wasn't interested, "You… wanna hang out… with me?"

Katsuki glared at the ground, "You said you wanted to play some video games in the weekend."

The teenager scratched his chin and his eyes shifted to Masaru nervously, "Umm, is it ok if we play games at my place?"

Masaru smiled, "Of course, but he has to be home before his curfew of course."

"Awesome! I'll come pick him up on Saturday morning! Oh, here's my number if you need to reach me!" said Hawks eagerly as he took out a card from one of his coat pockets. Masaru took the card and smiled, "I'll give you a ring so can save our number."

"Cool. Alright, I better head back. See ya, shrimp!"

Katsuki raised a fist angrily, "Told you to stop calling me that!"

Hawks laughed heartily as he flew off, disappearing into the night sky. He couldn't stop grinning. Katsuki had agreed to hang out with him! That means… they're friends, right? He's so excited! It's been a while since he gets to have fun with someone who's not an agent. Not that he doesn't like spending time with Ishikawa but he'd like to spend time with someone who's a kid. Katsuki seems like an interesting kid, minus the temper. He needs to tell Ishikawa about his weekend plan! Oh, wait. Would he be okay with Katsuki coming over? He smacked his forehead; he should've asked Ishikawa first!

"So, you live with Mr Four Eyes?" asked Katsuki as he walked into the apartment.

Mr Four Eyes? Hawks shut the door behind him, "Yeah. Ishikawa-san's my temporary guardian."

The boy looked around the living room and nodded his head. Hawks wasn't sure why but he felt relieved at the sign of approval. He went to the television console, "We don't have a lot of games and our console maybe a little umm, outdated."

"It's fine. Show me what you have."

"Err, it's mostly RPGs."

Katsuki looked in the box filled with Ishikawa's game collection. His eyes widening slightly, "Some of these are hard to find nowadays. Hey, you got a limited edition of the Aeon series!"

"Is that good?"

"Hell yeah, it's good! The limited series has all the extra side stories they didn't include in the earlier release. How far are you with this one already?"

Hawks felt his face heat up in embarrassment, "I just started playing. I already beat the first boss, the Ice Titan."

"Good, meaning there's still a chance to unlock the side stories in the first arc!"

Hawks didn't get it but Katsuki seemed excited. He rubbed his neck nervously, "To tell you the truth. I never… played video games before. This is the first one I ever played and it's all thanks to Ishikawa-san for lending me his games."

Katsuki turned to him with wide eyes, Hawks waited to be judged about not playing games before but instead, Katsuki asked him, "Mr Four Eyes plays video games?"

The winged teenager burst out laughing, "I know, right? I was surprised too when I found out! He didn't look like the kind of guy who'd play video games."

Katsuki huffed. It was the closest to a laugh he got from the boy. Katsuki picked up the joystick and handed it to Hawks, "Let's play Aeon, pick up where you last stopped."

"But, isn't it a game for one person only?" asked Hawks.

"RPGs are like a show or movie, I won't get bored watching you play. Annoyed and pissed, maybe. So, I'll guide you while you play."

"You sure?"

"I got my Nintendo to entertain me if I get bored."

Hawks blinked his eyes. Katsuki sighed and pulled out a Nintendo 3Ds out of his pocket and showed him, "It's a handheld game console."

"Oh!"

Katsuki took a seat on the couch as he watched the teenager set up his game. Hawks took a seat beside him and he noticed how tense he was. The younger boy sighed, "Relax. Just do things like normal and pretend I'm not here."

Hawks' shoulders slumped forward, "Sorry. I'm just not used to this."

"Hanging out?" asked the smaller boy puzzled.

"Yeah. I used to live in the Hero Commission's dorm back in Fukuoka. They didn't give me a lot of stuff to entertain myself other than training and studying."

Katsuki frowned, "Why are you living in a dorm?"

"Let's just say, I don't have anywhere to go."

"… oh."

"So, this whole hanging out and playing games, the normal kids stuff, are kinda new to me."

Katsuki leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest, "Well, lucky you then."

"Huh?" asked the teenager as he turned to the boy.

Katsuki smirked, "You got me to show you how to be a kid and have fun."

Hawks grinned, "Then I'll leave it to you to show me the fun way, sensei."

When Ishikawa got home after doing his errands and getting the groceries, he found the boys asleep. Katsuki was laying close to the edge of the sofa and Hawks was leaning against the sofa with the joystick held loosely in his hands. The man held back a chuckle, he wondered how the two buys ended up knocked out since they always seem full of energy during their training.

He deposited the shopping bags on the kitchen counter and returned to the living room. He plucked the joystick from his charge's hands and made sure he saved the game first before turning it off. He adjusted Katsuki so he doesn't fall off the couch and gently pulled Hawks to lie down on the floor, a cushion was placed to prop his head. Ishikawa straightened with a sigh, "You kids need to get enough sleep."

He stared at Hawks fondly and then at Katsuki, "Looks like you made a friend here. I'm happy for you, Hawks-kun."

A/N: Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it! The fictional game that was mentioned, "Aeon", was based on an original story idea for a comic that I have been keeping around in my creative folder for years. I hope to have a proper chance to find time to draw the comic and finish the story but adulting means you barely have free time to do fun stuff. My life is basically like Ishikawa's, all work and less fun time. Boo!