Chapter 2 – Discrimination, fuck you!

It was 5 months that Hawks and Ravena lived together as roommates at their condominium in Hawks Agency. Their condominium was at the top of the building and Hawks didn't have problems staying in his agency and his home. Renting a home was hard by having a financial problem. Travel and transportation were also hard because of the heavy traffic and dangerous strangers. Raven liked the idea of roommates. So, she lived in the guest room and changed into her new home. As roommates and friends, they did their house chores, paid their bills, bought groceries, and all. Somehow, their work schedules were different. Hawks worked at day time while Ravena worked at night time. They can spend their time with each other on weekends.

One day, they encountered a fat man threw plates at the 14-year old boy from their apartment.

"You pieces of shit! You're not my son!" the man shouted outrageously.

"Please, dad! Stop it!" the boy cried as he covered his arms above his head to protect himself.

"Then, get out of my house!" the man threw the plates again but the red feathers caught and placed them on the ground. The man shocked to see the plate as his body halt. His body controlled by Ravena.

Hawks helped the boy to get up. "Are you okay? We just went shopping as we saw you two," he asked.

"I'm okay. It's just…" the boy went silent.

"Stay away from him! You have no right to mind our business-Yeeeeooow!" the man screamed as his body twisted a little.

"You're under arrest for child abuse!" Ravena arrested as she controlled the man's body and moved him down from the floor.

2 hours later, the man was arrested for child abuse and the boy was freed. He explained to them why his father abused him because he was attracted to men and dreamed to become a beautician. Hawks and Ravena were surprised by him and complimented him in a supportive way. After the police sent the man to jail, they went home as they placed their groceries on the counter. They packed and placed their shopping to the cabinets and refrigerator.

"I thought our appearances were the main problems but also the LGBTs, disabilities, and anything to harass about. Now, that pissed me off," Ravena sighed.

"True. At least, we defended them, just like Touya defended me from the bullies," Hawks remembered as he grabbed a drink.

"Eh?! I didn't know that you were bullied. I mean, you're like an angel," Ravena surprised.

Hawks blushed and chuckled. "Are you flirting to me? I'm not an angel… Well, I was bullied because of my wings. My so-called parents neglected me as they focused on drugs and beers. They didn't have wings like me. I only thought that they adopted me. All I did to survive by going outside and stealing food from the markets. Then, Endeavor saved me from the villains and I wanted to become a pro-hero like him. As I rescued the people from a car accident, the HPSC sold me from my parents and trained me into a pro-hero. Although, I can't believe that my parents didn't care about me anymore. So, I did… While I was in training, the bullying won't stop until someone stepped in."

*Flashback since Hawks was 7 years old*

"Hey! Let me go! Let me go!" Keigo cried that the bully pulled his wings.

"Wow! Your wings are real. I should make giant chicken wings for dinner-Huh? What's burning-Whoaaaaaaaaaaaah!" the bully let Keigo go as he ran to the river in a panic because his pants were burning with fire.

"And stay out!" the boy with the red hair shouted.

"Thanks for saving me," Keigo thanked as he wiped his eyes.

"You're welcome and stop being a baby. I thought you're going to train as a pro-hero like my dad," the boy pouted.

"Your dad?" Keigo looked at the boy. The boy had red hair and light blue eyes and reminded someone who had a similar appearance. "Oh! Your dad is Endeavor! I'm so happy that I have a friend like you! I'm Keigo!" he greeted as his wings flapped excitedly.

"Friends? I didn't know you… Well, in that's the case, I'm Touya. Nice to meet you," Touya grinned.

*Flashback Ended*

"Huh? I was kinda surprised that you two were fast friends. Touya was a jerk but more like our older brother. I was bullied by the kids because of my hair and eyes," Ravena chuckled.

Hawks raised a brow. "Your hair and eyes? Why?"

"It's because they don't have red hair and eyes in the Philippines. The Filipinos have black or brown hair and brown eyes as their trademarks. Although, I laughed because someone crazily defended me," Ravena smiled.

*Flashback in Ravena was seven years old.*

"Abnormal! Abnormal! Abnormal!" the three kids bullied and surrounded the crying Ravena. She was defenseless and didn't want to fight back with her quirk until someone threw the dog's poops at the kids.

"Anak ng kabayo! Huwag mo inasar ang apo ko! Yan ba magturo galing sa mga pamilya mo! Umalis kayo! (Son of a horse! Don't bully my granddaughter! Is that what your family taught you? Go away!)" the old lady shouted angrily.

The three kids screamed as they ran away.

"Lola! (Grandma!)" Ravena cried as she hugged her grandmother tightly.

"Nandito na ko, apo ko. Balik tayo sa bahay natin para maghugas ang mga kamay ko at gawa kita ng strawberry cake," her grandmother smiled in delight.

As they went home, her grandmother washed her hands with soap and water as she started to bake with all the ingredients and baking tools. Raven helped her as her assistant. Her grandma was a great chef and a baker that she owned a small restaurant while Ravena worked as a waitress and janitress. They were poor but happy. While Ravena spread the strawberry jam on the cake, she looked at her grandmother.

"Lola, ampon ba ako po?(Grandma, am I adopted?)" she asked with her innocence.

"Huh? Saan galing ang tanong mo? (Where did you ask that question?)" her grandmother asked.

"Galing kay Aling Rosie at mga kaibigan niya sa tindahan po. Sabi nila po na hindi tayo kamukha pero minamahal mo ko ng sobra. (They came from Auntie Rosie and her friends from her shop. They said that we didn't have the same appearances but you love me a lot.)" Ravena answered with honesty and curiosity.

"Hay naku! Mga chismosa(Those gossips)," her grandmother sighed. "Sa totoo lang… Oo, apo ko. Nag-ampon kita kasi ang tunay na pamilya mo ay namatay sa masamang kalaban. Ayoko ma-iiwan kita sa nangyari. Kaya,iligtas kita at maging apo ko. Masaya ako na merong akong mabuti at magandang Ravena ko. (The truth… Yes, my granddaughter. I adopted you because your family was killed by the evil bad guy. I don't want to leave you from what happened. So, I saved you and became my granddaughter. I'm happy to have my kind and beautiful Ravena," her grandmother smiled as she stroked her granddaughter with unconditional love. She never had a family but having Ravena was quite enough to spend her happiness in years.

Ravena hugged and kissed her grandmother. "Mahal kita, Lola! (I love you, Grandma!)" she said happily.

*Flashback ended*

"Keigo, are you crying?" Ravena asked as Hawks sniffed.

"No, I'm not," Hawks wiped his tears. "We should visit her some other time," he suggested.

"I wish but… she passed away a long time ago," Ravena mumbled sadly. "After she passed away, the president adopted me and lived here so that Itrained to be a pro-hero. Granted, our dreams came true," she smiled.

"True… except for Touya. I wonder how is he," Hawks wondered worriedly. He and Touya were best friends before Ravena arrived.

Ravena understood him. "We were on the patrol in the day and night every day but we didn't know if he's still okay… Speaking of the devil, I'm going to bake a strawberry cake to cheer us up. If I ever have seen him again, I'll bake more cake," she smiled.

"Sure. I have a hand mixer and other baking tools. I didn't have time to bake but you can use them," Hawks smiled as he let Ravena do the baking.

"Awesome! Thanks, Keigo," Ravena smiled.