Chapter 3
"Ow. Ow. Ow," he repeated, exiting the hallway with his head clocked back still, vision blurred in tears. Though Hawks had to give it to her, the girl had a neat endurance to defend herself. Which later on would probably come in handy in some sense.
Dabi leaned against the counter, trying to hold back a fit of laughter in their comrades pathetic state as he entered, feeling his way towards the sink. Blood coated on the edge of his jacket and stained shirt, still dripping down his chin. "That looks lovely," he mocked, watching Hawks wet a napkin on the counter to press against his face. Shooting a hard glare.
"Thank you."
"I guess it's better if I handle it since you can't, being as though she isn't scared of yo-"
"No!," he interrupted, Dabi raising an eyebrow.
Hawks choked nervously, composing himself better while attempting to dab the blood away. "No need. It'll be fine. I'm more of the gain trust type of guy rather than violent."
"Yea. I've noticed," Dabi retorted, the air growing serious between them as he made sure to take a vocal jab at the fact that Hawks still wasn't trusted.
Hawks could only eye him down one in a threatening manner to meet that same intense look before leaving, throwing the napkin in the trash. "I'll be back," he added, hurrying out the front door.
This was shit. The entire situation had grown more than what he felt like he could handle on his own in one fell swoop. Checkmate, and he so foolishly fell right into it. The league knew he had to be careful now just in case with the hostage present. How would the HPSC take it? Would they expect him to act? Moral wise this wasn't okay, but then again that's not why they hired him.
Dashing through the air, he pulled out the secret communicatior and slipped it back onto his ear once far enough away. Looking over his shoulder at the scenary, close to the oceanside. Not much else around, an undercover fishing dock that they'd taken. Or possibly something in connection to an oil ridge. Whatever it may be he wasn't sure, just to get the exact address correct for future use.
Overhead he could make out the dense city in the distance, this being just close enough that they needn't travel much for supplies. But secure enough to go undetected.
The device ringed before he could process more, quick to answer it with the head boss on the other end.
"Where have you been? It's been hours-"
"They kidnapped a girl. A student at U.A. and she's right in the damn danger zone, did any of you suspect this? What am I supposed to do now!?-"
"Nothing," she snapped, causing his eyes to widen at the insincerity. "You do nothing. No matter the cost we cannot afford for you to pull out yet."
Hawks was baffled, flapping his wings harder in agitation. "Excuse me?"
"You understand how important this is. Try your best to keep her safe, though must I remind you that casualties happen for the greater good."
He blinked, shaking his head a few times. "I can't believe you're asking me to turn a blind eye to this..Her name is Ochako Uraraka. Confirm it with the school at least."
"We can't do that Hawks and you know why. No one is to know about this until I say, understand? Until then you haven't got a clue of her whereabouts."
"I will not!-"
"Don't argue with me boy! You will do as we say. Report back with anything more important than something so trivial," she snapped, cutting the line before he could say more.
So trivial.. Her life, is a casualty?
Hawks yanked it out his ear, shoving it harshly into his jacket pocket. He could feel the heat rising on his face, completely alone in this with the side of vigilante VS loyal to the cause. No. Casualties didn't happen unless he let them. And in her case, he wouldn't allow it.
"FUCK!," he shouted into the air, sorring downward towards the city. Not like there was much time, who knew what they'd do if he left her unattended for too long.
oo
Ochako took deep breathes, sitting on the edge of the bed holding the broken pair of glasses to observe them. Running her thumb over the smooth, unscathed surface. In an odd sense she felt bad, struggling to shake off guilt with awareness that he was a villan. The moment and look on his face as he struck her so hard replaying over. Yet, suddenly after his smile would follow to fight it. How kind he appeared, genuine with an apology. There wasn't a hint of malice in this man.
But she'd shake her head, clutching them closer to her. No, he was one of them. It had to be a ploy to get inside her head. That's what made some villains even more deadly, playing with their food before devouring.
These people were merciless and vile. They had no sympathy with violence and would kill anyone. Just sitting here, waiting for that door to open and meet her end by the hands of one of them. With things being so quiet, it only made it seem more eerie. Alone, in a blank room with no windows. No sound, not even able to hear footsteps outside.
Her mind went to her parents, how they'd feel when people started to realize she was missing. Would the league voice it was by their hands?, holding her life like a cat toying with a bird? Their tearful faces crying on news media for their daughters safe return. The classmates conjuring up a rescue plan like they had Bakugou, though no one knew where she was. Hell, she didn't even. Ochako had awoken in here.
Or what of her grandparents, eagerly awaiting for her arrival that wouldn't come? It had been so long since they'd seen one another.
Her neck and wrist felt raw from the way the binds rubbed on them, trying to ignore the tender spots. Or the ache in her stomach from hunger. Perhaps they'd starve or dehydrate her into complying with their plans. Psychological torture, if these blank white walls void of life didn't do it first.
The thought of facing everyone after if she lived through this seemed a tad dreadful, embarrassed knowing that she barely put up a fight. She was too scared, afraid Dabi would burn her to death the way he had those poor innocent people in the streets. So easily without a second thought, all by her fault for crying out for help.
She buried her face into her knees, drawing herself up further onto the bed with their screams echoing in her mind. None of this was fair. Was there any specific reason she was targeted? Surely they wouldn't say. And in these hours that had passed since that guy had left, it was all that was telling about all of this. Questions. So many that would not be answered having to live in fear.
Though speak of the devil, the door flew open with him entering once more carrying two large bags with a large grin on his face as it startled her, scooting away.
"Hey! You hungry!?," he yelled a little too enthusiastically.
Though she didn't respond, studying him closely for what he was up to. And he could tell, sensing the distrust with a pout. "Oh come on! I went get you fooood!~"
"I'm not hungry," she lied, a small growl coming from her stomach that would've went undetected if not for his extremely good hearing ability.
He walked over to the bed, placing them down before taking a seat beside her. Trying to keep his movements slow so she wouldn't hit him again. Though she only moved all the way to the wall to put the best available distance.
Ochako watched him begin to dig in the bags, pulling out a plain container of takeout with a plastic fork on top. Handing it over to her with a bright smile. "This is yours madam, though I didn't know what you liked. I got you what I thought was good, which was well, everything!"
She stared blankly at him before taking it, slowly pulling her legs down to place it on her lap. Every move hesitate. She noted he wore new clothing, changed from the blood coated ones. Yet not much different than his previous attire.
Hawks placed his box on his lap, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. Eyeing her from the corner of his eyes as she barely opened it.
"Can't you go eat somewhere else?," she snapped.
"What?, How come?," he asked with a bit of hurt in his voice.
"I'm not uncomfortable sharing a meal with a villan."
Hawks sighed, taking a large bit of his food before turning to her with an annoyed expression. "It taste better with company."
She only gave him a snarky look, examining the contents. Rummaging through the noodles and rice with her plastic fork. It did look delicious, but what if it wasn't as it seemed? Poison? A paralyzing agent? Sleeping drug? Surely he didn't think she'd be stupid enough to fall for this.
Hawks paused, watching the look on her face and aware of what she was thinking. "It's fine. I didn't do anything to it. I think I wouldn't be sneaky if I wanted to kill you."
She twisted a fork of noodles, carefully outstretching it to him. "Then try it." His eyes flickered between the food and her, patiently waiting for him to do as she said.
He rolled his eyes in return, gently grabbing her wrist and directing the fork to his lips. Seductively placing it in his mouth as their eyes locked, a deep blush spreading onto her cheeks.
He pulled back, chewing earnestly at the decadant flavor of teriyaki sauce. By far the best talent he had was choosing food, not like anything was considered bad really. "See?," he sassed, winking at her.
Though she quickly looked away, eyeing the fork he had used in her hand. Feeling disgusted to share it now not thinking things over. Ochako shoved it back into the noodles, placing the box on the ground beside the bed. "I'll eat it later."
"Oh come on!," he snapped, placing his down as well to stand with his hands on his hips, watching her childish behavior with her arms crossed, glaring at the floor. "It's good! I'm trying real hard here!"
Her head whipped up to meet him, not understanding how he could be so casual and expect her to be okay with all this. After what he did, regardless of an apology. They chose to kidnap her. It was one thing. But demanding she act easy or proper was another she refused to bow down to. No act of kindness would change that.
"I'm sorry if the presence of someone like you disgust me," she whispered, her hand rising to place it on the small bruise on her cheek.
His face dropping at what she meant, sadness growing inside. Maybe Hawks was unfair to want so much, even if it was little, so soon. She had every right to be this way. The only reason he figured to press so hard was not only the stress he was under, but afraid of what Dabi would do if she became difficult. Already conjuring a lie for her behavior.
"I'm sorry-"
"Stop apologizing!," she screamed, a single tear of anger slipping out from her eye. "It's your fault I'm in here! You're sorry!? Then get me out of here!"
"I can't I-"
"Then leave!"
The silence thickened with the more sobs that rang out, leaning her head downcast giving into the grief. The weight of the situation dropping onto her heart like a ton of bricks. It felt like too much all at once and she resented this man more per second.
Hawks didn't want to go yet. Not leaving things like this, surely there was a way he could make it a little better. Negative emotions weren't something he could deal with easily, not like the adoring crowds of citizens he greeted daily. Or, well, women in general. Looking her over, it reminded him how filthy she was. Being dragged on the damp cement, yanked around like a doll, dried blood from minor cuts on her bare legs. Clothing stained and torn with dirt.
He looked over his shoulder at the bathroom, the small shower inside with a single container of soap. At least it had curtains. "How about a hot shower?"
"What?"
"You're pretty gross. Annnd you've got spare clothes in your bag! That's a plus right!?," he pointed to the duffle bag on the floor across the room.
It only agitated her further. Reminding her of what today was supposed to be like and where she was to be at this time, certainly not here.
"There's no door to the bathroom."
"Want me to stand guard? I'll be quiet and out of the way, like a loyal guard dog," he teased, giving another toothy grin as her face grew hot.
"No way."
"What do I have to do to make you smile?," he asked sweetly, squatting down to her level leaning his face in his hands.
"You can leave like I said, that's a start," she snapped.
Frowning, he opened his mouth to say something more but she grew angry, grabbing the pillow from beside her and throwing it at him. Swiftly catching it before it made contact.
"Get out already!," she screamed, his eyes going over to the pair of broken glasses that were concealed under where the pillow was.
She trailed her vision to what he was looking at, gasping at how she had forgotten about them. Tucking it under earlier for whatever reason.
"Do you want a pair?," he asked quietly, raising an eyebrow.
"W-What? No!, take them," she grabbed the broken glasses, tossing them his way onto the floor. Though he didn't try to catch them.
If Hawks knew people correctly, there was some underlying reason as to why she hid them, keeping it for herself. And it gave some small glimmer of hope that maybe he had offered some tiny, faint form of comfort. Ochako didn't trust him. But, maybe deep down she could tell he wasn't a bad guy. At least that's what his gut said, and this was enough for now.
He stood, giving her a small smile throwing the pillow back in place. "I'll go, just like you want. Please be good until I get back. Believe me when I say you don't want any of the others to be looking after you like this."
She flinched as he bent to grab his lunch, cautiously pulling away not to freak her out before going. Sure to cover her field of vision on the keypad as he typed the numbers in, and exited.
Once alone she crumbled, sobbing into her hands harder than before in pure frustration. The look of food on the ground made her feel nauseated now instead of hunger, the rumble in her stomach subsiding. It'd be a struggle than most in playing nice, and it didn't matter how strange he acted towards her. Surely there had to be a way out, if there was a concrete plan of escape before toying with the keypad by the door. Though her eyes glanced down at the plastic fork in the noodles, the wheels already beginning to turn to survival.
oo
Police combed the area thoroughly, each in search of the culprit beside the torched brick walls of the alleyway that sent many citizens to the hospital. Others, not being so lucky. Yet it was a stand still of unanswered questions with many officers quick to point the finger at the known flame user in the leave of villains. The evidence was enough, being as there was a multi vehicle pile up due to blue flames exploding from them prior to this incident only a few feet away.
Cameras caught nothing, and eye witnesses were burned half to death in an unconscious state. Until a forensics team discovered a broken phone in their search, taking it and placing it into a plastic bag for analysis.
Pro hero's on the scene also looked around to find nothing. Interviewing those somewhat close by but they could only give answers due to mass hysteria, pointing to the league instead of anything credible. It appeared hopeless in the dusk hours, the day ending in a loss.
Though behind in one of the squad cars, a radio tip in had come from a young girls family who claimed she had never shown up for a weekend visit, as one of the officers wrote down the information best as possible sitting behind the wheel, parked not far off to observe their surroundings. It all seemed like a normal case, until their frantic voices mentioned she was a U.A. student, class 1-A to be exact. Enough to nearly drop his pen, hurrying out from the car to run towards other recruits.
"No. This can't be a coincidence," a man in uniform mentioned, eyeing the phone in the bag they had found. "The league has had it out for that specific class since day one, school and everything."
"You think today could have been staged for a kidnapping sir?"
Each paused, a few pro hero's ears perking up to listen in on the conversation. Everyone took a pause to hear the deputies suggestions.
"I… I believe this case may have turned a bit more drastic. Notify the school in case she shows up there. I want patrol cars outside the family's house for now. Overlook security cameras once we've seen how this girl looks to see if she's on them and had been around here."
With a salute, they all began to scramble off in worry that this was far from over. Other students and youth in immediate danger. The commanding officer there gave a quick call to alert Mr. Tsukauchi and the police task force back in Shizouka of the unfolding events.
Nearby, Hawks sat, legs criss crossed watching the scene from high up on a random building, slurping his noodles down. Listening closely to the police frequency in the device in his ear, that he had tapped into months ago. The sound of Ochako's grandparents calling in, followed by the policeman running out to tell the others about it all pleased him. At least these small time rookies were smart enough to put two and two together so he wouldn't have to leave behind clues. Though now the next obstacle would be to figure out how to lead them to her location without getting caught by either side. Surely the HPSC didn't care enough to help with that, or like they'd talk him out of it to continue building the case for a large bust.
"At least they aren't completely useless," he said aloud, gulping down another bite in a bored fashion.
"Who is? The cops?," a female voice asked, jumping in place too deep in thought to have noticed Miruko walking up behind him. Scowling at her before turning his attention back to the people below.
"Mind your business."
"Aren't you sour? Hey, they were just saying how they think the league kidnapped another student! Figured I'd jump up here to let ya know," she said, taking a spot beside him. The wind gently blowing around them with her rabbit ears flowing. The sky growing dimmer by the second.
"Oh yea?," he asked, trying to seem interested.
"Heck yea! I can't believe that crap! This time around we'll definitely get em!," she began to punch the air, feeling fired up just imagining finding the villains. Her little nose began to move, sniffing the scent of his food, leaning closer in as he moved further away.
"I'm not sharing."
"Come oooon, it's been long hours scouting the area today!"
Hawks quickly scarfed the rest down, tossing the empty box at her as she grimaced. Standing before she could protest, feeling the wind against his wings that vibrated from it. That same sense of goosebumps rising on his skin at the anticipation of flight, ignoring her comments.
He turned, giving her a sassy wink before letting himself fall back from the building edge. The nighttime starlight coming into view as he plummeted downwards, letting the air whip through his fingers. Nothing was more exhilarating than this in life, after a hard day of conflicting emotions. The only thing that dampened his joy in the moment was knowing that girl slept alone in a foreign prison. Maybe he wanted to think he could relate, but truth was there had never been stability in his life. Staying place to place, constantly on the move. A man without a foundation.
Don't worry darlin. I'll be back first thing in the morning.
oo
It's kinda difficult to write enough words in one chapter that doesn't go over and jumble too much together in what happens lol so sorry if it's shorter.