Chapter 7

Don't try so hard.

Picking out anything worth grabbing his attention in the busy streets, looking over shoulders of people as they surrounded Hawks for autographs and questions. At least this should have been simple enough if he had any notion of what would light up Ochako's face, view point towards the windows of shops adorning all kinds of different items. Does she like board games? Cards? Can she even play cards?

She seemed to be a straight edge type of girl with barely any enthusiasm for entertaining things, and truthfully it drove him insane. How could someone be that way? Surely he'd lose himself in the confines of that room void of color or the sky. Though she was opposite, doing much better than expected regardless if there was nothing to do. Hanging out inside there, the time moved smoothly enough with just the two of them. But, Hawks could only hold conversation for so long.

"Can you sign my bag!?," a woman's screech startled him out of thought, blinking a few times before plastering that charmed smile to greet everyone. Sensing a burning gaze, scorching his back from taking too long with the civilians on patrol, and the crowd only getting bigger.

Signing an autograph per person as quickly as possible, sure to get the children before the thundering voice of Endeavor rolled in. Demanding everyone back off so they could continue their job, Hawks scratched the back of his head with a nervous wave as they hurried to get away.

"I was almost finished you know," he added, shoving the marker back into his jacket.

"To hell you were. You don't take the job seriously enough and are too friendly for your own good."

The firey man's demeanor radiated strong vibes with the stern look on his face, casting it to anyone that thought about approaching. They walked a short distance down the walkway of the city, with Hawks being behind so Endeavor could scare off any fans ready to block their way. Unlike they could see anyways with his short stature hidden behind, hands propped behind his head as he stared lazily at the blue sky. Near in a gloomy state.

Which Endeavor noted, glancing over his shoulder at the quiet man who had not once whined for food or to stop and rest. No smart comments, teasing at the scenery for anything to annoy him with. Barely trying to draw the crowd, even though they flocked anyways. No, today Hawks blended in with the background very well and he wasn't sure if he'd rather this version of his partner, or the typical aggravating one. A particular que he picked up on from time together was how easily readable a trait of Hawks was, and that being was at the sight of the large wings. The very top portion acting out physically to whatever emotions he let off, and as of now they were ruffled. Perked up at the tips, usually a sign of something negative.

"I still can't believe she doesn't like Gulliver's Travels..im not much of a movie or video game person if that's what She's into. And I doubt we'd like the same kinda music," he muttered to himself, staring at the passing buildings for any ideas, but still, nothing came. In spite of his model statues, he simply wasn't good with women. Things always got too complicated, whereas with Ochako, at least he could say she kept him guessing on his toes at all times to better understand her. And in that, it certainly wasn't boring tending to a person that fell for his taunts every time.

Hawks slammed into Endeavor's back, stumbling to catch balance as the man turned to him with an agitated expression. "Stop talking to yourself," he spat as Hawks gave a sheepish grin. "You aren't yourself today, and I don't need someone who's distracted in case something goes wrong. What the hell is it?"

For a man known to being cold and harsh, his behavior must have really been a bother for Endeavor to even ask. Glaring down with arms crossed over his chest, the height difference so diverse that a shadow casted upon him, trying to ponder an excuse. Not that Hawks could reveal anything in nature to his alterior life. So, like usual, he chose to pick the first thing that came to mind. "What kinda stuff does your daughter like?"

Endeavor's lips parted, stunned for a moment at such a ridiculous question before growing furious, grabbing Hawks by the collar and yanking him up. "What the hell are you asking that for!?"

The threatening move hadn't even phased him, still gloomy in deep thought. "I need to know what women find interesting. What kinda stuff they like, fun things."

They stared at each other, by passers gawking at the scene with a crowd forming in the distance. Flash from pictures being taken gone ignored with shouts of their hero names as Endeavor's flames grew brighter.

"Is that the problem!? You're thinking about a girl!?"

Hawks nodded as he was shoved harshly, greeted by Endeavor's back that continued to walk away. With he, skipping up behind to catch up, waving at the near people to signal that it was alright.

"So you gonna answer?," he chimed, poking the angry man in the arm.

"How should I know? You should stop thinking about foolish things like that and get your head in the game."

Of all the nervy things to consider an issue, Hawks one track mind sure was envious compared to many other problems. Minor set backs while the world burned surely was blissful, and he wondered why he even agreed to partner up with someone so childish. Adding onto the harsh criticism in his mind while going to take another look over his shoulder, aware that he didn't hear Hawks footsteps any longer.

Looking back, the bird wasn't far off, catching sight of a pair of reddened wings entering a small shop. Cursing to himself to storm in that direction. Until the TVs in the window display caught Endeavor's attention, with the missing U.A. student once again reported on the news. The girls face, recognized as one of Shoto's classmates, pictured on the screen with a heartfelt message from her parents during an outside interview, tears streaming down their faces.

Inside Hawks smiled at the other customers, hurrying to sign whatever they wanted while surveying the premises for an idea. Simple board games littered the shelves, along with other things for entertainment purposes. Children clattered around him, ignoring the tug they had on his large red wings. Shuffling off a few feathers to draw their attention away as they scrambled on the floor to grab a handful. Passing through stacks of toys until he reached for exactly what he wanted, not even considering her type of interest anymore the second he saw it. A glass set of chess. His favorite, intellectual board game. Sure to keep both of them busy for hours.

"Yes!," he cheered, quick to grab a box with all eyes on him, people taking pictures with their phones or recording on video. Not that he minded, being used to this sort of lifestyle.

The woman behind the counter simply stared at him as he approached, stuttering on words of politeness at the sight of the number two hero, known for being social and handsome. Hawks placed the box down, taking out his wallet. "As a woman, would you find this fun?," he asked genuinely, waiting for a reply as she blushed.

"Umm, I honestly don't know… Is it for a girlfriend?," the ears of everyone else in the vicinity drew to them, gathering around for his reply to watch every move he made. Of course the public and paparazzi always asked that exact question, and he'd always find it intrusive even if he'd play it off with a smart comment. But today he nearly wanted a reaction for some unknown reason, feeling generous to tease the media with a leek of him answering, sure to go viral.

Placing the money on the counter, he answered back in a loud fashion. "Why yes it is actually. I hope she enjoys it as much as I will."

The room erupted with the screams of fans, enticed with the inside scoop as he grinned to himself. Gathering the box into a bag and turning to wave at everyone, their whispers heard while many tried to follow. Walking out from the store with Endeavor waiting right outside, his eyes still glued to the screen.

"Are you having fun?," he snapped, glaring at the crowd following behind Hawks from the store.

"Yea! I found what I was looking for!," he said happily, holding the bag up like an overachieved accomplishment. "Watcha watching?"

Hawks peeked around the broad man's shoulders, his face dropping at the sight of Ochako's parents on the TV. Pleading to the league and media all alike for the safe return of their daughter. Her mother being held in her father's arms, both void of proper sleep with exhausted and worried faces. Holding a framed picture of her. Sure he'd spent time outside their house, watching closely out of sheer curiosity. But this hurt to see.

He noted the way her mother's hair swept around her shoulder. And knew then that's where Ochako got her looks from. Or her father's kind eyes.

Endeavor eyed him, noticing the way his feathers ruffled once more at the tips, reacting to their cries.

It's been sometime since he had spoken to Tokoyami, wondering if he'd be able to face one of her classmates. Knowing the boy would ask how the information in the investigation was going to uncover her disappearance, and at this point Hawks wasn't sure if he could take lying to yet another person. Adding onto the list of sins. That is if the school could even remain open after this scandal.

A deep vibration rattled the air with his bird like eyes turning to slits, face growing serious as Endeavor studied him. Something was off.

"Get back," he said suddenly, Endeavor raising an eyebrow with the crowds faces holding concern, stepping away slightly. It was coming, a mass held in the air that his senses picked up of abnormal energy. Moving fast.

"I said get back!," he screamed, forcing large feathers out to reach anyone around to evacuate them, the patrons taking up most of the quirks focus as he readied for the impact with barely enough time to draw the wing blade. Until a giant black mass slammed straight into the wall above him. Ducking down one second before being hit dead on with Endeavor's shouts muffled under the weight.

Crumble of bricks and other debris from the streets falling shortly after with the dust settling as they coughed, staggering out from the rubble. Hawks vision focused just in time to catch Endeavor swinging towards the villan, a giant mass of darkened ooze seeping out from its round form. Definitely not a nomu, but strange enough for a normal villan.

Blood dripped beside his lip as he instinctively licked it, raising his hand to touch a minor gash on the side of his eyebrow. A small throb already forming as he pulled himself out from the stones, tossing the bag to the side for later.

Endeavor's flames blasted at its odd body that absorbed it, with Hawks flying into action. But as he landed on the upper portion of its body, steadying his boots onto the slippery texture, he gave a single, deadly slice with the blade to its body. That not only regenerated, but drew its attention. Large plain white eyes rolling from the facial side to greet him, grimacing at the disgusting way it moved.

Unable to dodge this time before it swung an arm, it's wrist big enough to catch his entire body. Flung straight into a nearby brick wall with so much intensity that he coughed out blood, eyes wide with pain surging through the ringing of his ears with Endeavor's calls going unheard. Falling face first into the cement, small bits of rock and glass digging into his cheek as he tried to breath, wheezing hard for air.

Seeing his partner being taken down so horribly had infuriated him, enough to set the villan ablaze with a blue inferno. Temperature hot enough to melt steel with its squeals mueling out, flailing in desperation to get away. Not intending to act so brutally, the only upside was that it was over in a split second. Sirens set off in the distance from the police and ambulances already coming as he left the charred body behind, hurrying to Hawks side.

"Hawks!," Endeavor yelled, roughly rolling him over to see the damage while he winced in pain. Cringing hard, knowing the villan must've broken a few ribs at least.

"I s-should've been m-more careful," he stuttered, coughing out another bit of blood that soaked down to his muscle shirt, the white markings turned red.

"This won't look good on your reputation as the number two hero you idiot," Endeavor barked, watching Hawks try to laugh at the snarky comment with ambulance workers running over to them. Pushing the flamed man out the way to tend to the injured hero.

His fuzzy vision looked around, barely able to make out his surroundings before finally settling on the bag far off by the rubble. Pointing to it to signal Endeavor to grab it.

"Forget about the damn thing!," he snapped, watching Hawks ignore any argument he may have had. Golden eyes never leaving its sight.

So he sighed in frustration, going up to the bag to fetch it while the workers tried to place him inside the van. Though he refused, starting to put up a fight to sit down on the open edge, demanding he was fine with a weak, barely audible voice. Wings flapping to push them off. Panting hard to hold his consciousness. There was something important he needed to get to, and if he passed out now, then who knows when he'd awake. Leaving Ochako to Dabi's care once more. Which was not on the agenda yet.

"That's enough," Endeavor warned, stalking up to the van. "I don't know what's your deal today but stop behaving like a brat. Go to the damn hospital."

"No," Hawks coughed out, glaring at the man who was taken back by this sudden brash nature. Wiping the blood on his face away with his sleeve. "I've got… Got to go somewhere."

Hawks staggered up, yanking the bag out from Endeavor's hands as he flapped his wings once more to prevent the workers from coming closer. Nothing was life threatening, of all the instances he'd been in, he knew that for certain. But, he did need rest, ready to completely collapse at any given moment. There was no time to spare.

So he stepped away from them, a hard glare on his face to mean business as the workers and his partner reached out to him.

"Hawks!," Endeavor shouted, trying to grab his arms but he dodged just enough to fly up.

"Back off!," he snapped, soring high into the sky away from anyone able to catch him. Ignoring the screams of worried people and already prepared to listen to Endeavor's lectures later. Ochako was waiting for him, so he'd rest there away from the public's eye.

oo

She sat on her bed with knees drawn up, wearing the tan leather jacket for a small form of security. Time was absent while unable to tell the days, let alone hour with no clock. That was probably the most maddening part about all this. Just waiting, alone and afraid.

Wondering where he had been. Sure she couldn't tell the time accurately, but she could feel when he was off. And that's when the fear would set in, praying to anything that it'd be no one else to walk through that door. The flashbacks of abuse coming back as she swore she could feel Dabi striking her again. The hard way the back of his hand hit her face, or nails dug into her scalp.

The feelings grew horrid enough that it stifled the sounds erupting from her stomach in hunger. Having taken three showers already just to have something to distract from the dread, anxiety forcing its way up. Reading the book left behind would not do, her nerves shot to hell let alone focus and sit straight.

But the door sliding open made her heart flutter, rising to her feet with hope sparking in her eyes that blew out like a candle once seeing his tattered form barely able to stand. Staggering through the door with blood dripping onto the floor from his face.

Hawks dropped to his knees once it slid shut, hearing her cry out to him. The feel of her soft chest pressed against his face as he collapsed into her, buried by her breast that at any other given point would've amused him. Her frail arms wrapping protectively around his shoulders with a small hand raking through his scalp. And just like that all the pain subsided among her embrace. Washing away the stress as he sighed contently.

"Hawks!," she cried, blood trickling into her cleavage and partially on the sleeve, her eyes bewildered at his defeated form. "What happened?!"

He grunted, nuzzling his face into her chest for more comfort at the warm touch, feeling guilty for making her worry this way. But also grateful that at least she cared. "I guess nows the perfect time to kill me," he grumbled, coughing once more.

Her brows furrowed at the silly comment, sure to keep true to himself even in agony like this. Ochako pulled him tighter, gently running her fingers through his hair. "Don't be stupid."

Her voice wavered with tears stinging the corner of her eyes, his wings twitching but unable to move to look at her or offer any reassurance. "Please don't cry," he said weakly, taking a sharp breath. "You cry.. Everyday...don't cry for me this time." his wings drooped along with his weight, leaning completely onto her as she tried to balance back. Gasping to look over his face, eyes closed in a deep state of rest now. The blood soaked through the fur of his jacket that she wore, though beginning to lesson per second with the wounds already trying to heal.

"Why didn't you go to the hospital..," she asked quietly, not receiving an answer.

Her eyes trailed down to a bag hanging loosely in his fingers as she gently grabbed it. Eyeing the contents of a board game, chess apparently on top. Obviously it was meant for the both of them and she gave a worried smile, shoving it off nearby. "I hate chess you dummy."

And too soon it grew quiet aside from his heavy breathing, not used to being within his presence while it was so silent. Used to his bandering and rude remarks. But now holding his pitiful, lifeless body. So vulnerable looking regardless of the difference in body structure. True she could use this. But also didn't want to, as this sight hurt her heart deeply. Never wanting to injure him.

oo

It was unknown how much time passed, other than the fact that he had slept like a log. A sore feeling shooting throughout his body as he winced, eyes trying to pry themselves open but couldn't focus just yet. A soft texture greeting his face as he came too, sluggishly blinking. There was a throb to the side of his head, torso and back. The recent events starting to wheel into his mind, knowing now where he was. But unsure of the state.

As he focused, Hawks realized that she was beside him on the floor. His cheek nuzzled into her breast, holding him firmly against her with one of her hands still buried into his hair. The other draped loosely over his back, entwined with a few feathers that made him scowl. Sure to tell her before not to touch them.

Though he let it go for now, cautiously glancing up at her sleeping form that cradled him. A pillow from the bed under her head, and a small cornered shared with him. Surely she was unable to drag him to the mattress, so settled on this instead. Though why hadn't she left him here was a mystery, instead of allowing him to suffer alone.

Her legs curled into his chest as small snores erupting from her, smiling softly at the way she adorned his oversized jacket.

I must've made her worried sick.

He searched around for his phone, reading the time that was extremely late, past 2AM. There was no use waking her now, pulling away to leave when he felt extremely woozy and risked disturbing her. Not that he was complaining at their proximity either, allowed to nuzzle further into her cleavage as he yawned lightly. Wrapping an arm around her body to pull her closer. Hawks would be sure to worry about the days situation tomorrow. Mentally and physically he was too exhausted for such, and quite frankly felt like shit. It was worth being irresponsible from time to time.

oo

Ik this stories not that popular or interesting but I'm sure it probably will gain more fans once Hawks is animated into the anime since more people watch that than read the Manga lol