Chapter 4
Noted
.:+:.
Every time
Every single fucking time
.:+:.
Why me?
Why does it have to be me?
Why do I have to be the one to be pestered and bothered and followed by this man-child?
Seriously, why?!
He wouldn't leave her alone damn it! Everywhere she went, every night- she was out on Patrol, minding her own damn business, doing her job- rescuing a guy here, butting heads with a wannabe Villain there- stopping a thief, the works. She handled it, all on her own, just fine- it was normal and then... Him.
He showed up. Every. Single. Night.
"Hey there Spirit~!"
"Oooh, you caught him real quick huh~?"
"Slow night ~?"
"Yo~!"
"What's up~?"
Always with a carefree smile and wave of his hand, popping into the picture and totally unneeded in every situation- he was clearly just there to get her attention. And she didn't want him to be in her attention- she wanted him to just... Back off a little!
He's so freaking annoying, his 'wanting to get to know me' has officially turned into 'let's bother Spirit every night'
She even stopped patrolling Hosu and went back to her regular rounds in Hieku- just to throw him off a bit.
And he still showed up there too
He said he wanted to chat, and go for a little walk, hang out for a bit- and she humored him the first two nights, reminding herself not to be so bitchy- but his inane questions were persistent and she hadn't the patience. Now she'd just adopted the behavior of humoring him for five minutes- before managing to slip away and ditch him. A bit harsh maybe, but he was incessant, and he clearly had no grasp of how annoyed she was with him and his carefree, childish behavior. And he clearly didn't seem to get the hint when she ditched him, numerous times now- he always just came back again.
Oblivious. He's fucking oblivious.
She hoped today she'd avoid him, but she had a sinking feeling that wouldn't happen- even as she sidetracked a bit to head up to Death Arms' Agency and pick up the paperwork and badge for the security detail at UA... Once she went back and headed to Patrol, she just knew- he'd find some way to find her.
I'm going to scratch that smile off his face if this keeps up
Since that first night she'd met Hawks, every night since then for five days she'd seen him again. She avoided letting herself be seen with him in front of other people, or crowds, or media persons- the last thing she needed was rumors and stories running rampant about a sudden spike in Animal Spirit and Hawks being together... The things they could spin and come up with.
I don't need nor want that attention- at all
... Of course it was hard avoiding said attention when the whole of Japan had their eyes and their interests set firmly on the Winged Hero.
She sighed, weaving through people on the sidewalk in her (admittedly favored) form of a cat.
Why is he so interested in me? Its crazy... And maybe a bit creepy
This section of Japan was less familiar to her, it was more than a few Wards away from her usual area of activity- but she knew it well enough to know where she was going. After all, she only ever went to one place in particular when she came out this far. She moved further and further up the street and toward a tall, towering building with a large entryway and glass front- well built and clearly had no small amount of money poured into it... Across the face there were banners featuring a number of Pro Heroes- all of them of course signed on with the Agency who owned the Building.
She turned and trotted up the steps leading into the entrance and all the way up to the door itself before she Shifted back into her normal body. Her hand pushed lightly against the door as she stepped inside and crossed the foyer, making no pause nor detour as she walked straight passed the lobby and toward the Security Gate on the opposite end of the floor. She earned a few looks from the people in the lobby but no one really batted an eye- and why would they?
She wasn't sporting her Hero Uniform at the moment and they couldn't see her face- not with the hood of the maroon jacket she had on pulled up and over her head. She'd picked a more casual outfit for the excursion, a tank top, and skinny jeans tucked into knee-high boots that buckled all the way along their length- a maroon jacket with elbow-length sleeves and a hood, and around her wrists and array of leather bracelets and the like. To anyone she seemed a regular young woman, with no clear view of her face- which would likely give away who she was immediately. Even in a more casual outfit she was still Animal Spirit, and for it she'd made sure to do her hair as she would if she were out on Patrol, as well as make sure to paint the dark red makeup par for her Hero Uniform under her eyes and on her lips. That way if she were to talk to someone directly, they'd realize who she was- but she didn't stick out of the crowd unless she wanted to.
After all, she already shied away from making a scene when she was working- and she wasn't looking to attract a crowd of fans and whatnot while she was out and about... And she surely would, if they recognized her.
Perks of being the No. 26 I guess...
She drew up at the Gate, pulling her wallet, keys and phone from her pockets and sliding a laminated card out- the Security Guard stepped forward as she got close and smiled slightly.
"Good afternoon." He murmured, Spirit smiled back politely and set her items down in a bin for screening and handed him the card- specifically, an Authorized Visitor's Pass with her identity and picture on it, one that granted her access to the rest of Building where most people didn't passed the first floor, and one she'd earned from Death Arms awhile back. The Guard took the ID with ease and scanned it, while also sliding the bin with her things in it through the scanner and to the other side of the gate. "Been awhile since you've stopped by. Is this a social call or just mail pickup?" he asked lightly, Spirit shrugged.
"Kinda both." She replied, he nodded, stepping to the side a bit and waving her forward to step through the Security Scanner. She passed through the faint blue bio-electric field with no sirens or alarms (not that she expected any mind you), and the Security Guard handed her ID back to her over the wall.
"You're all clear of course. Have a good day, Animal Spirit." He told her lightly, she took the card back and picked up her belongings- nodding to him.
"Thank you, you too." She called back as she headed away and towards the elevators. She pressed the button to call it down while also pulling her messages up on her phone- her thumb typing away a small message and hitting send at near the exact instant the elevator dinged and the doors started to open. She stepped in the elevator and turned, tapping the third floor button and backing up as the doors closed- her hands lift to pull her hood down and her hands fell in her jacket pockets. The small monitor in the elevator had a muted slideshow of Heroes in the Agency and Ads going across and a small corner saved for a clock;
5:26 pm
The elevator moved up at rapid pace and stopped at the 3rd floor, the door sliding open as she stepped out and veered left down a short hallway and toward a room with a desk and offices, and a wall of filing cabinets. The clerk at the front counter looked up as she walked in, his eyes widening in surprise and awe- before he nodded to her and stood up.
"Hello Animal Spirit." He said lightly, "Are you here to pick up mail?"
"Yep. Should be some documents and an ID from the Central Events Coordination Center." Spirit replied easily, the clerk nodded.
"Yes, I do remember seeing that- give me a minute I'll grab those for you." He said brightly, turning around and heading off into a back room and leaving Spirit leaning against the counter. Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she pulled it out, a message popping up on the screen.
New Message From: Death Arms
I'm going through some things with the Marketers on the 21st floor. I'll be out soon
She pulled the message down to open up the keyboard and simply typed out;
Got it
The clerk came back with a manila envelope in hand, which he easily passed across the counter to her. She smiled at him and gave him a small nod,
"Thank you." Spirit hummed,
"My pleasure."
A short trip back to the elevator and the push of the 21st button had her climbing higher in the Building, the manila folder tucked under her arm and hands in her pockets as she started to hum the tune of a certain popular song that had originally been played in English, and not Japanese.
"... Hmmhmm... Champion... Champioooonnnn..." She mumbled, watching the monitor absentmindedly as the elevator slowed up and the bell went off.
She stepped out into a large open space with a city view and a circular room dead ahead with couches and chairs and tables. There were plants and other such niceties like lamps and decorative vases around, and pictures and paintings up on the wall ranging from bland to specific, highly stylized illustrations and photography of the Heroes. There was a small kitchenette with a fridge and microwave and a coffee pot- and a vending machine with various snacks and drinks. Branching out on either side, a hallway lead further into the building and into different offices and rooms, and meeting chambers- the walls cleanly painted and trimmed and posters put up just as frequently as monitors were... Broadcasting that same slideshow in the elevator, or some memo, or news report, the works.
Her head tilted slightly to the right and to the muffled sound of talking from somewhere in that direction- but she didn't pause on it for too long before she headed forward and sat down at one of the couches, crossing her knees over another and setting the folder down on the sofa at her side. She scrolled through her notifications as she waited, minding her own business and aware of voices and feet and talking- there were people all over this building, doing their jobs and their own thing. This Agency was successful, but it wasn't one of the more popular ones- it had dozens of Heroes signed on and for it they made a lot of money. But none of those Heroes were highly Ranked, the top-rated Hero in this Building was the No. 113, and the rest of them were lower with a few not Ranked just yet.
"Mm... Yeah, I'll see ya in a bit." And unfamiliar voice reached her ears but she didn't look up from her phone. There were footsteps getting closer to where she was but her attention was more fixed on the article she was reading about the attack on UA's Unforeseen Simulation Joint about a week back now.
'... Pro Hero Thirteen sustained heavy lacerations to the back during the attack, but official reports say that Thirteen is expected to make a full recovery. The Class's Homeroom teacher, Pro Hero Eraserhead sustained multiple injuries in defense of the students, and his recovery is expected to take longer...'
Hmm... That whole thing sounds like a mess more and more I read about it... Even a week passed and the news is still hung up on it...
She thumbed the page up, grimacing slightly at a picture of Thirteen's torn open suit shot at a shitty angle and through some police lines.
... Geez...
"... Holy crap, you're Animal Spirit."
Spirit glanced up quickly at the sound of her name, her red eyes shifting over toward the side and the figure of a young man dressed in what was clearly a Hero Uniform, with large boots and a color scheme of orange and red. He'd originally been headed for the elevator, but upon seeing her sitting there he had sidetracked. She blinked once, seeing the faintly excited smile on his face and the way his eyes glittered... Either way though, she'd been to this Agency several times before now and she didn't recognize him. Spirit smiled, her phone falling slightly as nodded at him.
"Yep, that's me." She murmured, he let out a breath and stepped a bit closer, his hand extending as he grinned at her. Spirit stood up, taking his hand in return and shaking once- politeness and formality flaring out of habit.
"Wow, I'm honored to meet you! You're fantastic! And your Track record is spotless!" Her grinned, "You keep up with the most popular Heroes with your skill alone! You're great! I'm totally a fan~!" He chuckled, Spirit smiled a bit more. "Oh, name's Lepunn, by the way."
"Ah, nice to meet you." Spirit replied, "And thank you for the praises, I'm flattered..." She chuckled softly, their hands separating as his hands found his hips and Spirit's fell in her coat pockets.
"So what brings you here?" Lepunn asked, his eyes gleaming. "You're not thinking of signing in with this Agency are you? The Higher-ups would lose their minds of they could snag the No. 26!" Spirit smiled,
"No, no- sorry to disappoint." Spirit hummed, "I'm just visiting, and picking up a bit of mail. It's not uncommon for me to stop by here, actually." She elaborated, his head tilting in intrigue. "You're new here, yeah?"
"Heh, that obvious?" He chuckled,
"Well I've just never seen you around, and most everyone here is already used to me stopping by." Spirit explained easily, embarrassment flaring in her core though she kept smiling.
Plus you're doing the whole fan-boy thing...
"Visiting for any particular reason?" Lepunn asked,
"No need to interrogate her, Newbie."
Lepunn jumped at the voice behind him out of nowhere and Spirit's eyes flashed a bit, her expression softening slightly as her attention shifted passed the curious Hero and toward the familiar, bulky form of Death Arms. He drew up behind Lepunn, his arms crossed about his chest and expression neutral. Lepunn stepped sideways quickly, his head snapping around toward Death Arms and eyes wide in surprise. The white-haired man simply quirked a brow at the surprised reaction, "D-Death Arms..!" Lepunn stammered,
"He's the one I'm visiting actually." Spirit smiled, tilting her head toward Death Arms as Lepunn's eyes widened in surprise. "We're old friends from High School."
"O-oh, I didn't realize...!" Lepunn murmured, "You two went to the same high school...?"
"Yes." Death Arms murmured lowly, clearly not at all looking to chit-chat... as per the usual. "Don't you have a Joint-Patrol to be getting to, Lepunn?" He asked dryly, the younger man jumped a bit and nodded quickly.
"O-oh right, I totally got sidetracked...!" Lepunn stammered, casting a small, nervous smile toward Spirit and backing up. "It was good to meet you, Animal Spirit~! Maybe we'll see each other some other time..?"
Spirit waved a hand at him, "Maybe." She hummed, he called the elevator up and the doors slid open. Spirit smiled a bit more, nodding toward him. "Good luck on Patrol~"
"Thank you!" He called back, stepping into the elevator and the door closing- leaving Spirit and Death Arms in the common area alone as Death Arms kept his eyes on the closed elevator doors a few moments. Spirit on the other hand deflated a bit, her eyes dropping closed as she let out a silent sigh and ran a hand through her bangs a bit.
"Was he really bothering you that much?" Death Arms asked easily, his eyes trailing back toward her as Spirit let out a small groan.
"It's wasn't him, really... I'm just pretty tapped out on being friendly and polite to people that I don't know right now..." She grumbled, Death Arms quirked a brow at that.
"So there is someone bothering you?" He asked, Spirit sweatdropped.
"Oh yeah, prepare for a rant over food..." She told him, smiling softly. "Sorry in advance if I complain a bunch, but I promise to lend my ear for anything you wanna rant about too." He let out a breath,
"I never complain about listening you know. I am well aware I'm the only person you actually talk to." Death Arms told her, she smiled in embarrassment. "And it's better you talk to someone than no one at all... You don't need to apologize for it, we've known each other too long, Spirit." His lips pulled slightly in what rare, casual side of him appeared for a split second- usually he was a pretty serious and straight to the point guy. He didn't mess around or tease, and he always stayed on target and on top of things- he just wasn't the sort to joke around or otherwise be... Hmm... Funny she supposed?
He'd always been like that, and that wasn't to say he wasn't a good guy- he was rather kind in his own way, and he did care about the safety of other people. And he and Spirit had known one another long enough and were on familiar terms, so he wasn't always so serious around her.
"Besides, you need some sort of social life- and you wouldn't have one without me... and the Agency thinks the more time I spend with you, I might convince you to sign on." He added casually, Spirit smiled.
"Hehe, you're not gonna have any luck with that." She chuckled,
"They don't know that." He replied easily, shrugging a bit. His head titled a bit, "So, ready for dinner? It's my turn to pay, if I remember correctly."
"Yep."
.:+:.
"... He's like a freaking child, and he just a won't leave me alone...!" Spirit groaned quietly, chopsticks in hand and sitting cross-legged in the booth across from Death Arms. She stuck some more food in her mouth, grimacing to herself as he leaned back against the booth with one hand hung over the top and smoking as he listened to her- he'd finished his food a bit beforehand, but with all the talking Spirit had been doing she was slower.
The restaurant around them was busy but by no means packed- among the patron being a number of Pro Heroes or otherwise those who worked with them. Some of them were dressed up in their Hero Uniforms (like Death Arms) or more casual (like Spirit). It was a common place for Pros to grab food and avoid Press or Fans, and just eat in peace. They came here, and a few other places geared toward Heroes when she and Death Arms went out for food, and for the last half hour since arriving Spirit had delved first into the general catch-up chatter about her life, before eventually spiraling down into her frustrations and interactions with the Winged Hero Hawks.
(A recant of information she kept her voice down enough not to draw attention nor ears of course- even among a room of other Pros.)
"He's got it stuck in his head that we're gonna be friends or something and I don't hardly know him! And I went ahead and tried to explain to him you can't be chummy with people right away and he just took that as 'bug Spirit everyday until she gets used to being around me and I somehow miraculously stack up enough points to get out of the uneasy acquaintances zone'!" Spirit grumbled around the mouthful of food, Death Arms quirked a brow at that after awhile of simply listening.
"Points?" He murmured, Spirit's chewing halted at the question.
"Yeah, his words- his idea." Spirit grumbled, "Like he thinks social interactions between us earn him more 'points' toward being 'friends'. Like handling the cops with the body, and buying me food..." She elaborated, Death Arms blinked. "It's pretty clear he just rolls with things the way he chooses to, so even if I correct him he just goes back to calling it how he wants." She sighed, shrugging a bit. "I'm finding it's sometimes just easier to quit correcting him all the time..." She grumbled, Death Arms took a long intake of his cigarette, his eyes dropping closed in thought for a few moments.
"You said he wants to work with you?" Death Arms asked slowly, Spirit nodded.
"Yeah, though I don't understand why... I think most of this 'friendly' thing is because we're the only Heroes without an Agency in the top 30." Spirit grumbled, "And somehow that paints a big old 'bond with Spirit' sign on my back. It's almost like he just expects us to automatically snap together, that being in the same sort of situation- sort of- makes us compatible? But that makes no sense, and even outside of being so persistent and confident and cheeky- why would I ever want to work with him? Everyone who has ever worked with him have hated it, he's got all these bad habits of jumping in head first and leaving people behind. I don't wanna be stuck trailing after him and cleaning up his mess."
Death Arms' head tilted a bit to the side as he blew out a long, slow puff of smoke. "I've heard the stories, and he does have a bit of a habit of rushing full speed ahead." Death Arms mused, "They guy's got a lot going for him in terms of skill and appearances, but he's way too cocky..." he shifted his cigarette in his fingers. "If he keeps going at the rate he is, he's gonna get himself or somebody else killed." Spirit took another bite of her food, grimacing a bit to herself as she let her eyes drop to the table.
Yeah I already figured that...
"Maybe you should work with him. Maybe you could mellow him out a bit, teach him to slow down." Death Arms said lightly, Spirit stiffened, her eyes snapping up and teeth clamping down on her chopsticks as her jaw locked.
"I'm sorry, what...?!" She snapped lowly, he shrugged.
"Look, you already know he's going too fast, too hard. He's got good skills and he's got a good image, but you have to be able to work with other Pros effectively to do your job right." Death Arms murmured, "And at the moment- he's rushing full speed ahead and trying to do everything on his own. He's rising up the ranks and putting himself in the spotlight just through his Hero Work, and that's discounting the fact he's trying to raise up his own Agency and make up his own rules all by himself. He's riding on a high right now that will either- somehow- manage a way to go right, or more likely- he's gonna crash, and it's going to be bad."
Spirit sweatdropped a bit, her lips a tight line and still in her seat as she just looked at him.
"I'd say you're pretty much on par with this guy for your skills, but you don't go around flaunting and being cocky. You're always careful and you're always mindful of the consequences of your actions, and other people. You never rush in head first without considering every angle you can- and on top of that, you know how to he patient, and how to judge when patience is needed." Death Arms went on despite the very flat stare she had settled on him, and very, very much serious about what he was saying- by the way. "If anything, you should at least try to see if you can pass on a bit of your patience and caution onto him. It'll not just help him, but a lot of other people in the long-run." Death Arms murmured, she grimaced.
"This flying-fuck couldn't be bothered to listen or learn 'patience' from Best Jeanist!" She retorted quickly, "What makes you think there's a snowball's chance in hell that he'd ever learn anything or even listen to me...?!"
"He sounds like the sort of guy that has to be really interested in something to ever spend more time on it than a passing fancy, and even take it seriously." Death Arms said lightly, "And the way it's going- he's clearly interested in you."
Her jaw snapped shut and she frowned, her red eyes flashing.
"Maybe his interest in you might be enough to let him learn something- or at least consider listening to what you have to say." Death Arms told her, and Spirit growled a little.
She hated the suggestion, but at the same time... Maybe there was a bit of a point in there.
But that just annoyed her more
"... Tch... I don't want anything to do with him...!" She snapped lowly, her arms crossing about her chest indignantly. "I'm not gonna play as his babysitter! Besides- he's not listened to a damn thing I've said so far, why would that suddenly change?!"
"You said he agreed with the 'levels of familiarity' thing." Death Arm commented, "Sounds like he listened to me." Her eye twitched,
"You're supposed to be on my side you know!" She huffed hotly, and he sighed.
"... Whatever... we'll quit now before we argue all night... Just give it some thought, Spirit."
.:+:.
"Maybe his interest in you might be enough to let him learn something- or at least consider listening to what you have to say."
...tch... Like that Feathers-For-Brains would ever learn how to be patient... Let alone from me.
She bit the inside of her cheek, glowering at the wall of the building she was facing- a few young, disheveled guys all tied up in front of her and grumbling from their seats and the concrete. Her hands were on her hips, her face a scowl and in her Hero Uniform- she'd been on Patrol now for the last three hours after having left food and Death Arms behind. In the midst of said Patrol she'd managed to not run into Hawks, and instead did her job- keeping an eye out, helping out another Hero (guy named Killjoy) with a small group peddling drugs, and then eventually those young guys tied up in front of her.
They'd tried robbing a convenience store a few minutes ago and hadn't gotten very far- she'd been up the street when they tried and been there in a few moments to muck up their plans and stop them in place. Now she was just waiting on the Police to come and pick them up... Whilst also fidgeting, she wanted to get going before a huge crowd showed up and tried to get her attention. Because inevitably when they did-
She heard the (by now) familiar sound of wings beating at air above her head, and the waft of air accompanying it.
"Hello, hello~!" Came the light, cheery voice from overhead, accompanied by bulging, unbelieving eyes from the young men tied up and on the floor in front of her, their faces tilting up and necks craning. "You got started late out on Patrol today, huh Spirit~?" He asked brightly, his shadow spilling out over herself and the ground from the light of the billboard behind them. Her eyes dropped closed, her expression twisting a little more than it already had and jaw clenched. "Up to anything interesting in the meantime~?" He asked, she heard the sound of his feet hitting the concrete and the lack there of, of his wings molding the air... She could also hear the distant sound of cars getting closer and police sirens. There'd be news reporters and other media personnel here soon enough.
Damn it
She turned, her expression nothing but utter neutrality as her red eyes found Hawks and that carefree, snarky sort of smile of his. "Don't you have anything better to do than track me down every night?" She grumbled. He shrugged, still smiling as he stuck his hands in his coat pockets and rocked back on his feet a bit.
"Not really. Patrols have been pretty slow lately- not that I'm complaining~! I like being able to kick back and just fly without worrying about anything~" he hummed, "But it's even cooler if I get to hang out with someone like you, so I figure why not pop by~?"
1. Because I'd rather you not
2. You clearly aren't getting it, but you are bothering me with all the popping up
3. We are not on the level of being friendly enough to just 'pop by' Bird-Brain
"So anyway, you up for that meal?" Hawks asked cheerfully, "Oh, and the UA Sports Festival is coming up! You planning on going?"
"... Not today, and yes. But I'm not there to watch." Spirit mumbled lowly, his head titled in intrigue. She sighed, quickly weighing if it was worth it to tell him what she meant... Before deciding if didn't really matter. "I'm part of the Security for the event. They bumped up on it since the whole thing at the USJ." She elaborated dryly, he nodded.
"Oooooh, gotcha... That makes sense I suppose, though that means you're not gonna be able to scout any students for internships." He hummed, Spirit quirked a brow.
"... Why would that matter...?" she mumbled, he blinked. "... I wasn't planning on offering to take anyone as an intern to start with. Are you?"
"Of course~!" He smirked,
Oh I feel bad for whatever kid gets stuck with-
"But why aren't you~?" He pressed,
"First- I don't have any Agency so I'd have to handle all the paperwork and request forms and delivery all by myself." Spirit deadpanned, his mouth opened to say something- probably 'I do too', but she never let him say it before continuing. "Second- I'm not going to watch so I'm not paying attention to any of the students Quirks, so I won't have any opinion or want to work with any of them. Even if I did have an interest in doing an internship- which I don't- working security doesn't make for effective scouting." She went on, her arms crossing over her chest- and by not really caring the store-robbers were listening or the police and news had gotten there. "And Third- my Hero Hours aren't exactly the most convenient or logical hours a first-year out of UA would experiment with working. Why would any kid want to work 5pm to 6am?" She grumbled,
"Yeah well technically you pick your own hours, so you could just alter your schedule for the Internship~!" He smiled,
"... Any wannabe Hero kid wouldn't really care about the hours if they got to work with the No. 26 Hero..." One of the robbers mumbled, Hawks smirked and gestured toward the man.
"He's got a point Spirit~!" Hawks hummed, Spirit's eye twitched, rounding on said man and glaring.
"You just tried to rob a store, you don't get a say in this." She growled, he sweatdropped, his eyes dropping away nervously.
"Yes ma'am..."
"And just because you don't do anything other than fly around looking for fights, does not mean my schedule is as open as yours!" She rounded on Hawks again and his eyes widened in intrigue. "And like I already said, I am not interested."
"It could be fun though~!" He trilled,
"No." She deadpanned,
"Ah, well maybe you'll change your mind by the time the Sports Festival rolls around~!" He smirked, "So no to dinner, huh~? You got other plans?"
"I already went out today. I'm not looking to go twice in one day." She huffed, he blinked.
"Oh, do you have someone other than me you hang around with~?" Hawks smiled, "I thought we were exclusive Spirit~!"
Her jaw snapped shut, her face flushing just slightly as her expression pulled into a scowl- she heard the robbers let out shocked little breaths, and she could feel their wide, intrigued eyes set on her.
"Y-you're a fucking idiot! Don't say that, it sounds like something it isn't..!" She snapped, stammering slightly despite herself as Hawks smiled casually- not at all bothered and so, so calm. Her eyes widened, flashing as she bristled even further.
HE DID IT ON PURPOSE
"You fucking twat..!" She snapped hotly, his head tilted in intrigue again.
"Uhm... Animal Spirit...?"
Spirit and Hawks glanced around at the new voice, their eyes finding a man dressed in a police uniform. He looked rather nervous, glancing between both Pros and afraid he'd intruded on a conversation he shouldn't have- plus Animal Spirit didn't really look... pleased.
Spirit cleared her throat, stuffing away her agitation and embarrassment and putting on the polite, formal face she needed. She smiled at the Officer, "Yes sir, what do you need?" She asked with ease, he seemed a bit taken back at the sudden shift- but didn't really pause.
"We just need to take a quick statement from you about what happened, and we'll start loading the people you caught into the van." He told her, Spirit nodded. "... uhm, also... Mr. Hawks-" The Officer turned to Hawks next, who smiled coolly.
"Just Hawks if ya don't mind." He smiled,
"Ah, alright... Hawks- did you assist Animal Spirit..? If so we need a statement from you too.."
"Ah, nope~! Spirit handled these guys all on her own, I just popped by after she was done~!" Hawks hummed brightly, the Officer nodded.
"Alright, Animal Spirit could you follow me please?" The Officer looked to her once more and she nodded,
"Yeah." She hummed, catching Hawks eye as she passed him by.
"I'll pop in with the Press while you're at it~! Tell them what a good job ya did and everything~!" He told her, she frowned.
"You are not my PR Rep, Hawks-" She started,
"Never said I was~! I'm not singing your praises to make ya more popular, I'm telling them because you really are that awesome~!" He replied brightly, she frowned, her eyes narrowed to slits and grumbling.
"... tch... you're hopeless..." She grumbled hotly, turning her back on him promptly and followed the officer away.
I can't tell him not to do it because knowing him- he'd do it anyway... geez this guy is a fucking pain in my ass.
"Oh, do you have someone other than me you hang around with~? I thought we were exclusive Spirit~!"
"... complete... twat..." She hissed under her breath, and low enough that no one would hear.
"Hawks! What happened here?"
"Did you and Animal Spirit capture these criminals?"
"Ahhh, nope~! Animal Spirit didn't need my help with these guys~! She's got everything covered easy~!" Hawks' voice reached her ears with ease even as she moved to give her story of the events to the police. "She took care of these guys in no time at all~! Just what I'd expect from someone as good as she is~! She's not a top Hero for nothing~! I just popped by to watch her work~!"
Hmph
"There have been several people saying they've seen you and Animal Spirit together this week, is there something going on between you two?"
"Nah, just being friendly~! We're both working the same hours and over the same two districts this week, running into each other is just coincidence~!"
"You've been looking for a place to settle your own Agency, having any luck?"
"Nothing much just yet, but I bet it'll all work out~! I've been seeing a bunch of promising things so far~! Just gotta work some of 'um a bit~!"
"Do you plan to settle in Hosu permanently?"
"Mmm, probably not~! There are some appeals, but you know me~! I'm too much a free spirit to get tied down to any one place for too long~!"
Spirit's head tilted in the direction of his voice as she talked with the police, paying attention to them, but also to him too. He answered all their questions with the utmost ease, never faltering nor hesitating- never not smiling.
This is his element, huh?
"Thank you for your help, Animal Spirit. We'll take things from here." The commanding Officer told her, she nodded.
"Yep, no problem." She hummed lightly, he headed off and she paused, her hands on her hips and aware of the flash of cameras from the paparazzi that had flooded in and were getting thicker once they realized Animal Spirit and Hawks were here. She refrained from glancing that way though, after all it... wasn't her thing.
'Mysterious and secrets and shadows and things' as he'd put it.
She sighed, her eyes dropping closed. She supposed it wouldn't do any harm to answer a few questions, be nice... sociable even, she hadn't really been that way in a few days, so she was sort of due.
"Do you have any plans on contending with the rumors that the Hero Killer has moved to Hosu?"
This time there was a pause in Hawks' easy replies, and Spirit instinctively stiffened at the question- her eyes snapping open and quickly glancing around to see how he'd reacted. Hawks was quiet, his usual carefree smile now erased entirely as he paused, his hand coming up and finding his chin in something like contemplation. Those brown eyes of his lowered on to the ground as he did so, the reporters and the cameramen, and the general public and the police, and even Animal Spirit all waiting on his answer.
Hawks- the Winged Hero who was going too hard, too fast and was so carefree and even cocky. That same Hawks who blew through opponents and left other Heroes in his dust, with little a care to who he overlooked or passed up. The Hero who never looked afraid and was riding on a high right now, and for it- seemed almost invincible. She expected him to smile and assure them that Stain wouldn't be an issue for much longer. She expected a comment that dulled down the seriousness of the foe and wrote him off even... because it was Hawks, and he was overconfident, and brash, and unfazed by literally anything.
But he wasn't smiling, and he wasn't casual or cocky or carefree- there was a sudden seriousness in him she hadn't ever seen before and she found herself fixed on him.
Wait a minute, where did this side come from..?
"I've heard the rumors that Stain has made his way to Hosu, and I've been on the lookout for him since I got here." Hawks replied lowly, his gaze steady on the reporter who had asked the question- and everyone else. "He's a formidable opponent, and he's caused a lot of harm. It is my every intention to stop him, and keep him from harming anyone else, but I don't intend to rush in and seek him out blindly. This is a guy that needs to be dealt with, but doing so without a plan or being cautious is a mistake. Me or anyone else rushing in on this isn't a good idea, and it'll bite us in the ass without a doubt."
Spirit's eyes flashed, her expression slightly awed and surprised all at once.
.:+:.
"You shouldn't judge the worth of other people on whether or not they can 'keep up with you'." She told him lowly, he blinked. "And you really shouldn't rush ahead into everything, eventually it's going to bite you in the ass." She warned softly, his eyes flashed slightly, the faintest hint of surprise dawning on his carefree expression at her words.
"Hmm." He mused, glancing back to his phone that he'd been holding aloft in his hand during the entire conversation. His smile widened a bit, his eyes glinting as he nodded, just once.
"Noted."
.:+:.
"... That being said, I am looking into it, and learning what I can about him. His days are numbered, and I'll make a move against him pretty soon." Hawks murmured, his seriousness fading a little as he smiled. "In the meantime if he decides to jump the gun and come after me himself, then I'll be ready. But try not to worry about me too much, and I suggest all Heroes- popular or not- be careful until we finally get this guy."
Spirit swallowed, her eyes glittering as she watched his smile grow a bit brighter, and a bit more easy-going as the questions steered away from the Hero Killer... but he never got to being as playful as he usually was.
... so he does take some things seriously...? He sounded genuine about it... about being careful and having a plan, not rushing into it...
Her eyes narrowed, quiet for a moment as she bit the inside of her cheek.
... and it sounds like maybe... he did listen... just a little...
She cocked her hip, her eyes trailing along the curve of those vermilion wings as his back turned toward her enough she couldn't see his face anymore.
... I kind of hate it when Death Arms is right...
She smiled a bit despite herself, shaking her head.
Maybe he's not a complete twat after all...
He glanced over his shoulder briefly, their eyes meeting and his widening as he found her suddenly not that far behind him- she'd been moving up to the crowd with little a sound and little a notice (as everyone was fawning over him of course). She stopped at his shoulder, arms crossed over her chest and their eyes separating as she glanced toward the crowd- and what new slew of questions and praises rose up to meet her once they realized she'd gotten closer.
"Animal Spirit!"
"I'm a huge fan!"
"Were you already in the area?"
"Do you plan to Patrol Hosu some more this week?"
"You're fantastic!"
"Are you planning to attend the UA Sports Festival?"
"Do you have any comment on the homicide investigation for the body found in the Hosu Prefecture Parking Garage?"
... among other things. She smiled politely, her red eyes flashing as she nodded toward the crowd.
"Thank you all for the support. I'm sorry I'm not gonna have time to answer your questions, but I only paused because I was up the street when things happened." She told the crowd lightly, "The Police have everything in hand now, and I need to get back to Patrol, as I'm sure Hawks ought to be getting back to as well. There's still plenty of city left to keep an eye on." She hummed, her eyes shifting to the side and toward Hawks, who smiled.
"Animal Spirit's right, this was a nice break talking with you all- but we got work to do~!" He told them, jumping on the hint to leave easily. He waved a hand at them, smirking. "You all stay out of trouble yeah~? If ya don't I'll help ya of course~" He chuckled, he earned small laughs in return and dreamy sighs from fans (woman mostly). Spirit's arm brushed against his elbow, her head tilting in a motion for him to follow her a little ways away from the barricade and the crowd. He took that hint with without a moment of hesitation too, and followed along beside her with a small smirk. "You're still goin' for the dark and mysterious vibe I see~" He hummed, she sighed.
"Don't ruin it. Stay still and shush for a minute." Spirit ordered quietly, his eyes raised in clear intrigue as her hand caught his elbow and halted him once they were a few dozen feet away, and they'd shifted a to have their shoulders facing the crowd. His brow quirked, his hands stuffing in his pockets and intent on what she said and what she was doing-?
Spirit let out a small, almost exasperated sigh and shook her head at him. She lift a hand, her index finger extended and raised, and her other hand on her hip. "You get one 'pause just long enough to get a good paparazzi photo'." She said simply, he blinked. "And only because I turned you down on a meal, when it's my turn to pay."
His eyes gleamed, his attention breaking briefly from her face and toward her shoulder as he saw a haze of black-red begin to appear behind her, bits and pieces of the air wavering like black shards of glass. It was a cloud of distorted reality that slowly but surely started to condense and form something he'd seen before-
She smirked, almost coy as she stepped up and passed him- her hands brushing along and parting the feathers in his wings as she kept walking, slow and purposeful as bits of black glass made of energy or whatever fell like a rain behind her. Dancing off and falling from the pair of large, slightly see-through, ghostly black wings at her back. Her red eyes caught his from the side in a single instant, her gaze glowing faintly- before their line of sight got broken. The simple sensation of her hand meeting his wing sent shivers up his spine. Her fingers ran through the feathers as she kept walking, his wings arching under the contact and stiff in his spot as he instinctively stretched them out behind him, following her movement and raising them up high as her hand left the sea of red. Her wings lift too, the topmost feathers brushing against his own and mixing- both wings extended in air and woven together here and there, both Pros standing with their backs to one another. Hawks with his hands in his coat pockets and head tilting back, smirking to himself and Spirit pausing, her hands on her hips and head tilted downward, smiling a bit.
Their feathers mixed, brushing against each other and clashing- his red and almost burning in the lights of the city nightlife around them... and hers dark and shimmering, swallowing up the light and ghostly- almost a shadow of his, reflected on water. A wash of glittering black sand in an ocean of fiery red, two pairs of giant, elegant wings touching and forming an arch- outlined in a backdrop of deep blue and the outline of rising buildings dotted among a night sky you couldn't see the stars in... and at either end the No. 26 and the No. 24, both of them smiling.
The few, fleeting seconds Spirit paused in her walking and stayed like that with him- they seemed to stretch to something much longer, somehow... in it's own way it was almost ethereal.
And it lasted long enough
"Try not to get yourself killed, yeah Bird-Brain?" Spirit hummed lightly, never bothering to glance back toward him. Hawks smirked, his eyes still fixed on the sky but all his attention on her regardless. And why not? The sudden action and subtle, quick little pose was so, so new for her usual demeanor- and he wasn't sure what prompted it... not that he was complaining, mind you.
"Hah, will do~!" He hummed brightly, "You be careful too, huh Spirit~? Not that I'm that worried about you anyway, you're a bad-ass, you can take care of yourself no sweat~" Spirit felt her heart jump a bit at the words, her eyes flashing as she bit the inside of her cheek.
Aaaaaand there's the child side again
"See ya tomorrow~?" He asked next, lower so no one would hear it, and Spirit hummed.
"We'll see, Bird-Boy. Don't push it too much." Spirit replied lowly,
"Hmm, fair enough I suppose~!" He smiled, Spirit started forward again, their wings pulling apart as she jumped up and into the air, her body being lost to a black haze and Shifting into an eagle in the course of a few seconds. Her wings flapped soundlessly in air as she lift herself higher into the sky and soon enough flew out of sight, Hawks turned to watch her go, his wings folding back in toward himself and smiling still as his eyes gleamed. When he lost sight of her, he cast a sideways glance toward the crowd set up behind the barricade, and to which there were people goggling and several snapping photos- many in particular of the subtle, planned little pose of the two of them... Initiated by Spirit no less. What a turn...
He hummed under his breath, his hands reaching up to put his headphones over his ears.
"... oh that picture is gonna look great~!"
.:+:.
Well
Hawks on the left, Spirit on the right- their wings forming an arch of red and black and outlined in the night sky and the city lights... the camera even managed to catch a bit of the glow of his feathers and the refracted light from the pieces of black falling from her was a good enough view of her face and his to see them both smiling, both of them carefree almost and content... but something about the picture had a more potent feel to it.
And don't get her wrong, it was a great picture- whoever took it had done a great job and caught them at the perfect moment in that moment she'd set up on purpose... it was probably one of the better pictures there was out there that had her in it. You know, since she didn't really wait long enough to let the Paparazzi get anything super good... but this once- it looked great, and she was both impressed and a bit embarrassed at the same time. Because?
It... went viral
Spirit thumbed the photo up a bit on her phone screen, her eyes tracing along the sheer number of views of the article it was attached to.
546 million and counting
And that was just this website- this picture had since then been taken and posted and cycled around the whole of the internet and through hundreds upon thousands of other sites and the like since going up. People were all over it, it wasn't even just the internet- it had popped up on tv's in the city, billboards, magazines, newspapers-
The guy who took that picture must have made fucking bank for it
And then there were the people who altered it, did manipulations, redrew it- fanart for fuck's sake. She usually avoided any lengthy amount of time perusing the internet and all it joys (dark corners), but hot damn.
I didn't think it was gonna blow up that big
If Hawks was the talk of the country before, he was now the talk of... well, the world probably. And she was right there with him, because of one photo.
The official consensus on the state of the photo was what it was- she and Hawks had run into each other out on Patrol and one lucky cameraman managed a once in a lifetime split second photo of the both of them. Which is what she was going for and hoping would be the story, but of course other people had other thing to say and theories to spin.
'Hawks and Animal Spirit secret relations?'
'No. 26 and 24 friends?'
'Friendly rivalry?'
'Since when were Hawks and Animal Spirits on the same speaking terms?'
'Something more blossoming after Hosu Prefecture Parking Garage?'
... and other such, and so on. All of which got even more fan for the flame after his very public appraisal of her skills to the press not a few minutes before the photo was taken.
It was too late to go back on the split second decision to give into a photo, but not too late to regret it... because this was a lot more attention than she really wanted. And she certainly didn't really want the media or the world to think she and Hawks were 'pals' when they really weren't. And she was sure to be prodded and questioned about it today when she arrived at UA for that Security Gig for the Sports Festival, and she wasn't particularly looking forward to it... nor the knowing look she was sure to receive from Death Arms. You know, pending his suggestion to give Hawks a chance and work with him... so she could teach him something.
Not that I'm yet convinced he actually would learn anything, mind you... but what he said about Stain was at least... sensible
Which really wasn't like him, or how he's been acting thus far... so that was a surprise
She shook her head a bit, locking the phone screen and putting it in the pocket in her suit again. She was walking through the rather quiet and empty streets of Hosu's mid-morning, on her way toward UA and taking her time... she was a bit early as it was, and had time to take her time getting there. The lack of people out and about was not much a surprise though, everyone knew today was the Sports Festival and most had already settled themselves into their homes, local bar, club, restaurant- you name it- to sit back and watch. Most stores in the city itself were closed for the event and the food and entertainment places were hunkered down ready to serve the tide of people looking to watch. This was Japan's most looked forward to event, and it was a similar mood in other countries too- UA was the premiere Hero School and it's Sports Festival had reached Pre-Quirk Olympic fame.
She was usually working today herself, whether it was working the bar or just taking up extra Hero Patrol duties- which was needed for the most part. Since the Sports Festival was so popular, and there were so many Pros looking to watch and potentially recruit students- there was a significant drop in the number of Heroes on Patrol and working during the whole affair. Those Heroes who couldn't earn a spot in the Arena at UA, or afford one, usually filled in the gaps and made sure to be working in case things happened... which always did. There was always some crime or accident or other, and there always needed to be Pros around to handle those situations. And she was usually happy to step up and do so. It beat working a bar in a crowded and overfilled club, and Patrol's on UA Sports Festival days were usually pretty slow and easy going... and she was in something a similar boat for today, working Security for the event. Only this time she was getting paid for doing so~!
But either way, the Sports Festival was due to start in 45min or so, and she was expecting to reach UA in the next twenty or so minutes to settle in with the other Heroes working Security and whatnot. And anyway, anyway... she was mostly sticking to side-streets and less trafficked avenues on her way to UA, even if there was a lack of people around right now. Because she'd like to avoid drawing any sort of crowd right now, and she would walk faster as a human than a cat.
I suppose I could just fly there too, but that's less relaxing
Her hand found the ID card attached to the lanyard around her neck absentmindedly as she continued on her way, her eyes wandering and just taking everything in as she walked.
She hadn't seen Hawks the day following when the picture was taken, or the day following that- which was odd, but she honestly didn't mind much. He'd been being a bit of a pest and having him gone for awhile was relaxing... especially since today she was sure he was gonna find a way to 'pop in' while she was doing Security for the event.
And knowing him he's gonna grin and wave that picture around
But maybe that was worth dealing with. Today was going to be easy, she was working with a number of other Pros at one of the most secure places in Japan- no one in their right mind would ever dare starting something at UA today and hope to get away with it. So that meant a lot of sitting back and managing crowd control, no fighting, and having an altogether pretty content time... content and easy and no sweat and getting paid for her time.
And to add to it- I'm doing that instead of running a bar on the busiest day of the year for a bar. It's quite lovely really.
Her red eyes trailed upward toward the sky, still holding lightly to the ID badge with one hand.
I wonder who else got assigned to Security...?
She blinked, her eyes catching a flock of birds passing over the street.
... probably no one else in the top 100th portion of the Rankings... all of those are probably watching in the stands today, and if not they probably wouldn't agree to work Security like I did... maybe that Wood Quirk guy?
...mmm... and maybe that guy from Death Arms' Agency I met the other day... Lepunn was it?
He was excited to meet me... I'm sure there are other Pros working this thing that'll be the same way... There's always someone
She took in a deep breath, her eyes falling shut and shaking her head a bit.
Oh the price of fam-
The breath she took it faltered, her eyes snapping open and her steps stuttering as a scent flooded her nose and made her heart skip a beat. It was faint, and hardly there at all- for a few seconds she wondered if she imagined it... but another quick breath told her that it wasn't in her head and she stiffened.
Blood... Old blood, almost rancid and sour... What the fuck...?
Her eyes cast across the empty street and around her, searching for other people and finding none- her nose twitching slightly as she kept sniffing at the air and her red eyes glittering.
... It smells... It's heavy, but faint... Like a lot of different blood mixed into one new scent... But from someone who isn't close by
A bead of sweat fell down her face, her eyes narrowing to slits as she stepped up and toward a small back alley- nose on high alert and the rest of her too. She Shifted into a cat, her paws hitting the sidewalk and padding forward slowly and cautiously, her ears twitching this way and that. Her head angled down, sniffing lightly at the ground and red eyes narrowed to slits.
... Blood and human... And... Metal...
She paused in the shadows, her eyes moving up the alley and away from the direction that would lead her to UA. She stood there, rigid and fur sticking up despite herself as she looked as far up the alley she could and toward the bend, ears shoved forward and listening intently... It felt like there were ants crawling through her fur, making her shiver.
It was utterly quiet and that set her on edge further... Animal instinct or sixth sense or whatever...
... Something isn't right... The air is heavy, almost... Grim
Her tail twitched, her ears pressing back against her head and claws digging into the ground a bit. She knew the sudden feeling on instinct, and it grew from faint, imperceptible nothing into an icy spear that stuck through her core in the next few seconds.
Bloodlust
I hope you all enjoyed the Chapter! The next one is exciting XD
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