Chapter 8
New
.:+:.
She doubted he did, a lot of things went over his head... Especially important things.
But that was just him, wasn't it? So carefree and flighty and doing everything in his own time and at his own leisure... Once upon a time that part of him was a little charming.
Not anymore
.:+:.
I must have lost my mind
Spirit sighed, sweatdropping a bit as her shoulders sagged and she let her eyes drop- standing alone and at the front of a large, walled off gate and a folder of papers held between both hands in front of her.
She was dressed up in her Hero Costume Version 1.0- seeing as how her current uniform was still at the Support Agency and being repaired (believe it or not it takes awhile... her Hero Uniform had to have the fabric synthesized with her base DNA woven into it, so she could Shift between different forms without having to worry about her clothes).
She honestly didn't like the first version of her uniform all that much- it was more... hmmm... exaggerated in design than her current uniform. More bits and pieces, and a bit of a different color pallet to boot. It consisted of dark red pants with dark gold stitching up the side, and straps of leather pinned to the waist line that hang loosely at both her sides (you know, as opposed to the ones she usually had wrapped around her thighs...). That, paired with a sleeveless dark brown shirt with gold clips running up the sides, red sleeves trimmed in gold that start under her shoulders and end just before her elbows- and around her torso, red straps. Around her neck were two dark red collars with gold thread wrapped around them. She also had on a pair of dark colored knee-high boots, and switched out her silver earrings for gold ones to better match with the new color scheme.
Her red eyes trailed slowly over toward the keypad attached to the wall, biting the inside of her cheek as she pressed her thumb against the call button.
I have lost my mind
The 'received' tone sounded shortly after and she was faintly aware of the camera set up over the door moving away it zoomed in on her. "Business?" An automated, mechanical voice asked.
"Animal Spirit here to drop off some Internship forms." She replied evenly, her attention diverting briefly behind her and the empty street running in front of the massive(!) figure of UA High. Finding it wasn't hard, you could spot the campus from miles away with how big it was- especially given it was sort of out on the edge of everything. There weren't any big cities near here and the things that were close by were just small rural neighborhoods and small shops. For being the premiere school it was pretty isolated... Though it was probably easier that way, you'd have less people gawking at the front gates everyday.
This was the top school on this end of Japan, so she'd figured it was big and expensive looking... But fucking hell. The Gates stretched up far overhead and the shimmering blue glow of the windows from the main building set in front (and was several stories high) was... Ridiculous.
And the walls surrounding the campus itself seemed to stretch on for miles upon miles- how much square footage does this place even have?
... How much money does this place have...? It's crazy...
"Look at Camera please." The mechanic voice trilled and Spirit glanced up to the device, blinking as she waited for an answer. "... Facial Recognition, Success." Was the answer, and Spirit blinked.
Since when am I in the system...?
"You've got a weird line on your face, is it one of those human, fleshy things? Hmmm... An injury, that thing called a 'cut'?" The mechanical voice went on as the gate slid open to let her in. Spirit bit the inside of her cheek, knowing immediately it was talking about the slice cut across her left cheek- one of the ones earned from her confrontation with Stain now two days ago. One wound, and all wounds still persistent from that outing of course- from bruises to cuts to stab wounds still raw.
You know, since even though Dante, the Hospital and Death Arms all told her to take more than a few days off- she wasn't about to spend a week sitting in her apartment feeling sorry for herself and not doing anything... So she was out and about doing something, anything- and she was out here, full Hero Costume and completely sure to be back on Patrol by the end of the day, even if her body still hurt and it was probably ill-advised.
Her eyes found a small little robot perched on a single wheel waiting for her on the other side of the gate.
... They have worker robots too...
"... Yeah." Spirit mumbled,
"You humans are so fragile." It sighed, and Spirit grimaced. "Follow me, I'll take you to where you can turn the forms in." It wheeled around, heading inward toward the entrance of the main building and leaving Animal Spirit to quickly trail after it and through the gate. She followed closely, eyeing either side of the pathway and the buildings, landscaping, and whatnot. The front half of the path leading up to the main entrance was void and free of people- though she heard the faint and distant sound of people talking somewhere she couldn't see... It's almost noon, maybe it's lunchtime for the students.
One hand left holding the folder she had with her and glided along the railing lightly as they went up the stairs (to which the robot had to hop up the steps). Her jaw clenched as she bit back at what wince came up her throat when a sharp stab of pain ran through her side.
Oi...
They reached the top of the stairs and the door swung open at some unsaid command, and the robot didn't pause before heading in and leading her through the hallways. Spirit kept up but let her eyes wander all the way, glancing inside empty classroom and rooms with a few sparse people tucked away and doing their own thing- none of which spared a glance outside the rooms they were to see her.
Some of the doors were massive, by the way- reaching up high over her head. Others were normal enough, and everything was so clean and well-built. It was a building of the caliber of some important government place- and she felt out of place in it... She'd never been anywhere this nice.
Are all the other buildings on campus like this...?
Their path veered left and ended around toward an elevator, to which the robot reached up and clicked the button to call it down. One quick elevator ride up to the third level and another bit of travel through endless halls and they made their way over a small bridge spanning between the main building and another. The fresh air of the outside blew through the middle of the structure between the railing and the overhead, and Spirit leaned slightly toward the side to catch a glimpse of the green on the main level and the courtyard... And the further toward what looked like a training area, and further still dotted among more buildings and then all the way out toward something... Massive. The Arena they used for the Sports Festival maybe?
But there are like four of those things that are that size.
This place is fucking big... How do the kids know where they're going all the time?
I'd get soooooo lost...
"Keep up please." The robot called to her, startling her from her thoughts and making her speed up where she had unconsciously been lagging. Spirit bit the inside of her cheek, grumbling a bit.
You probably look like some starstruck tourist Spirit, quit.
They left the bridge behind to enter the building it lead to, and another few hallways later- the robot drew up in front of a closed door. "You'll turn in your forms here, the teachers are currently going through the offers." The robot announced flatly, it's arm extending and hooking about the lip of the door.
"... Right..." Spirit mumbled,
"Yo, Cementoss!" The robot announced- much more loudly this time as it slammed the door open quickly, Spirit jumped at the forcefulness out of nowhere. "Animal Spirit's here to drop of Internship stuff!"
The door slammed against its frame and left an open doorway to a room filled with long rows of tables cordoned off into desks, with computers and papers spread about on literally every flat surface. Spirit held tighter to the folder in both hands, swallowing back the sudden surge of nervousness that flared higher with the more than abrupt entrance to a room that had been otherwise quiet- and she was standing there in that doorway with little to no introduction or anything.
Geez, did it have to be so rough with the door...?!
Two pairs of eyes turned her way- one belonging to Cementoss (who Spirit recognized from various TV and media things she'd seen over the years) and the tired, bored one of a man with unkempt black hair and a scarf layered about his neck and shoulders... Wait, isn't that Eraserhead? I thought he was recovering from the attack on the USJ?
He looks... Well he looks like he hasn't slept in three weeks but he's not covered in bandages or anything either.
Does that mean Thirteen is better now too?
"I did my job, so I'm leaving now." The robot announced, turning sharply and heading off down the hallway with not another word. Cementoss got up from his chair with a polite smile- though he was clearly surprised to see her there at all.
Of course... Did the Principal mention giving me clearance for the Internships to anyone else...? He had to have, yeah?
"Ah, Animal Spirit. A pleasure to meet you." Cementoss said lightly, he waved a hand for her to come in. Spirit hesitated a small split second, before stepping inside the threshold and moved along the lines of desks and toward the blocky man. She shifted the folder over into a single hand and extended the other as he did the same- their hands meeting in a small shake as Spirit offered up a polite smile herself.
"Likewise." she replied softly, their hands separating as she spared a quick glance over toward Eraserhead and earned a flat stare, and a single blink.
"... I don't waste time on pleasantries." Was the grumble she earned from him and she paused, slightly taken back by it- but only slightly. The man's tone was flat and bored, but it wasn't nasty or anything so she didn't take much offense to it- though Cementoss looked exasperated with his colleague.
(She faintly recalled hearing someone mention before that Eraserhead was something of a stiff personality, and she'd heard several Pros mutter about how offhanded and even firm he could be- he didn't 'waste time'... Oh, and he apparently didn't play well with others- not that she could say anything.)
"... Right." Spirit mumbled,
"You're here dropping off offers for Internships with some of the students?" Eraserhead asked, getting right to the point as she stacked a section of papers only the desk.
"Yeah... Though just two." She replied, her eyes darting toward Cementoss as she handed over the folder to him.
"Are either of them in my Class?" Eraserhead asked flatly, his eyes on his papers and not her as Spirit blinked.
The little dossiers on the students she had had listed the Hero Class they were in and the Homeroom teacher for either class (A and B). In this case, that being Eraserhead and Vlad King- the latter she had heard and seen more of. Given Eraserhead was the sort of 'Underground' Pro that she really wasn't... Though she had once upon a time aspired to be, early on.
That didn't work out for me though
"One of them." She told Eraserhead softly, aware that Cementoss had opened the folder and stepped away toward his desk again to start sifting through them. Eraserhead nodded once and stacked up his things, before tucking them under his arm and moving to head out of the room- but he paused directly across from Spirit and with the desks between the both of them, hands in his pockets and expression neutral.
"If you protect my student as fervently as you did Ingenium, then I have no problem with you taking them as an Intern." He said simply, earning a surprised blink from Spirit. "I expect you to do the same with Vlad's student, if it comes to that." Spirit's eyes narrowed, nodding firmly.
"I will." She murmured lowly, he started to walk off then.
"Ingenium's younger brother is a member of my Class. I suppose I should say thank you, for protecting his family." Eraserhead added as something of an afterthought as he reached the door, Spirit bit the inside of her cheek, but didn't glance back his way.
"You're a good Pro, Animal Spirit."
Spirit stiffened in surprise at the sudden compliment from Eraserhead out of nowhere- and this time she glanced over her shoulder, and caught his eye as he paused at the doorway. He sighed and glanced away, "You did your job and you did it well, regardless of what everyone else says. There are few other Pros out there who could have handled that situation nearly half as well as you did." He grumbled, Spirit's eyes flashed and he looked away again. "Just don't let it get to your head." And with nothing else, Eraserhead was gone entirely and Spirit stood there, a little taken aback.
That... Well she hadn't had any Pro other than Death Arms say something nice about how she handled the whole Stain situation to her face. And she certainly would never have expected it from someone like Eraserhead- she'd been lead to believe he didn't ever approve of anyone out loud... Let alone her.
She'd never even met the man before, and as expressionless and flat as he was... well, he clearly cared about his students, otherwise he wouldn't have warned her to keep an eye on them... But she was a stranger to him, and with little but the strange and sudden backing of the Principal for no clear reason she could see. And yet he just relented to her possibly being in charge of one of those kids, and so quickly...?
What... The hell...?
"... That is high praise, coming from Eraser." Cementoss murmured softly, breaking Spirit from her thoughts as she glanced around toward the blocky man. He smiled kindly at her, "He's very critical of other people usually, but I suppose I'm not surprised he feels like that about what you did. He's not wrong, you did handle the situation with the Hero Killer remarkably well. Especially for a Pro as young as you and with comparatively so little time on the circuit." Spirit blinked, "Truth be told though, I think he was also already partial to you even before what went on." Cementoss added in, almost amused. "He rather dislikes other Pros who spend a lot of time on keeping up a media presence- but you don't usually do that, hmm?" He chuckled, Spirit hooked her arms over her chest and nodded a bit.
"... Right..." she sighed,
"If you don't mind my asking, are you doing alright?" Cementoss asked, gesturing toward her and the small amount of bandages running along her arms. "You're injuries seemed serious enough, from what I saw in the Security footage." Spirit sighed, nodding.
"Yeah I'm fine..." She mumbled, grimacing a bit. "... it honestly wasn't as bad as the video made it look." He nodded in understanding,
"I'm glad you're alright." He told her softly, his eyes shifting to the papers again and Spirit averted her eyes from him and around the room in slight embarrassment. "I am a bit surprised you decided to offer Internships though, the Principal mentioned you would be hesitant to do so." Spirit's hand fell on the back of her neck,
"... I had time on my hands to just go through the files, and a few of the Quirks just... struck a chord, I guess." She explained softly, "I figured why not, I could at least offer and see what comes of it. Even if it's not really my normal thing... why not try something new?" She paused, biting the inside of her cheek.
... plus I was really bored... and the more I think about it, the less I'm against the whole notion...
"I understand." Cementoss murmured, thumbing through the two pages that had been stapled together with the information for the Internship- the student files. "These two have Quirks that you could work well with and help to hone, so I understand why they interested you. I assume you already went through all the logistics that come with hosting an Intern?"
"Yeah, the Principal typed it all out and I read through it." Spirit murmured, "There wasn't anything in particular I had to ask either, other than contacting me... if one of the kids actually accepts."
"Right, you don't have an Agency to go through." Cementoss murmured,
"Yeah, so I put the number for my mobile in there." Spirit murmured, gesturing toward the papers. "I'm never really anywhere where I wouldn't be able to answer a call, and I'd be happy to come back and go through things in person, and pick up forms or whatever, if I needed to." She explained, Cementoss smiled.
"Of course, thank you for including that." Cementoss said lightly. "The students are set to start picking where to Intern today, and they're required to turn in their lists by the end of tomorrow. So, should either of these boys decide they want to Intern with you, you should expect a call in the next few days."
"Alright." Spirit murmured, "... Was there any other logistics stuff I needed to know?" Cementoss paused, musing almost as he continued to flip through the papers she'd handed over.
"...mmm... No, I think everything is in order." He replied lightly, smiling her way again as he stacked the papers neatly and set them away. "You're free to leave, Animal Spirit. I hope you didn't have to put a halt to your plans today for such a short trip here, I know we aren't exactly near Heiku."
"It's not a problem, I wasn't really doing anything anyway." Spirit replied softly, "And the distance isn't much an issue... I just needed out of my house." She mumbled, Cementoss smiled a bit sympathetically at her as her eyes dropped closed.
"I hope your travel here wasn't too full of media or Press?" He hummed,
"No, I avoided everyone I could." Spirit mumbled, "And I intend to keep doing so until all of this just... calms down a little."
"That's probably for the best." Cementoss hummed, Spirit sweatdropped, her hands on her hips and letting out a silent breath.
Of course I'm gonna have a hard time doing so on Patrol... maybe I'll just stick to surveying from the high ground for now, avoid walking the streets... even if I'm shifted, everyone's gonna be on the lookout for any sort of animal that could be me.
It'd probably be better if she just avoided Patrol of any capacity altogether, but she wasn't likely to skip out... not even right now, and with her side throbbing if she moved the wrong way. Or even with the inevitable multitude of people who would swarm her if she was spotted out and about.
Or even the fact she was hesitating to use her Quirk and Shift into anything right now. She'd only just stopped the retching for good yesterday morning, and she wasn't looking to upset her stomach or her Quirk again so soon. She'd actually taken a cab to get to UA, instead of just flying there- and right now she was looking to slowly head back to Heiku by just walking for the better half of it before she hit a more heavily populated area. And then she'd either relent and Shift into something with a pair of wings, or she'd get another cab... time would tell.
She bit the inside of her cheek, grimacing a bit.
... I won't only be avoiding press and fans and paparazzi either... I'll probably end up getting hounded by Feathers if he catches me out there... and I don't know if I have the patience for him right now...
"Would you like me to walk you back to the entrance?" Cementoss asked, snapping Spirit from her thoughts. She glanced up and back to him as she shook her head,
"Nah, I think I can find my way back." She smiled slightly, "I wouldn't wanna tear you away from your work anyway, you look like you're busy." She added, gesturing toward the array of things and papers and folders all around. He chuckled a bit,
"If you're sure..." He murmured, Spirit nodded.
"Yeah, I'll be fine." She hummed, "It was a pretty straight shot here, I doubt I'm gonna get lost retracing my steps."
.:+:.
I'm completely lost
She groaned, her hands hooked behind her head and stopped along the railing overlooking a courtyard in an array of buildings that was square in shape. Fifteen minutes of attempting to make her way back the way she had come, had ended up in wandering the hallways almost aimlessly and now she had little clue nor bearing as to where she was or what way went out.
I'm hopeless... I should've just asked Cementoss to bring me to the front
Her eyes trailed down the small open-air corridor and towards where there were rooms further up... Maybe I should ask for directions?
She bit into both cheeks, grumbling.
... I'm not barging into some classroom to ask, I'll get swarmed by the kids. I'll just have to keep trying and avoiding the students... If I see an adult out and about I'll ask. But for now, I'm on my own.
She huffed and started down the opposite end and the way she hadn't been down yet. She made her way down floor after floor and eventually ended up outside on a pathway and around the side of a building- maybe if I just follow the edge I'll end up at the front... Eventually.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she pulled it up to see an unfamiliar sort of notification- but easily read.
Instagram
Hawkward: goooooood morning sunshine~!
Spirit sighed, shaking her head at the words and unlocking her phone to open the app.
Hawkward
goooooood morning
sunshine~!
...
It's 1 in the afternoon,
Feathers.
And do not call me
'sunshine'.
...
Good morning to you
too Grumpy~! Caught
ya on your phone huh?
You replied real fast!
...
Again, it's afternoon.
Not morning.
...
Semantics really, I was
just trying to be friendly
ya know ~!
Soooo, how are you?
What've you been up
to today? Anything
interesting? Or are you
still on house arrest? I
missed ya all day
yesterday, I messaged
you but ya never replied~
Oh yes. He had messaged her in the morning yesterday- the morning following starting the conversation over Instagram at all- but she'd seen it and left it, and in reality she'd done little but sleep yesterday and try to do some semblance of cleaning around her apartment- as well as fill out what files and papers she needed to regarding the Internships... You know, after debating it with herself a dozen times or more.
Anyway, the mentioned message he'd sent was;
Morning Sunshine~! You have sweet dreams? Hope so~!
But like she said, she'd never garnered a response. And surprisingly- he'd left it at that till now. And apparently he stuck to about the same greeting... She blinked, her eyes widening slightly when another message popped up after a few moments,
Hawkward
Semantics really, I was
just trying to be friendly
ya know ~!
Soooo, how are you?
What've you been up
to today? Anything
interesting? Or are you
still on house arrest? I
missed ya all day
yesterday, I messaged
you but ya never replied~
...
I was a bit worried ya
know, thought maybe
you were stuck at home
all by yourself, running
a fever or something
with no one to look after
you~! You live alone
yeah~? I was afraid
you're injuries had gotten
real bad and nobody
would ever know you
needed help, Spirit~!
Spirit paused, her walking pausing too- and a foot or two from the corner of the building she had to turn around. Her eyes flashed, reading the words and the slightly joking 'tone' of them... Slightly.
It was hard to judge someone on the other side of a screen, but he almost seemed genuine, and it surprised her. It was almost like when he had seemed concerned the first time she'd started up the conversation- when he said he'd leave her alone... Though that time his words had had none of those little flourishes and things that gave indication to a more lighthearted sort of attitude.
(You know~! Talking like a child~ being overzealous with things? ? ?)
She bit the inside of her cheek, her thumb tapping against the side of her phone pensively.
... Spirit, you are psychoanalyzing his typing habits... Stop...
"There you are! Thought maybe I'd missed you! Do not fret- I Am Here!"
Spirit went rigid at the sudden loud and exaggerated voice, her eyes flashing and bristling as she saw someone suddenly slide out from the corner ahead of her- a looming, tall, bulky shadow of a man easily three heads her height.
She jumped, her phone tumbling from her hand and heart leaping- running about a hundred miles and hour in her sudden panic and surprise- she lost track of her faculties and her head. Her body swept up in a fractured black-red haze and she Shifted into a cat in her fright, black arched and fur fluffed up as she glared at the now one hundred times taller blonde man in front of her. Her ears slammed back against her skull and she bared her teeth, uncaring of the way his hand darted forward and caught her phone in no time at all. Her panic shattered as anger and annoyance dropped in its place.
"Ah, seems I startled you! So sorry, Animal Spirit!" All Might announced brightly, unperturbed with her reaction in the slightest- her tail lashed.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" She snapped hotly, "You can't just go popping up around corners in front of people without warning!" she hissed, Shifting back into her regular form and fists clenched at her sides as she glared daggers at the No. 1. "One of these days someone is gonna punch you! Or worse!"
"My apologies, I wasn't intending surprise you like that." All Might apologized again, still his same, bright, confident persona even under the seething of the No. 26. "I was just hoping to have a word with you before you left, and it took me some time to find you!" Spirit grimaced, "Now what's the No. 26 Pro Hero doing out here, skirting around the building, hmm?"
"... I'm not snooping-" she replied lowly and he shook his head, laughing as he smiled and held up a hand to stop her.
"Of course not! I wasn't suggesting anything of the sort!" He replied, "I assume you simply got lost, no harm in that! I'll be sure to see you to the entrance when I've said my piece!" She bit down on her tongue to keep herself quiet.
Of all people to run into at this school... Damn it I even blanked on the fact that he's a teacher here now.
And he was looking for me-
"... And what did you want to talk to me about?" Spirit asked slowly, doing her best to be polite regardless of her irritation.
"Straight to the point! I wanted to have a word about what happened with the Hero Killer!" All Might replied with ease, his cheerfulness sort of dimmed a bit though- just a bit.
Figures...
"Now I'm sure you've heard your fair share about your actions, but allow me to add mine anyway!" He started with ease. "I've seen the video, and I've also had a few words with police too- given Stain mentioned me as his only match!"
.:+:.
"Haaah... not one of you bastards is a damn Hero... only he is..."
The sword shifted, the tip of it lifting slightly as the cruel grip grew tighter and those blood-red eyes flashed, dangerous and wicked and crazed. The entire alleyway was awash in a feel and an energy that was suffocating, spin-chilling, and...
"Haaah... the only one who's allowed to do me in... haah... is All Might..."
.:+:.
... Yeah...
"Now, I know things were difficult, and what happened with Ingenium is a terrible loss to the whole of Japan." All Might told her steadily, Spirit bit the inside of her cheek at the name, her eyes flashing. "But despite that, you managed to save his life, and you showed the world that the Hero Killer is not invincible. Even if Stain has placed me as his only equal- I think he was likely surprised to find you were his unappointed equal."
I wouldn't say-
His hand swept up in a sort of signature thumbs up, and Spirit blinked at the gesture.
"You did a wonderful job handling the situation- and you sure gave Stain a run for his money! I would expect nothing less of the No. 26 Hero!" He smiled, his persona losing the small moment or two of dimming down. "Now don't you worry! Stain's days of mayhem are soon to be over, I promise you that! He will be caught soon enough! But in the meantime- keep up the good work! Who knows, you might just jump up a few Ranks now!"
His hand came down on her head in a patting motion and Spirit bit both cheeks to keep herself from snapping at him as a rise of further agitation flared in her core.
It's just him Spirit, this is what he's like... He's trying to be nice... But damn it, I hate it when people pet me.
And how can he say that? Does he plan to hunt Stain down himself now? That bastard's been running around murdering people for months now and I haven't seen All Might-
- Spirit stop. You're being a bitch... Damned if this guy doesn't still irk me, even after all this time... Even though I'm older... And I know he isn't the one to place fault on...
... my emotions and my mind are still not in agreement... Ugh
His patting of her head came to a halt and she forced a sigh, her eyes on the ground and not on the insanely tall No. 1.
"... Thanks for trying to assure me and everything, All Might... And trying to give me props..." Spirit mumbled dryly, he blinked at how... Forced the thank you sounded, almost.
She shook her head, grimacing as those blood-red eyes of hers moved up and locked with the blue of the No. 1. "... But I think both you and I know that Stain could have easily done much worse to me than he did. He could have inflicted a fatal injury on me if he chose to, but he didn't. I wouldn't say I'm his equal, I just wasn't the person he was after to start with, and he didn't see the point in really trying to kill me... That rings more that he was my better, than it did that we are matched."
There was a brief pause after she said her piece and the No. 1 hummed at the words, his infallible smile wiped clean and just quiet. And then the smile returned and he laughed, just once- and not really amused, it was more just for show than anything... That damned persona of his.
"You give yourself far too little credit, Animal Spirit!" He told her, she blinked, her expression nothing but flat. "Regardless if you were his original target or not- I think it more likely he hadn't any real chance to really harm you when you pinned him like that! With how firmly you had him held, and the angle he was at- he might have attempted to do greater harm, but simply couldn't! I doubt he could scarcely move, let alone manage the amount of motor function he would need to do serious damage to you! Which means you had him on the defensive, and the upper hand! That's a testament to your ability more than anything else!"
Spirit just looked at him, her eyes glittering as he said what he wanted, and she wasn't much convinced... But there might be some kernel of truth or sense or whatever in all of that. And maybe she'd been so annoyed and angry with herself and Stain to really look at the situation a different way.
... I suppose we were locked together pretty tightly, and with little room between us... And that sword was long, it would have been awkward trying to thrust it upward at me from that angle...
... That doesn't really explain why Stain didn't try and taste my blood right then and Paralyze me again though, it would have been the perfect opportunity- even if I did throw him into a wall nearly straight after...
So no, not convinced- but it hardly mattered now.
"... Maybe." Spirit mumbled quietly, and it was the only response she could offer.
"Right! Now, I would be remiss if I did not ask you how your injuries are coming along!" All Might went on, switching gears slightly. "Young, strong woman like you- I have to assume you're healing well! Especially given you're out and about and came all the way to UA!"
"... I'm fine." Spirit answered lowly, though inwardly- she kinda sorta hated how many people had been asking that today... Even if it was only two people- she'd been asked by Death Arms about a hundred damned times the last few days.
He gave her another thumbs up and she sighed internally. "Good to hear!" he grinned, "Now, I shall escort you to the main gate! Wouldn't want you getting lost a second time, hmm?" Spirit bit the inside of her cheek, grumbling internally.
If she were to be honest- she'd like to just leave him and their conversation behind. She wasn't particularly thrilled with the idea of spending a few more minutes with the (way too bright and exaggerated) No. 1 Hero. But even then, she was already lost, and given what happened the first time, she was likely to get lost again if she tried to keep on by herself.
"... Fine..." She grumbled, her tone not at all pleased- and enough All Might almost faltered at it. He handed her her phone back and Spirit took it back quickly, growling under her breath she'd dropped it in the first place.
"Have I touched a nerve there, mentioning you got lost?" he asked, clearly attempting to make light of the question- given the tone of voice he used. "I must have! Otherwise I'd think you weren't very fond of me- and I couldn't see why! Why would you have reason to dislike me when we've never met?" He chuckled, and Spirit stiffened in surprise, her eyes widening a bit at him.
... So he doesn't actually recognize me...?
He blinked at the way she paused, his head tilting at the sudden silence between them. "Hmm? Something the matter, Animal Spirit?" He asked,
... He doesn't... I assumed he would just... Know...
Her eyes dropped a bit, her expression falling utterly neutral.
... I suppose not being recognized nor remembered was the point though... Its better this way.
"Nothing." She replied lowly, shaking her head. Her eyes moved back up to him, and she tilted her head away from them. "You said you'd lead me out?" She mumbled, he hesitated half a second like he was going to ask her why she paused- but he just smiled and nodded.
"Yes! Follow me please!"
.:+:.
"... If I can live through this... If I can live through this..."
Her soft words faded into humming, bouncing in and out of actually uttering the words and then just going with the tune. She hardly noticed nor cared she had fallen into muttering the same few lines of the song over and over on a loop- she was more focused on watching the lines of cars and people slowly filing by on the streets far, far below. The sky overhead was a blue slowly turning darker, the lights of the city all around shone steadily more bright as the minutes and hours ticked passed.
She sighed, settled on her heels while balanced on the balls of her feet- perched on the edge of a building overlooking the night life of Heiku and quiet. She'd left UA, All Might, and the whole thing about Interns behind about four or so hours now. And as per her plans, she'd gone on Patrol and kept to high places and out of the sight of pretty much everyone. You know- so she wouldn't get mobbed.
Her hand moved up, pushing her bangs back a bit and then falling on the back of her neck as she sighed- she just looked out over the skyline of the city and for a moment her singing paused. She'd be back to bartending at 6 in the morning, so she had a little over nine hours before that time to just... Watch, I guess.
Her shoulders sagged, shaking her head at herself as she let her elbows fall on her knees.
... Maybe I should just go home... I'm not worth much for Patrol if I can't actually patrol the streets...
She grimaced, though. Because even if she went home she wasn't sure she could fall asleep, and she had been stuck in her house for several days already, given- oh, speaking of being stuck at home...
... I didn't reply to Bird-Brain did I?
Spirit sighed and pulled out her phone, flipping through to the app and pulling up the conversation- and blinking in confusion when the last message recorded was;
'Whatcha doin' out and about with the No. 1 huh?'
What?
She tapped the screen to open up the messages- and halted when a picture (sent by her!) depicted All Might grinning and giving the camera a thumbs up.
WHEN THE FUCK-?!
Spirit's grip on her phone tightened, a vein ticking on her forehead as she felt anger bubbling up faster than an elementary student's baking soda volcano.
THAT IDIOT SYMBOL OF PEACE TOOK A FUCKING PHOTO IN THE FIVE SECONDS BETWEEN CATCHING MY PHONE AND SCARING ME TO DEATH?!
I FUCKING SWEAR!
Spirit's jaw clenched, her lips curled and growling- it took everything in her not to let out a loud, agitated, and very exasperated groan.
DAMN IT ALL MIGHT
She huffed, tapping (or more slamming) her fingers against the keyboard as she quickly typed out a reply to the message that had come through several hours prior without her noticing.
Hawkward
Whatcha doin' out
and about with the
No. 1 huh?
Forget it. That had
nothing to do with
you or this conversation,
and he sure as hell
should never have
taken a stupid photo
on someone else's
phone without
permission- not even
for fucking 'fan service'
or whatever the fuck
else he calls it.
She locked the phone again with a huff and let her eyes fall closed.
I can't believe I didn't even notice he took a picture damn it.
And he sent it to Hawks? Did he do that knowing what he was doing or did he just snap a picture and it sent automatically?
Her chin fell in her hand as she leaned over a bit, chewing the inside of both cheeks and willing the anger and annoyance to die down some more.
Oi... That bloody, fucking...
Spirit's thoughts broke off, her body growing stiff as a board as something soft brushed against her nose very, very lightly. Her eyes snapped open, her anger completely forgotten as shock and confusion settled in- floating in air before her very eyes was one long, smooth, strikingly vermilion feather. A feather of which was keeping itself aloft even the several stories of midair it hanging was over. And a feather that had been that soft thing to brush against her nose, almost playfully so- like it had a mind of its own, and was some sort of strange creature.
Red... a red feather...
"Ya don't sound too pleased with the Symbol of Peace in this message, Sunshine." A voice said lightly from behind her, Spirit's eyes widened. She turned, standing up straight and still standing on the edge of the building. The feather turned with her as she did so, floating forward as it stayed at her shoulder- and she glanced up to see the owner of the feather floating overhead. He had one hand in his pocket and the other holding his phone, his eyes on the device and reading the message she had just sent, instead of actually looking at her. "Most people would kill to meet him, let alone get a pic." he added casually, Spirit bit the inside of her cheek.
I didn't even hear him coming-
Hawks' eyes finally moved up from his phone and toward her, glinting under his visor as he took in her appearance more clearly. "Ooh, I see you're rocking your old costume~!" He smiled, placing his phone and his hand with it in his pocket like the other one. "Your regular Uniform got wrecked when ya fought with Stain, huh? It's been a few days though, would have figured it had gotten fixed by now~"
Spirit sighed, grumbling under her breath as he dropped down and his feet hit the roof. "... It takes awhile." Spirit muttered lowly, he tilted his head at it, but let it be.
"Well~! It's good to see ya again, Sunshine~! Missed ya the last the last week~!" He hummed, "How ya doin'~? We didn't finish our conversation from earlier~!" He smiled, almost crookedly. "You're real bad at that keeping up with and answering messages thing, huh~? Not that I mind, just pointing it out~" he shrugged.
His hand lift from his pocket and his childish flare dulled down a bit as he gestured toward her and the feather that was floating at her side got closer- and brushed along her cheek under the cut traced into her skin. Spirit instinctively recoiled at the contact, just a little bit- but the feather persisted regardless for a few seconds more.
"Shame Stain did that to such a pretty face, the dude's heartless." Hawks sighed, Spirit's jaw snapped shut at the comment. "You'll still be pretty if it leaves a scar though, and you'll look more badass to boot- not that I'm sure you could be any more badass than you already are. You sure showed everyone that." He hummed, Spirit felt her face heat up and she hated it.
The feather twirled around her, brushing softly against her arms, her legs, and her sides, almost... Is that Feather-fuck feeling me up with his Quirk?!
Spirit's hands snapped forward and her fists closed around the feather, ruffling it but not at all hard enough to snap the spine. Hawks jumped at the action of her hands clapping around it- his face falling and looking almost stunned and maybe even a bit mortified she had been so rough with it at all. He went stiff as a board, almost like he was bound as tightly as the feather itself- Spirit huffed, holding the feather hostage as she shot him a look.
"Quit feeling me up, Bird-Boy." She snapped lowly, he looked almost offended.
"I was not feeling you up! I was checking your injuries!" He whined, the feather squirming in her hands now.
"Well quit, I'm fine." Spirit grumbled, "I don't need to be poked and prodded, you'll just piss me off."
"Okay, okay, fine! You can let go of my feather now!" Hawks said quickly, looking exasperated and almost uncomfortable. "You're squishing it to death Spirit..! It's not a nice feeling ya know!" Spirit huffed again but did as he asked, the feather zoomed over toward Hawks and he caught it gingerly, pouting now.
"... Rude..." He mumbled under his breath.
What a child
"I thought your Quirk was 'Mighty Wings'." Spirit grumbled, her hip cocking as she crossed her arms over her chest. "You send those things out to catch people and through fires and all manner of situations where they get mucked up, and you're pouting because I grabbed it a little roughly?"
"Well yeah, but when I do that I'm sending them out with the intention they're gonna get messed up!" Hawks told her, "They're usually super hard, and sharp to boot- but I kept this one softer, so it's like an actual feather! If I hadn't you'd have totally cut your hands grabbing it just now!" He puffed, "And when I let them stay all soft and fluid I can feel more through them and gather info easier! Even if they're separated from me I can still feel things through them ya know, and you were rough Spirit!" He whined, Spirit simply quirked a brow at him, her expression unreadable.
"So what you're telling me, is that your wings and your feathers are sensitive?" Spirit asked flatly, he stiffened, his face flushing in a sudden and unexpected show of embarrassment. "Bloody hell Bird-Boy, you sound like a child." Spirit sighed, shaking her head at him. "But fine, whatever- sorry for being rough with your goddamn feather. But maybe next time you'll keep your feathers to yourself- 'checking for injuries' is not a very good cover story ya know."
Hawks let the feather go and it quickly replaced itself among the others in his wings. He rocked on his heels a bit and grumbled, quickly trying to regain himself again and shooting her a look that was disgruntled, and a bit offended. "It wasn't a cover story, I really was just trying to see if you were okay." He replied lowly, and Spirit blinked.
... Hmm...? He actually does sound... Genuine about that...?
"I saw the video Spirit, you got hit pretty good by Stain's sword." He went on, his voice losing the whining and the carefree mirth it usually had. "And you've been stuck at home the last few days right? If you got hurt bad enough to warrant having to take time off, I was just making sure you're okay now."
... He is serious.
Spirit paused, a little taken back by the show of concern out of nowhere and no quite sure what to do with it. She supposed she had noticed a small change in his message from just before All Might popped up around the corner...
"... I told you I was fine, Feathers." She murmured slowly, "And I wouldn't be out here if I wasn't. You don't need to 'make sure'." he paused, looking almost like he didn't believe her- but he left it alone and his smile returned.
"Gotcha~! So, all that being said- what were ya doin' with the No. 1, huh~?" He switched gears with ease, Spirit sighed.
So nosy
"I ran into him. He just wanted to talk about what happened with Stain." Spirit replied lowly,
"Why'd he have your phone, hmm?" Hawks hummed, Spirit grimaced.
"... I dropped it and he caught it." She grumbled lowly, "And apparently he decided that was time enough to snap a photo. I was on Instagram at the time so I guess it got sent to you by accident."
"Ooooh," Hawks hummed brightly, chuckling a little. "So do you know All Might~? I figure you're pretty familiar with him since you're certainly not fangirling about meeting him~! Even most Pros totally lose their minds when they get to meet him ya know~!" Spirit quirked a brow at that,
Most?
She ignored it and shook her head, "No." She muttered, and Hawks blinked in surprise. "We're not friends. I hardly know the guy, and I won't 'fangirl' over him."
"Hmm?" Hawks hummed curiously, but Spirit never gave him a chance to press the subject further. She stepped slowly off the wall off the edge of the building, her feet hitting the roof and her face twisting as pain shot through her side the second her foot touched down. She faltered a bit, stepping to the side and a little less graceful than she intended, her hand moving up on instinct to hold her side gingerly as she grumbled under her breath. She missed the way Hawks' smile shattered at the show of pain, and the way he tensed up to boot. He took a small step toward the No. 26, almost out of reflex- before he reminded himself she wasn't taking the whole 'checking up' thing all that well. So he made himself stay still, biting the inside of his cheek as Spirit corrected and let out a heavy sigh.
"You good there, Sunshine?" He asked, Spirit growled under her breath.
"Fine. Just still a little sore." She replied almost tartly- she had had so many people ask her if she was 'okay' lately and she hated she'd showed any sort of pain at all after having said she was fine already.
Damn it
She stopped a few paces in front of him and crossed her arms over her chest again. "Was there something you needed, Feathers?" Spirit asked dryly, "Or am I supposed to assume you and your feather just happened to find me sitting up here?"
"Is it so bad I stopped to chat~?" Hawks hummed brightly, smiling at her again. "And running into you was coincidence, I swear~! I was just patrolling and happened to spot ya, so I figured I'd stop and say hi~!"
Spirit looked none too convinced and he didn't seem to notice, because he snapped his fingers and pointed at her as if a thought struck him.
"Ooh~! I've got a great idea~!" He smirked, "How about a break, yeah~? We can go grab some food, or a drink- whatever ya want~! You turned me down last time Sunshine, and I didn't mind~ But right now it looks to me like you got some free time~!" He smirked, his eyes glinting as his wings ruffled a bit. "So~? What do ya say~? Think you can suffer through an hour or two with me~?" He chuckled.
Spirit blinked, chewing on the inside of her cheek a little and not answering straight away. He was right of course, the last time he asked she had said no- even though it was her turn to pay, and she wasn't one to not repay other people. She had to pay him back eventually... And now was maybe as good a time as any.
It's not like I was doing much, I can't walk around on the streets right now and hope to not get swarmed by people... Oi
So she let out a sigh, exasperated with herself and the situation- and nodded. "Fine... But only if we go some place we won't get swarmed by fans or media or whatever." Spirit mumbled, her eyes dropping closed and missing the way his expression lit up at the consent.
"That's fine by me~!" he trilled, "How about that Pro Place a few blocks over? It'd been pretty dead this time of night, and the staff'll know better than to bug~" he suggested, Spirit nodded, just once. "Great~! Shall we take off~?" Hawks hummed, his wings unfolding slightly and ready to push off into the air. "I can carry ya if you're too sore to fly~" he added and she scowled.
"If I was that sore, how do you think I got up here in the first place, Bird-Brain?" She shot back lowly, before she dropped down into a crouch, her fingertips brushing against the roof and grumbling under her breath. Her body melted away in a black-red haze of fractured reality and left a black eagle standing in front of him- her wings extending as her red eyes snapped up toward him. He just smiled coolly at her, his wings mimicking her own as she lift off with two powerful downstrokes and started off away from the Building with Hawks close behind.
"Alright~! Just don't push yourself if ya don't need to~!" He hummed, Spirit huffed.
"Shut it. I'm not helpless." She grumbled,
"Never said that, Sunshine~!" He countered with ease, Spirit felt a flash of agitation flare in her core. Agitation that wasn't helped by the throbbing radiating from her torso- though she kept her mouth shut about it.
What the fuck is with 'Sunshine'?
Hawks' eyes shift sideways toward the (now avian) No. 26, The ebony hue of her feathers shone, sleek and smooth and reflecting the lights of the city around them as Hawks flew close beside her- their topmost feathers a few inches apart. His eyes found the small patch of fluffy down and feathers on her center that looked raw and there were stitches poking through- no doubt the injury Stain had inflicted that persisted even in the form of an Animal. You couldn't really see it if you weren't looking for it- but he was.
And despite her assurance she was fine he couldn't really work himself around to just believing her and leaving it at that. For some reason he was hung up on it, and he didn't know why...Well... At any rate she wasn't flying weird, so she must have been fine after all.
He smirked, pushing forward a little faster to get in front of her a bit and turning in air slightly- flying backwards almost. "I know you're not helpless~! You're badass~!" He chirped, his smirk grew more sly and teasing as he caught her red eyes from the side. "-aaaaand pretty~! And grumpy to boot~! And a little hard to please and easy to piss off, and you've got a sort of sadistic sense of humor~! And you're not afraid of telling people off either~!" He told her, his tone full of mirth and teasing and Spirit was very glad she was a bird right now- otherwise she was sure her face would have turned bright red when he said 'pretty' so casually.
Oi...
"But I like all that about you, Sunshine~!" He went on, his wings making currents in the air that caught under her wings like rogue waves, so she self-corrected. " 'Cause even though you're grumpy and stubborn and a bit of a hot-head, you're still interesting~! And you've definitely got that whole 'dark and mysterious with a heart of gold' angle covered to a tee~!" He grinned, his eyes glittering as Spirit shot him a sideways stare and nothing else as they continued to fly.
Flying backwards isn't easy nor really possible, by the way- but he seemed to be having little trouble with it... He's crazy
"Hawks, I've been little else but an ass to you since we met." Spirit deadpanned, "What on earth gives you the impression I have a 'heart of gold'? Saving people and helping out in disasters is my job, but that doesn't mean I'm a nice person."
"I know, but if you weren't nice deep down inside- you wouldn't have risked everything to save Ingenium against Stain, would you~?" Hawks replied with ease and Spirit stiffened, "You went at Stain- like super hard- nobody tries as hard as you did, and says all that heartwarming stuff you did afterwards with the Press, if they don't really care~!" He flipped around to fly normally again, but titled still to keep facing her more directly. "Plus if it was all just a job to you, you would have been more focused on keeping your First-Contact Capture rate intact~! But you gave up that stellar record just to help Ingenium~!"
Spirit huffed, looking away from him. "Oh, so you're not all disappointed I don't have that 'stellar record' over All Might, hmm?" She grumbled, "You were hung up on it to all hell last time we talked, Feathers."
"Heh~?! Of course I'm not disappointed!" Hawks replied quickly, Spirit heard his wings beat faster and she was forced to come to a dead halt in air as he suddenly jumped in her flight-path. Their travel slammed to a stop as they were left hovering over the city in the cool night air facing each other, Spirit growled in exasperated agitation. She was about to snap his head off for stopping her like that but never got the chance-
"Spirit, you chose to save somebody's life over worrying about your image or how it would look for you if Stain got away!" Hawks told her, his eyes flashing as he held her in his gaze. "I'd be disappointed if you put saving someone else beneath keeping some stupid record! You said it yourself- Heroes put their lives on the line because we are meant to be the ones who jump head first into danger and risk ourselves for others! Heroes are the people responsible for making the world a place where people can kick back, relax and feel safe! It's up to us to make the world a better place and a safer one, and in the meantime- it's our job to save and help everyone we can!" he told her quickly, and loudly- almost passionate, and Spirit stared.
"Look, I know I'm really in to all the fanservice and media stuff that comes with being a Pro- but I'd never let any of that, or my 'Image' get in the way of doing my job!" Hawks said, his hand falling on his chest as his eyes flashed. "Truth be told I don't even give a damn about the Rankings, and I think doing my job would be a lot easier if I wasn't so popular- but I can't really change that people like me and I'm not gonna disregard their attention. So I do post things and do photoshoots and sign autographs- because I think being generally liked is important- but all of that is more for making the world more comfortable with me, so that when the time comes and I do have to go out and fight and try and save people- they trust me and know that I'm gonna do everything I can!"
She kept flapping, keeping herself aloft in air and her eyes locked with his- stunned almost.
Where... Where the hell did this come from...?
"I wanna be someone everyone knows and trusts to take care of them- and a way of doing that is being active with the general public, but it also comes with doing my job right." Hawks went on, "And you did your job Spirit. And you totally showed everyone that Stain's not unbeatable- you were badass, and you are a total badass- and now the whole of Japan and the world knows it. And because of the video and the things ya said to the press- they've all got to see a little bit of the deepdown you- that heart of gold ya got but don't usually let show~!" He smirked at her, the seriousness not fading any but he lightened up a bit regardless. "Dude, the whole of Japan is raving about you right now~! And for all the right reasons~!" He hummed brightly, "So of course I'm not disappointed~! You totally rocked~!"
He... just... What?
She just stared at him, only slightly aware of keeping herself afloat and the silence dragging by quicker as she continued to be lost for a proper response. Where the fuck did all that come from? All that about Heroes and their jobs... And he was totally serious about all of it. Every single second of it- passionate even... And that's why he's a Hero?
'Heroes are the people responsible for making the world a place where people can kick back, relax and feel safe... It's up to us to make the world a better place and a safer one, and in the meantime- it's our job to save and help everyone we can.'
Every Pro had a reason for working through the Hero Course and going through the hell that was Provisional License's and Full Licensing, yeah? They had to have some reason or goal for signing on to be a Hero- something they were striving for and had promised to do... Or maybe even just something they wanted. A lot of them would tell you they wanted to help people and 'make a difference' if they were to get asked- and maybe for some of them, that was the truth. But there were others who did it for fame and fortune, and for the money too- and even some who just wanted the power. All of those being valid goals- who was she to judge someone for why they chose to do this job? That was up to them and she hadn't any real day in the matter- it was their life, their choice, and she left it alone. She hadn't any right to judge anyone else on their reasons for being a Pro, and she stuck to that... But hearing Hawks say all that now, and seeming to mean it... Well-
... I... I guess I wasn't expecting... That...
And she hadn't been, because seeing how he acted and how buried into the Press and the Media he was- she had assumed him wanting to be a Pro had fallen somewhere in those lines of 'fame and fortune and money too'. He was just so carefree, and the air he gave off- it wasn't serious, and she had a hard time imagining him being really serious about anything, least of all about wanting to make the world some place people were safe, and could let their guards down. And him being so serious about being the one to save and help everyone... A noble notion- but given how independent and unwilling (and even terrible) he had proven himself to be with working with other people- it was a dangerous notion too.
All of what he just said, paired with his habits and his attitude- could cook up into being him trying to fix everything all on his own, without anyone's help. Sort of bearing the weight of the world on his shoulders all alone... That was a dangerous notion. And he was probably close to making it habit...
... A bad way to go... But maybe... Maybe I misjudged you, Feathers.
"Hmm? I say something wrong, Sunshine~?" Hawks hummed as the silence stretched a little too long for his liking. Spirit blinked, her thoughts shaking off the slowness they had adopted and grumbling at that- the nickname.
Why does he insist on calling me that...? Oi...
"... No, I'm just surprised." She mumbled, he tilted his head.
" 'Bout which part~?" He asked with ease,
"Is that really why you became a Hero?" she asked quietly, and he smiled.
"Of course~! Every Pro's got a reason for becoming a Hero, and I'm totally serious about all of what I just told ya~" he replied with the utmost ease, Spirit's eyes narrowed slightly. "But ya shouldn't be so surprised, Sunshine~! I bet your reasons for becoming a Pro are just as good as mine~!" This time her eyes darted away from him all the way, her expression pulling (what little it could really, seeing as how she was in the shape of a bird right now...) as she let out a sigh that was... Agitated, in a way.
"Don't count on that, Feathers." Spirit muttered lowly, her tone rueful and Hawks' grin broke away in surprise at the sudden change.
"... What do ya mean...?" he asked out of complete reflex rather than common sense, and she huffed.
"Learn to take a hint, Hawks." she shot back lowly, her tone a growl and he shut up really quickly at that.
Spirit wove around him in air and started flying again, leaving him behind as he struggled to regain himself again and follow her. Spirit felt anger and hate and things long-since buried swirling suddenly alive in her core. All of it- and just at a single thought...
... Why did I become a Hero?
I hate that question
I hate it because my reasons are all tied up in a big mess that I just fucking hate
And now he brought it up, and I let it go far enough to- ugh, now I'm thinking about it, and the more I do that, the angrier I get!
She was only faintly aware of Hawks somewhere behind her, lagging now and now actually taking the 'hint' after she said something, and being quiet. It was clear enough there was a nerve that got touched, though he hadn't a clue why. She cast a small glance over her wing to see him flying with his eyes locked on the ground far, far below. His smile and his carefree air was gone now and he just seemed subdued... Oi
... That might have been... A bit bitchy of me... I am a bitch though... Just... I'm usually not so quick to snap at people...
She glanced back ahead, her anger deflating slightly as clearer thought trickled in.
... And knowing him, he asked out of curiosity- and he wouldn't know it's a sore topic anyway... So I just snapped at him because I'm worked up about something he doesn't even know about.
She shook her head at herself, slight inklings of guilt replacing the anger now as the silence seemed to weigh heavier. Guilt for fucks sake.
Uuuuughhhh... Why I even care...?
"... I'm sorry for being an ass, Feathers." Spirit called over her shoulder quietly, her flying slowing up just a little. "... I get you're trying to be nice and sincere and everything, even if you come off as a child for the most part... And it's not fair for me to be such a bitch to you for asking a simple question... So, sorry." She missed the way his eyes flashed at the apology, his expression surprised. She paused though, grumbling internally as she eyed the buildings they were passing over with ease. "... the reason I became a Hero was just to spite someone... And the world too, maybe." She explained quietly, he blinked in question at the words. "So comparatively, it's nothing like why you became a Pro... And no, I don't wanna get into it. I'm only telling you because I snapped at you unfairly, Feathers."
Hawks paused, his eyes trailing along the ridge of her shoulders and her wings- she was still ahead of him even though she'd slowed up a little. And she didn't look back at him as she said any of that either, and he doubted she would as long as they were still on the subject... She became a Hero to spite someone? Who?
She needn't tell him not to press the subject though, he realized she didn't want you get into it instantly- and though he did wonder, he would give in. And he might have told her that her reason for doing it wasn't any less than his- since she clearly felt that way, but he thought if he did she might get angry so he didn't do that either. 'Taking the hint', as it were.
Spite someone... And the world huh...? Spite them about what I wonder...
"Hmmmm... Gotcha." he hummed, his smile returning once more. He'd said she was interesting, right? Well there wasn't a doubt about that now~! She was more mystery than he realized- and he wanted to know more, but he had to take it slow- he could keep prodding and pressing, but he would take it in stride- so slow it was... even if 'slow' wasn't really his style.
"No worries Sunshine, we can talk about something else~!" He trilled brightly, "I'm sure there's plenty of interesting topics we can discuss between us over dinner~!"
"Why do you insist on calling me that?" Spirit muttered dryly as he pushed forward faster to fly level with her again.
"It's a nickname! I figured I might as well give you one, since you've already decided on one for me~!" He murmured brightly,
"Most of the things I call you are more aimed to be a jibe than a nickname." Spirit mumbled,
"I don't know, 'Feathers' sounds like a nickname to me~!" He hummed, Spirit rolled her eyes a little.
... I guess... but I just started calling you that without thinking about it, it wasn't a conscious choice...
"Nicknames usually describe the person they are given to in some way." She pointed out evenly, "There is nothing 'sunny' about me. I'm not cheerful, or overly kind or even bubbly- I'm about as far from being a ray of sunshine as anyone can be." She mumbled, "And my Quirk couldn't be described as bright or warm or anything of the sort either."
"Hmm, but that's sort of the point~! It's a good nickname because it's the opposite of what everyone assumes about you~!" He chuckled, "And you're not all doom and gloom, no matter how you act- I like it because I know you've got that heart of gold hidden deep down~!"
... Him and his damn 'heart of gold' nonsense... Oi...
"... I think you need to come up with something better, Feathers..." Spirit sighed,
"Hmm..." Hawks hummed, looking thoughtful for a moment. "... I still like 'Sunshine', but since ya asked, I can at least give it a go for you, Spirit~!"
... Yay...
"... Whatever... But I swear if you try calling me by something stupid- I'll claw your eyes out." Spirit muttered lowly, he chuckled.
"I'll do my best, Sunshine~!"
...hopeless... Really... Really, hopeless...
I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Thank you all for reading~!
**There is some Art of Spirit and her Hero Costume for this Chapter! Go to my Profile Page and click the link to my DA to see it! It's Titled "Old"
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