Chapter 17: Father & Son part 2

Come on, he's your father, why wouldn't he want talk. Hawks was thinking to himself as he made his way down the hall of the mansion to his father's study.

Since Dabi showed up only days ago, he knew he had to return with the wanted felon soon which meant very little time to get to know his father more and get questions he had off his chest.

Letting out a long sigh he rolled his shoulders, ignoring the twinge of pain that raced through his left one as he walked into the room.

"What's up, dad, what'cha doing?" Hawks asked with a wide grin plastered on his face.

Professor X glanced up from the file he was reading at his desk. "Just going over everyone's files at the moment." Professor smiled at Hawks as Hawks approached, leaning over his dad's shoulder and whistling.

"Whew, is there a file for all of us here?" Hawks asked, pretending not to notice Professor trying to slide the file he was reviewing discretely under his stack of folders. What is he hiding?

"Yes, something like that." Professor responded, trying to redirect Hawks' attention. "It's nothing, really. It's a nice surprise to see you- what's on your mind?"

"I was just wondering if we could have a talk. You know, mano y mano." Hawks replied, glimpsing down again, another file catching his eye. Jean Gray.

"Well of course, Keigo, I would love that." Professor responded, gesturing towards the door, thankful to think Hawks didn't see the file Professor had been reviewing.

As Hawks walked out the door with his father, he left two feathers behind to grab the two files that peaked his interest. Quickly his feathers returned with the files and burrowed them in his wings while the Professor was closing the door behind them.

"What's on your mind, son? I'm all ears."

"I was hoping to catch up more with you while we still have time for it. I'm not sure how much longer I will be able to stay. There's a lot of hero work to be done back in Japan and I have an intern from U.A I've taken under my wing."

Professor X frowned as he turned his chair to face Hawks. "You're planning on returning to Japan to continue your hero work?"

"I they need me. I am the fastest hero around. I get my jobs done without even breaking a sweat. There nothing this pro hero can't do." Hawks boasted, wings puffed out with pride as Professor X chuckled.

"How long will you be gone? Will you return to join us?"

"I- I guess I didn't really know you guys wanted me here. I thought I was the outsider. Everyone here is so close and... you know, it's like a fam-"

"-a family." Professor finished Hawks' sentence, which was interrupted by lump of emotions sitting in his throat. "You are our family, son," Professor responded, placing his hand on Hawks'.

. **** **** ***. **.

"I can't believe Hawks is going back to Japan already. I thought he'd stick around for a while longer." Evan sighed, leaning on the counter in the kitchen. "Are you sure you heard that right, Kitty?"

The noon sun was peering into the window, much more cheery than the sadness in the room. Rogue, Evan, Jean, Scott, Logan, and Kurt were making lunch when Kitty anxiously phased in with the news she had just overheard.

"Yes, I'm, like, totally positive. Like, I wish I could get to know him more, it feels like he just got here." Kitty frowned.

"I'm kinda glad he's going. Since he's been here it seems like all we've done is babysit him-Ow." Scott rubbed his right side looking towards Jean. "Why did you do that? Do you not know your own strength?"

"Come on Scott, you can be nicer about it. You can't say you won't miss having Hawks around as well. I know I will, he'a a good, sweet guy." Jean smiles softly.

Scott sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Okay, I might miss having him around here. But he's way too cocky. He doesn't understand teamwork. You all saw how he behaved when we offered to help. He snapped."

Jean rolled her eyes. "Scott, I don't think you understood what was going on. He was trying to keep us safe, it's his job. He's dealt with guys like Dabi before, we haven't."

"I'm just saying he needs know he can let others help and not 'play hero' all on his own."

Logan glanced up from the newspaper as the teenagers' bickering grew louder. "How about you all cut Feathers a break already. There is nothing wrong with how he works and does things."

"Ya, but what he did was reckless. He could have gotten seriously hurt fighting with an injury and goin' in alone." Rouge replied

"She's right, what he did was reckless. I don't see why he wouldn't have just let us aid him right away." Kurt added.

"I don't think Logan is trying to say what Hawks did was smart. You guys only knew him as a kid, where the rest of us met him weeks before he was shrunk. We got to know him before he was aged back. I think he just has done things on his own for so long that asking for aid is not his strong suit." Jean said.

"Yeah, but—"

"—There's no need to pout. It's not like we won't see him again, after all he just found his real father, those two have years of catching up to do." Logan said. Yet just like the others he too will be missing having the winged hero around.

The atmosphere shifted somberly as the reality that Hawks wasn't staying sank in. Their friend was going back to Japan, to his home.

As the conversation ended, a red feathery blur zipped away from corner of the room and out the door.

. ***** **** ****.

"So, enough about me, how did you come to live here in the U.S?" Hawks asked, sitting in a chair across from his father. They had just returned to Professor X's study after their walk.

"Actually I was born here in New York. This is a family mansion I inherited from my mother. I used the small fortune she left to form this school for gifted youngsters."

"Hold on second, dad. You're saying your're rich?! I came from a wealthy family?"

"Yes, Keigo. My side of family is wealthy, though money is just money. It can't buy happiness."

Hawks grinned and leaned back, kicking his left leg over his right and folding his arm behind his head. "Yeah, a lot of people get corrupted over money. I have had the pleasure of putting some of those guys in jail."

Hawks frowned, staring up at ceiling. "I wasn't as lucky as you. I grew up in... let's just say a shitty home. When the HSPC stepped in, well— they saved my life in a way and now I'm a top ranked hero living a great life."

Professor X buried his burning face into his hands as tears streamed down his face. The only sound in the room was the faint drop of the professor's tears hitting his pant leg as if the storm inside him was finally released.

Hawks stared back, his wings softly swaying as if they were soothing the sadness in the air. He had never seen this level of emotion before, and from such a respectable, strong man at that?! Maybe this is what it's like to have family that cares about you. Maybe this is what I have been seeking. Maybe this IS my home. Maybe I do belong here and don't always have to hide behind my wings.

"Dad, it's not your fault. You didn't even know I was alive. It was my quirk and my wits that got me out of that and down the path of a hero. I do wish you would have been around, though. There's a lot I could have learned from you and a lot of moments I wish we could have shared."

"I am so sorry son. There's not a day that went by that I didn't long to be with you again. Now that I know you're alive, and doing very well I might add, it be painstaking again not having you close. Why do you feel like you have to go back there? What is there for you?"

Hawks' phone buzzed. Hawks grabbed his phone and glanced down at text.

*HPCS:

President 3:45 PM

Get back here now. Vacation time is over. You've got a job to do.*

Hawks shoved his phone back into his pocket without replying back to them.

"Might I ask who that was?"

"I-Its no one important."

"Keigo, are you in some kind of trouble?"

"No. Everything is good. Everything is under control." Said Hawks though he was unsure himself.

. **** **** ****.

Hawks made his way towards the black X-jet, keeping a tight hold on Dabi as they approached Logan.

The last two days had flown by and now he was returning back to Japan with Dabi in toe. His heart ached in a strange way, as if he was leaving home and not returning to one.

"I still think you should leave him in the North Pole," Logan scuffed as Dabi glared at him.

"Shut up old man." The league member snapped.

Hawks, pulled out of his thoughts, laughed with his new friend. Out of the corner of his eye, though, he caught a glimpse of Dabi's murderous icy gleam at them.

Logan shrugged it off as he walked into the jet. Hawks, trailing behind, pulled Dabi by his collar. "So, what do you say Silver Claws, think you'll let me fly this time?" He asked with a sly grin, his sharp eyes fixed on the driver's chair and the controls along with it.

"If he flies we're all gonna die." Dabi scuffed as Hawks shot him a 'shut the hell up' look.

"Nope, not with that arm of yours your not." Logan said taking the driver's chair.

Hawks pouted as he sat Dabi down still cuffed in a seat behind Logan. "You can be the co-pilot seat though." The gruff man gestures to the chair next to him.

Hawks beamed and walked over, plopping down. "I'm all ears, teach."

Hawks said kicking back crossing his legs and resting his head on his good arm grinning.

Logan sighs as he started the jet for their flight to Japan.

Hawks stared out the window. The whole trip consisted of the pro hero talking, asking Logan questions about how they got the jet to if he would let him fly it on their next 'field trip' they do together.

"Honestly Feathers, I've never meet someone who talks so much." Logan cut in earring a laugh from Hawks, his wings twitching behind him happily.

"Hey, what can I say, I love the sound of my own voice. You're a good listener, by the way. Though I hate small talk and formalities they're a pain people should just say what's on their minds more, makes conversations more interesting if you ask me." Hawks smiles watching as they drew closer to the HPSC building.

"You know what would be nice, if you shut up for once birdbrain, you're talking too much, and your annoying voice is giving me a headache." Dabi said as Hawks shot him sharp glare.

"Hey, drop down over there," Hawks sat up and pointed to a clearing surrounded by trees on all sides, making a great hide a way from the public eye.

"You sure Feathers, I can get closer."

Hawks got up nodding his head. "Nah, right here is good, rather not draw huge attention to you and your jet." He grabbed Dabi by the collar of his shirt making his way to the back opening.

"I have legs you know birdbrain."

"Eh, this more fun."

Hawks grins back. Once the jet touched down the doors open for Hawks.

"Stay out of trouble you hear, don't do anything stupid." Logan said. The pro hero began to make his way off the jet, dragging the villain along with him. Hawks knew the moment he stepped off he jet his life as a hero would meet him full force.

"Easier said than done Silver claws, see you around." Hawks called over his shoulder to Logan with a smile plastered on his face, as he step off the jet.

Hawks stood and watched as the X-jet took off leaving him and Dabi behind.