Chapter 21 Friend or Foe?

Though it was almost noon, the mansion was silent. Logan and the others had returned with Deku in tow around 8:30, and everyone had waited until their safe return to go to bed. Well, almost everyone.

Professor X sat in his study massaging his temples as he stared at his computer screen, deflated by another empty hit on his database search of Dabi and the Hero Public Safety Commission.

Rogue, we are better with you whole. You are safe now. Rest assured you will always be safe here.

Frustrated, he pounds his head against his hand. "How can I keep them safe if I don't know anything about these people?!" He screamed, completely disregarding the sleeping mansion.

"Charles?" Hank said softly pushing the door open. "Is everything okay? If now's not a good time I can come back later."

"No, no. All is okay in here, come in. What's going on?"

Hank sighed, closing the door behind himself as he approached Professor X. "I just wanted to update you on Rouge and Hawks' current conditions. Look, I can come back later. You aren't looking great. Have you gotten any sleep?"

"Have you?" Professor X asked smirking.

"Well no, but the good news is that Rouge's injuries are minor. She's in her room fast asleep."

"And Keigo?"

"Well, that's news is not so great. He slipped into a coma."

The room was silent as Professor X processed Hank's words. "Thank you Hank. I'll go stay with him. Please go get some rest."

Professor X followed Hank out the door. They made their way silently through the halls until Hank split off to go to his room.

"You need sleep, too, Xavier. Get me if you need me."

"Thank you, Hank, for everything."

Unprepared for what he was about to see, Professor X entered the infirmary. Hawks, lying unconsciously in bed, his life reliant on the machine he was hooked up to. For fourth time in his adult life, Professor X wept.

Professor X was awaken hours later by Hawks' bedside to the sound of Hank reentering the infirmary. "Glad to see you got some sleep." Hank said. "Come with me, the others are waiting in the living room for us."

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

Voices of the others could be heard as Professor X and Hank drew closer to the living room. The voices became silent as Hank and the Professor approached them.

The atmosphere was tense, with a somber cloud that hung overhead like a rain cloud ready to burst by the slightest of touch.

"How is he?" Jean asked cutting though the silence glancing towards Professor X and Hank.

"What about Rouge? Why don't we worry about our own first?" Scott asked.

"Look here, Shades. Feathers is one of us. He's no stranger. Technically, we raised in way, and he's blood to the Professor, unlike any of us." Logan said.

The room erupted again.

"STOP!" Rogue screamed from the corner as she jumped to her feet.

The whole room stopped to look at the distressed teen.

"We have a problem, people. A big problem. We can't afford to waste time fightin'. Whoever Hawks is dealin' with and whatever he is doin', it isn't good."

"What level of 'not good' are we talking, Rogue?" Storm asked.

"We were lucky to get out of there. That guy Hawks is dealin' with is a complete psychopath. I guarantee we will see him again, and we need to be prepared."

"I saw some nasty messages on Hawks' phone a couple days ago when he was sleeping in the jet. Some from a guy named Burn Patch and the others from HPSC." Logan replied.

"I have been trying to get some information on the guy Hawks encountered last night. I know his name is Dabi, but beyond that it has been dead end after dead end. I think HPSC would be the Hero Public Safety Commission. Keigo has mentioned them before. They sound a little... let's just say controlling and possessive. I think Rogue is right." Professor X responded.

"How can we help, Professor?" Jean asked, standing up from her chair.

"Sounds like we have some work to do," agreed Logan as he stood, everyone else followed.

"Now that's the spirit," Professor X said. "Who's in?"

"I'm in." Jean, Logan, Storm and Hank all said.

"I'm staying back with Rouge. Hawks caused us enough trouble already." Scott said.

"Like, me, Kurt and Evan will take care of Deku, maybe he has something to share." Kitty said.

"Storm and I can head to Japan. Since you weren't able gather any info on the Commission, maybe we can find something out by seeking them out." Logan offered.

Professor X nodded. "That would be appreciate all of you."

"I'm going to head to back to the infirmary to check up Hawks." Hank said.

"Jean, go with Hank. I want you to, look through Keigo's memories and see what you can learn."

"What?! Professor I-"

"Jean this isn't up for debate we don't know if he'll come out the coma. God forbid, if he dies, his memories go with him and we'd be no better off than we are now." Professor X and Jean looked at each mourningly, digesting the weight of the Professor's words. This was the first time either of them had considered they may lose their beloved winged hero.

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

Jean was trembling as she and Hank entered the infirmary. The late-afternoon sun, shining through highlighting the ash-blonde hair of the lifeless larger than life pro hero.

"Jean are you coming?" Hank asked.

Focus Jean. She shakes her head and walked over to Hawks' bedside.

Hank walked over to the only chair, position in the corner of the room opposite of the bed.

Jean lightly brushed back parts of his bangs, then laid her hands on his temples she closed her eyes.

Moments later she sees five- year-old Hawks getting kicked by his guardian.

~memories~

"Out of my way! Don't turn your back to me! How many times do I how I told you?!" The man shouted at the boy.

"I don't care how you do it get some money. What are your wings even good for?" The woman before the boy hissed. He glances down hugging his doll tighter.

"Tires Screeching. Screaming. *Crash*

Peeping though a crack in the door to three people in suits talking.

"How do we get out of this without it tracing back to us?"

"Just stick it on Hawks. No one going to defend him."

"We are all he has after all."

"Exactly why it will work."

Hawks stood facing the President and another member of the Commission.

"Hawks we need you to infiltrate the League of villains."

"Do you expect me to ignore all the citizens they harm?"

"You can and you will."

"I'm your father Keigo." Professor X said.

Suddenly Jean heard her own voice.

"Hawks why are you acting this way?" Looking at the hurt in her eyes. Her embrace. She didn't leave me. He thought.

Jean snapped out of it, then fell to her knees hugging Hawks laying her head on his chest.

"Is that bad?" Hank asked placing hand on her shoulder. Jean didn't respond. Hank glanced between the two of them, "I.. I'm going to leave you two alone a bit."

Jean gently squeeze his hand, please wake up. I…we miss you.

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

Hawks began to stir. A bright white light greeted him blinking his eye a sound of machine next to him, humming, began to fill the silence around him, drawing him into wakefulness.

Where am I? Hawks' body felt like led numb and exhausted, there was a fuzzy fog clouding his head, moving his arm, the hum turned into a beeping sound, making his wince, as the noise rang into his ears.

Hawks tried to move his wings wanting to shield himself from the brightness and noise but. What? He tried again and again he couldn't feel a thing. "My wings.." panic set in, he tried to reach behind him, they have to be there, they have to.

"Keigo, calm down, don't move around to much, you could reopen your wounds."

Hawks whipped his head around to see Professor X next to the hospital bed.

Professor X put down his book with a slight smile across his face both of relief and amusement seeing his hyper alert son caught off guard. "It's good to have you, back Keigo. How are you feeling?"

"Dad…? When did I come—?" Hawks' coarse voice cracked when he spoke.

"Little over a week ago. Don't worry son. I'm here. I'll explain everything."