Chapter 42: The Hawk and His Crow
"Things started rocky for us. He always ends up taking care of things himself, which doesn't leave much room for others. That's how our camaraderie transpired." Tokoyami says, looking back at Jean.
~flashback~
Loud ringing from the jewelry store echoes through the streets. The masked man darts from the store while still closing his briefcase filled with diamonds, which glimmer in the June sun before the briefcase is slammed shut.
"I can easy get 12 mil- whoa wha-"
Feathers flew down, snatches up the briefcase as the crook stumbles. Another feather hooks into his clothes as both the briefcase and the crook begin floating up in the sky.
"-oh come on, Hawks?!"
"I'll take that." Hawks stands on top of an telephone pole tapping his foot and holding a feather sword in his hand. As Hawks' two sidekicks run around the corner of the streets, Hawks releases the crook to one of them and the briefcase to the other. Tokoyami shoots around the corner, panting.
"What's with the hold up, team? You're moving too slow. There's a bar fight in Cantino. I'm heading there now. Take care of this guy and all the paperwork, 'kay?" Hawks chirps.
As Hawks launches from the pole, Tokoyami turns to chase after him.
"Hold on, Tskuyomi, it's our job as sidekicks clean up and do the paperwork." One of the sidekicks says.
"Yeah, plus Hawks is too fast for us to keep up with. You have to admit, though. He has an efficient system," says the other.
"I'll help him." Tokoyami replied and chased after Hawks once more.
"Man, that kid is eager."
.* * *.
Out of breath and worn out, Tokoyami followed Hawks back into his agency with the two sidekicks trailing after them. Not once did the winged hero slow down enough for Tokoyami to learn anything of use.
"Hawks, let's get the paperwork signed and emailed," said a sidekick, earning a groan from the young pro hero.
"Can't it wait? I have questions for Tskuyomi." Hawks asked.
"You two can chat and work. These papers need to be signed and sent out today."
"Fineeee.." Hawks throws his head back and gestures to Tokoyami. "Come on fledgeling. Follow us."
"Yes, sir."
"Don't call me that."
"Master then?"
Hawks sighs, "Hawks is just fine."
.* * *.
"I can't wait for things to get worse just for you guys to get practice." Hawks said back at his agency.
"I don't understand, why did you take me on as your apprentice in the first place?" Tokoyami stood by the wall as Hawks lounged on one of the couches twirling a feather in his hand.
"Because we're birds of a feather."
"Is that supposed to be a joke?"
"Nope," he points the feather at the young bird boy. "I'm 20% serious. Half of the reason is because I wanted to talk to someone from Class 1A. I'm interested in those thugs from the League of Villains who attacked you. To make things easier on me, I figured I should find a solid recruit who could keep up with me. So, from the top finishers of the UA sports festival, I chose the fellow faux avian who seemed like he'd be worthwhile. Now then, why don't we start with how the first attack went down at the USJ."
I'm not a messenger pigeon. Tokoyami thought.
.* * *.
Feeling the stress to justify his recent upgrade in the Hero Billboard Charts, Hawks raced through the sky of his city towards his next mission. Sure his sidekicks and Tokoyami would struggle to keep up, Hawks is shocked to feel a presence in the sky with him. Looking down, a swirl of black and purple catches his eye.
Jumping from the ground to the lamp post, Tokoyami, with Dark Shadow covering his body, trailed not far behind Hawks. Tokoyami, determined to not fall behind this time, presses forward. You probably want to her hear about the many trails my class has experienced, don't you Hawks? Don't look down at me number 3 — no, now the number 2 hero!
"That Tskuyomi's going all out!" The sidekick with a beak-shaped headwear exclaimed.
"He's differently got potential." The other sidekick, dressed all in black and purple, said.
"Aye." Hawks grins, watching the young bird boy in stride with Hawks. Interesting… Let's see what you've got Tskuyomi.
.* * *.
"Great work today." one sidekick said
"We'll see you tomorrow?" The other asked as they head out.
"Of course." Tokoyami replied as he and Dark Shadow turn back to Hawks' office after the sidekicks leave.
Hawks smiled watching from the door to his office as they leave the agency for night.
"Oi! Tskuyomi you got a sec?" Hawks beckoned him him over with a wave leaning against the frame a bit looking like he was hiding something, the teenager bird turn to face him with an unamused look.
"What Intel do you want now?"
Hawks' grin widens, oh this gonna be good. "Let's take this to the sky."
"The what- whoa, wait. Hawks?"
Hawks vanishes back into his office as he gestures to Tokoyami to enter. Hawks hover out of sight as the black bird teen steps into the room.
A devilish smirk cross the wing hero's lips as he dives down.
"Where are you? What do you mean by take it to the skyyy- Wha-?"
Tokoyami yelped out as he was lifted off the ground, by a red blur and rocketed out the window.
"-Hawks?!"
Hawks' genuine laugh rings out as he joyfully twirled through the air carrying Tokoyami by his waist.
Tokoyami looked up in awe at Hawks with as the wind ruffleed through his black feathers. We're flying!
"It's like we're one with the wind!" Tokoyami exclaimed.
"Is this your first time flying? Look around. It's amazing, nothing beats a bird eye view. Don't you think so fledgling?" Hawks responds.
Tokoyami nodded, mesmerized by city lights glittering in the night like the starry sky they were flying through the full moon's light casting the two birds into a soft warm glow.
"I-I don't what to say."
Hawks smiles down at him, enjoying the flustered teenager's expression of pure joy. "Then don't say anything. Enjoy the flight, my fledgling."
Tokoyami nods, feeling the buzz from Dark Shadow within him. Evidently Tokoyami's familiar was enjoying flying just as much he was.
"See, you belong up here soaring above the clouds and the city. Remember what I said when you asked me why I took you on? I asked you back for 20 percent for your qurik, birds of a feather and all that. And 50 percent was for info on the league, but the last 30… well, to be frank, because I thought you were wasting your true potential."
"You think I'm wasting my potential?"
"It's good to put effort into beefing up, your short-range combat weakness, but you shouldn't forget what you are good at. Use your quirk to move more freely."
Ahead of the was the Tokyo Tower, they covered 1,213.9 km with span for a short flight through the sky at 350mph. Hawks sets him down as he flies around him to land.
"I'm not interested in training the next generation or anything. But…I couldn't pass this up. Those of us who can fly should fly. There's no need to be stuck on the ground with everyone else." The lower part of hawks' face is covered by the collar of his jacket, which is blowing in the wind, as he looks over to Tokoyami.
"Are you saying I — we — can fly?"
"Do you doubt me that much?" Hawks responds. "Today you proved yourself capable of keeping up with me and thinking outside the box in using your quirk. You've improved a lot since the sports festival, but there's more to learn if you want to reach your potential. Hawks steps around to face him. "What do you say, my fledgling? Up for flying lessons?"
Tokoyami nods hearing dark shadow's cry in his head. We can fly! "I-It would be an honor."
.* * *.
Tokoyami and Dark shadow leap off the large bolder at yet another attempt to fly as dark shadow to catch him by his arms.
*THD*
Hawks winced as it was another miss.
That week, was spent day in and out with many — I mean MANY —attempts by Tokoyami and Dark Shadow to fly proved to be unsuccessful.
Hawks, perched above them in a pine tree, looked down at the black bird and his familiar as they climb back up the decently large boulder.
"You're getting so close. Come use your brain." Hawks said.
Despite the plethora of bruises and small bandages on Tokoyami's body, the trio pushed forward with the training. I will not let you down, Hawks. I want to make you proud. Tokoyami thought as he looks up at his teacher.
The sun was setting, casting an orange glow against Hawks as his wings sway gently in the cool fall air.
Remembering how Hawks had carried him through the air, Tokoyami looks to Dark shadow and grins. "We've got it this time."