Chapter 47: Making Amends
"Never thought I'd come back here after so long," he says as he steps outside Bayville's bustling airport to hail his taxi. A white feather falls out from under his trench coat. The blonde-haired man sighs as he steps into the cab and gives the driver his current address. Maybe now, after showing the use of his mutation, his parents will stop seeing him as a freak. Dream on.
.*.*.
As the X-Jet touches down in the hanger hidden behind the waterfall down the cliff side, Hawks jolts awake. Yawning, he stretches his arms above his head as he nuzzles closer into Jean's lap. He opens his eyes, relieved it wasn't all a dream. Here he is, back in the mansion he thought he had left for good about a month earlier, with the gorgeous woman he couldn't imagine life without. He opens his rested eyes to meet hers.
Hawks moves his head, noticing a wet spot on Jean's lap where he was drooling in his sleep. Before having the chance to react, Jean holds out a tissue for him.
"Sleep well? You knocked out a few minutes into the flight back. It's so good to see you rest. " Jean smiles, gently rubbing Hawks' face.
Wishing the moment could last, Hawks feels Jean start to fidget as she becomes increasingly more aware of the time.
"Are we- supposed to be somewhere?" Hawks asks.
"Yes, we're meeting with Professor in about 8 mins from now."
"We?"
"Well- you. He's been awaiting your arrival. He has something he wants to talk about with you."
Hawks rolls his eyes, burying his head deeper into Jean's lap. Sighing, he stands.
"Welp, here goes nothing." Hawks says.
.*.*.
Their footsteps echo down the corridor as Jean and Hawks walk to Professor's office. Hawks' wings twitch sporadically, a sign of his anxiety about how he will be received by the rest of the mansion.
As if answering Hawks' internal turbulence, Scott appears after turning the corner from an adjacent hallway. As Hawks and Jean pass him, Scott does a double take.
"What the- what is he-? What are you doing here?!"
"I-I.. uh you see.. I'm here to-"
"Here to do what exactly? Throw more of your problems onto us? Get another one of my friends—teammates—hurt?!"
Hawks' wings tighten to his back as he stares back at Scott, whose hatred seems to be permeating through Scott's glasses.
Jean squeezes Hawks' hand. "Go see professor. I'll deal with him." Jean grumbles.
.*.*.
Hank, Logan, Storm, and Professor X are on the other side of the door as Hawks enters Professor's office. All eight pairs of eyes lock onto him.
"You wanted to have a word with me?" Hawks begins, staring at his feet. "I— I'm sorry for running. I'm sure it made a huge scene and you probably don't want to see me again."
"Son, you're back!"
Professor X says, moving towards him for a hug.
Hawks freezes, unsure how to process feeling welcomed — even wanted— by his father.
Hawks keeps his eyes glued to the floor, knowing looking up might mean he would begin crying. And what if this is a setup? Am I falling into a trap?
"I am so glad you're safe." A Professor X continues.
Hawks tightens and slackens his wings as he stares into the eight caring eyes. It feels as if the walls begin closing in around him. Hawks shoves his stress-griped hands into his pockets. What's going on? Shouldn't they be telling me off for my actions?
Seeing nothing but genuine love and care for him, though unfamiliar, felt like — home?
"Pro-Dad, I- uh.."
Professor X reaches his hand for Hawks,' cutting Hawks' words short. "Breathe Keigo." Professor X says calmly. "I was informed by Jean what happened with you and the others. Son, I'm sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing but I should have told you right away. Things could have happened differently." Professor starts, still holding Hawks' hand.
As if nobody else is in the room, the next 20 minutes of father-and-son time felt as though they encapsulated everything that should have happened over the last 23 years. Hawks can feel the tension leave his shoulders, a sensation with which he is not accustomed.
"Dad- about Nabu Island —something wasn't right there. My feathers sensed something - like someone was watching from a distance."
After sharing this, Hawks becomes aware again of the others in the room, mostly because he saw their concern.
Panicking at the realization that he had just shared something that could be perceived as weakness, Hawks jumps out of the chair in which he was sitting.
"I mean, it was just a weird place. Sometimes my feathers are just… you know, pick up on wrong signals. I had everything under control, no worries at all."
As if the door can't be close enough, Hawks quickly exchanges pleasantries and shoots towards the door. As he's about to open it, a hand on his right shoulder stops him. Turning to face the owner of the hand, he sees Logan's solemn eyes.
"I know I've told you this before," Logan begins. "You've got to choose who you trust and stick with it before it's too late."
.*.*.
The word quickly spreads from Kitty and Kurt as they explain to Iceman and Jubilee who they run into first with the news Hawks return back to the mansion. It didn't take the word long to spread like weeds throughout the mansion mix results follow suit.
Rouge sighs as she soon finds Scott stalking through the halls clearly in a foul mood. Catching few words. "That son of a- he has some nerve coming back here." Scott grumbles walking past her.
"Welcome ya can't expect everyone to be happy." Rouge says to herself.
.*.*.
Hawks flings the door to Professor's office open, quickly slides through, then slams it behind him, harder than he means to. After feeling like all the air had been sucked out of him, he needs a long fly through the almost-night sky. As he turns to run towards the nearest door exit, he runs into Jean, who had been anxiously waiting for him outside Professor's office the whole time.
As if she already knew now is not the time to ask questions, Jean takes Hawks' hand.
"I have something I want to show you." She says.
As they walk through the halls, Jean stops in front of a door that was clearly newer than the rest. On it, as with the others doors, hung a nameplate. Hawks looks to see who they are visiting. 'Keigo' he reads as it dawns on him where they had just arrived. The last time he has seen the other side of this door, it was, well, a masterpiece to only one psychopath, and his name is Dabi. They put my name on the door.
Hawks reaches out tentatively, wary if the door will burst open as Jean's hand touches his back. Jean reassuringly looks at Hawks. "It's okay, baby. Open it."
Hawks opens the door swiftly. When Jean flicks on the lights, Hawks' jaw drops.
Before him was repainted, redecorated room. New navy curtains, an Endeavor flame themed bedding, new dresser, and walls painted in a new coat of green. Few other small things thrown in, along with his own merch, and Endeavor's too sitting on the thrown in sitting on bed and dress .
"How- when did?" Hawks walks into the room.
"Logan, Rouge, and I went through this room after you left and redecorated it. We wanted to make sure you felt at home here…" Jean is cut off by Hawks pulling her into a hug and a kiss. Tears prick Hawks' eyes happily.
"Thank you, Jean, for this, and for welcoming me back into your life." He could live with people disliking him and not caring as long as she was with him. All I ever want to is to belong. I won't let go of it and will do everything I can do keep her in my life forever.