Fate's Fickle Wings

by winterziyle

It begins with a Lightbulb falling from a balcony. Fate sets in motion the beginning of a another Upheaval, that will leave their society changed again - though - whether they all come out of it alive will be entirely in the hands of those they call heroes, and whom Hawks comes to call family.

23. Chapter 23: Baby Birdie's First Villain

Authors Note:

So, I didn't have a great day. ^_^;;

Thus, here is a chapter...

Chapter Twenty-Three: Baby Birdie's First Villain

Izuku looked over at Hawks, curled up on the futon in the living room. He'd been asleep for pretty much the entire Saturday morning. Apparently, he'd had to take something to help with his burns. Rilo hadn't looked overly pleased about the situation when she'd explained it over breakfast, and really, it was rather alarming to be confronted with.

Hawks had mentioned he reacted really negatively to most medications, but, Izuku hadn't realised it was anything on this sort of level. Did Hawks' body just not have a tolerance for particular types of substances, was it all linked to the sense aspect of his quirk, and if by disrupting that, it completely threw the rest of him out of balance?

Izuku just stared at the ball of red feathers, twisting his hands in a nervous fidget.

He hadn't realised Hawks could be like this.

He supposed Hawks was only human too—

He'd just seemed so—

He'd been—

A hero—

Unbeatable—

Without realising it, he'd come to look at Hawks with all the same reverence and wonder he'd placed on All-Might, only he knew All-Might's secret. He knew the Symbol of Peace was running out of time, so, perhaps, subconsciously, he'd latched onto Hawks as that immortal vestige.

But he was having to confront a hard truth—

They were all only human in the end.

Hero.

Villain.

Human.

"Um…Rilo…"

Rilo sat at the kitchen table, working on a rough sketch of Fukuoka Tower. She looked up at him where he hovered in the threshold of the doorway into the small living room.

"Yes, what is it, sweetie?"

"Is…um…is Hawks going to be okay?"

"Oh." She smiled, glancing over at the ball of feathers. "He'll be fine. Mitsuki's treatment has already really helped his burns, we're very lucky to have met her, otherwise…well…I might have needed to call Jeanie for help."

The evening spent with Kacchan hadn't really been that bad, to be honest. Which still surprised him. They'd played video games, and just hung out in his room, they'd talked about heroes and their hopes for U.A . It had almost felt like he and Kacchan were friends.

That was an unnerving thought.

Izuku supressed a shiver.

He was pretty sure the moment he saw Kacchan again it'd be insults and glares.

Hawks, however, was now convinced that their teacher was actively trying to sabotage their enrolment into U.A. They both needed good scores next year, otherwise they could both kiss their dreams of U.A goodbye—so Hawks had given them a rather stern lecture, about how, if they couldn't be 'friends' then at least they could try to look out for each other a little more.

Right—

Like that'd work on Kacchan.

"I know, but…he's…he's not moved?" Izuku motioned at Hawks.

Rilo nodded sagely. "Yes. He's exhausted, Izuku. He's dealing with a lot of things at the moment, and it's wearing him out, but don't worry, by this evening he'll be up and about like a spring chicken."

Alright. He'd have to believe her. "Okay. Um. So…would it be okay if I went to visit a friend, and, um, go to the mall to hang out."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Do you have your mobile phone?"

"I do."

"Do you need any money?"

"Um. Well. That would be…er…nice…"

Wow—money—

She eased out of her chair and crept slowly past Hawks. He shifted, despite her best efforts not to disturb him.

"What?" His head appeared from beneath a wing.

Izuku felt some relief at the sight of him, even if it was just his head and a groggy grumble.

"Nothing, darling, go back to sleep." She crouched beside their gear, sorting through it.

"What time is it, babe?" Hawks' wings rippled like water.

"Hair past a freckle. Go back to sleep, honey."

Hawks rubbed at his eyes wearily. "Fuck, I feel heavy."

"That's good." Rilo gently urged him back down. "The medication has worn off and you've got your senses back…but sleep, just, sleep."

Izuku schooled his smile as Hawks wings ruffled up once more and he curled into an even tighter ball than before. It was kind of amazing to witness the sort of ball Hawks could become. He doubted very many people got to see it.

Rilo tiptoed back towards him and they snuck out of the living room to the front door. She handed him a card.

"Don't be silly with it."

"I can't take this?" Izuku gasped. "It's Hawks' card."

"Oh, nonsense." Rilo brushed at his hair fondly. "What makes Hawks' happy is that he can provide for the people he loves. That means you." She poked his nose.

Izuku felt his cheeks go warm as Rilo handed him his backpack.

"Now, be responsible, and be back before dinner, I'm going to attempt to make something!" She puffed out her chest. "The kitchen will not defeat me."

Izuku giggled.

"Perhaps buy us some dessert or something on the way home." Rilo added.

"I will." He opened the door. "Um, is it okay if my friend comes back, to stay over."

"That should be fine."

"Um. Is Hawks really okay?"

Rilo brushed his hair back. "Yes. Izuku. He's fine. Like I said, he's just completely worn down. My health is…" she shook her head. "He keeps all the worry bundled up inside, but it get's tiring, even for him."

Izuku looked down at his shoes. "I…I know it's really bad…but…All-Might and Mum, they're not really telling me about it."

Rilo breathed out an uneasy breath. "We will soon. I promise. We've been sorting stuff out…"

"I know." Izuku turned around, burying his head into her chest, hugging her tightly. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I wish…I wish I could save you both from all of it, Rilo. I wish I could fix the problem, like, right now!"

"You have saved me, Izuku." Rilo's arms folded around him. "Even if it's just for a little while, you've given me something so precious." She held his cheeks. "I've been able to experience a family."

Why was she saying it like she was going to leave.

Rilo pulled away, holding his cheeks. "I've never been so happy."

"I just want everyone to be happy."

"You need to be happy too, you silly." Rilo rubbed their noses together.

Izuku managed a watery smile. "I'm happy when the people I love are happy." He shouldered his backpack.

"Why do you and Hawks always sound so old." Rilo waved him to the door.

"Cause we're awesome." Izuku opened the door. "I'll see you later, I'll bring back dessert. Love you, sis."

000

Rilo rested a hand heavily against the door, dropping her forehead on the wooden surface as she swallowed down iron-tasting saliva. It just—it just—it just wasn't fair. It wasn't fair—none of it—it wasn't fair—

"Rilo."

She jostled, startled at the voice that broke through her inward mantra of self-pity. Slowly she looked around, peering through her frazzled, dulled hair. Keigo leant on the doorway into the passage, exhaustion etched into his features as he practically hung there.

"You're supposed to be asleep," she whispered.

He held out his arms. "Come here."

She brushed at her wet cheeks, turning away.

"Rilo."

"I'm so sorry."

He sighed. "Rilo, come here. Come on."

Even his voice sounded drained.

She turned, and faltered.

Rilo heard his steps on the old apartment floor. The floorboards creaking under his weight. So carefully—as if she really was the lightbulb he called her—he folded around her and she sunk into his warmth. She was missing the thrum of his engine, turning over comfortably beside her in a gentle lull each night. Now she was cold, so—so—bitterly cold, aching to the very tips of her fingers. Her hands clutched at his shirt as she buried herself into his chest.

"It's okay. We're going to get through this." His arms tightened around her. "My god, Rilo. We're going get through it."

She broke down into sobs, her legs giving out, and slowly they slid down the wall in a pile of feathers.

000

It was an annoying grey day, which irritated Izuku for some reason. Maybe it was just because it was supposed to be nice spring weather, and yet, he felt like he was staring up at a drab, winter day.

It must have been his mood.

It had to be because he was feeling like he couldn't save Hawks and Rilo.

That had to be the problem.

Eijiro had immediately tried to cheer him up—of course—and had launched straight into excited babbling about the up and coming Heroes Ranking Convention taking place in Musutafu next weekend.

"Can you believe it's happening here, in our city!" Eijiro bounced on his skateboard, launching into the air and landing on a wall.

Izuku flinched, as he did every time Eijiro performed his death-defying stunts with his skateboard. He shouldn't have flinched, because it wasn't like Eijiro could really hurt himself, thanks to his quirk, but watching him tumble and fall still freaked him out. He still went running after Eijiro, crying and balling his eyes out when he fell down.

"I figure it's because All-Might is back in Japan." Izuku offered. "And since Musutafu is where he is currently residing…well…best have it here."

"Oh, you can just feel the buzz in the air!" Eijiro flung up his arms. "All the banners are going up around the city, and huge trucks are rolling in, man…I am so, so, so pumped! It's going to be great! I already picked out my outfit and everything."

Izuku blinked at Eijiro in surprise. "Oh, so, you're already going to the Heroes Ranking Convention?"

"Yep!" Eijiro bounced down from the wall he'd been balancing on, catching his Crimson Riot skateboard with another flip. "My Dad got me tickets. He tries to do something hero related for me every year, since we can't see each other much at all…you know, cause of his job…but he loves hearing me talk about all my hero stuff."

Izuku smiled as Eijiro spun about on his skateboard, making it look so smooth and easy to just weave around on the sidewalk. Despite never really seeing his Dad all that much, Eijiro really did seem to have a great relationship with him.

"Anyway." Eijiro kicked back on his board. "With the Heroes Ranking Convention being here in Musutafu this year, Dad got me tickets right away. I have to take heaps of photos to send to him."

"You were just going to go on your own."

"Well, yeah, but now we can go together." Eijiro slapped him on the back. "Oh, you…you do have a ticket, right? Sorry. I just kinda presumed. That was rude."

Izuku laughed. "I was checking to see if you had one, because I have a spare."

"You have a spare? Dude, they're not cheap…well, I think you can get into the convention area pretty cheap, but, to watch the actual ranking ceremony, man, I had no idea that was so pricey. Mum flipped out! Haha, I don't get pocket money for months."

"Yeah. My brother…and…Dad…anyway…not the point." Izuku waved a hand around. "Guess I could offer it to Kacchan."

That was a possibility he supposed. Izuku winced. Er. Would he survive—would the Heroes Ranking Convention survive?

"Your evil arch-nemesis." Eijiro laughed. "Cool, cool, I'd love to meet him."

"Only if you promise to let me hide behind you whenever he explodes."

"I'll always protect you." Eijiro sprang on his board, spinning it and landing effortlessly to glide around Izuku. "Someone has to guard you against your own denseness."

"Gee, thanks Eijiro."

"Just stating facts here, Izuku." Eijiro flashed him a toothy grin. "You know in those tele-shows, someone makes a trap in the ground and covers it with leaves…and it's totally obvious there is a trap."

"Yeah…"

"You're the sort of person who'd walk into the trap."

"Oh come on."

"No, you are. You'd walk right into it, not because you're an idiot or anything, but because you'd be focusing on what's too far ahead of you." Eijiro pointed to the mall in front of them.

Izuku frowned, pondering the observation. Was he that sort of person, really?

"But you are also pretty dense sometimes." Eijiro flicked him hard on the forehead.

"Owe."

"To much thinking, clogs up your brain. Got to be free, man." Eijiro circled him on the skateboard.

Izuku looked up at the sky. He missed it—he missed being in the air with Hawks. That was real freedom. All his thoughts just faded away with the wind.

Eijiro kicked up his skateboard, catching it, twirling it around and neatly packing it behind his back behind his own backpack. "Got any shops you want to hit?" He asked as they headed into the mall. "Well, other than the obvious gaming, hero merch, bookshop…"

Izuku rolled his eyes. "Didn't you say you were never letting me into a bookshop ever again."

"True. Didn't realise it was possible to lose someone in a bookshop for an hour. I mean, what were you doing?"

"Er, looking for books."

Eijiro squinted at him. "For an hour."

"Yeah. Sorry, I lost track of time."

"Dude, it's fine." Eijiro playfully bumped him and Izuku smiled.

"Thanks—"

"Kirishima!" A voice called out from above them.

Izuku looked up. Leaning over the second-story barrier of the mall's interior was a very, extremely, pink-teen with cute horns and dazzling black eyes. She was waving at them enthusiastically—or—perhaps waving at Eijiro, who was trying his best to not melt into the ground at being spotted.

Izuku schooled his immediate desire to elbow Eijiro and laugh.

"You know her?" he asked.

Eijiro squeaked. "She's in my class. Yeah."

Pink-girl shouted. "Oie! Kirishima, come up here!"

Eijiro dropped his shoulders. "Alright, alright! I'm coming."

Okay, Izuku just had to elbow Eijiro now. He dug hard into his friend's ribs and Eijiro glared at him.

"I am a man, I face my fears." Eijiro swept back his hair, as if attempting to look cool. He did not. He looked hilarious in his oversized Crimson Riot shirt—which Izuku now knew had belonged to Eijiro's Dad, hence why he wore it so often.

"Didn't know you feared pink girls." Izuku did another elbow to rib jab.

Eijiro poked his cheek. "I fear talking to everyone."

Izuku smiled. "You do great, you know."

"I try." Eijiro shrugged. "You know how you want to be someone…"

"Yeah, I know."

They both jumped off the escalator, looking around the second level and the milling people surrounding them.

"Kirishima!" The girl's voice called out again. "Over here!"

The girl stood at the entrance of the indoor soft-play centre within the mall, waving at them both. Izuku arched an eyebrow. "She's a bit old for that, right?"

"Oh, she's got Mochi with her." Eijiro clapped his hands. "Of course."

"Mochi?"

"Her little brother. Cutest little cake you'll ever see. Come on!"

They headed through a series of interlocking gates, into the large soft play-centre. For being a place where little kids played, it sure was a large playground that spanned at least three stories and appeared rather like a maze.

"I'm going to guess Ashido has lost Mochi again." Eijiro theorised.

They approached the teen girl, bouncing anxiously on her heels. "Kirishima! Oh, thank goodness. I need you to go inside and find Mochi."

Eijiro sent Izuku a look. Without hesitation, he kicked off his shoes and headed inside the large, colourful monstrosity of an indoor building, pointing back at them both. "Don't you two wander off while I'm gone."

Izuku smiled at the girl. "I think I traumatized him by getting misplaced in a bookshop." He inclined his head to the girl. "Hi, I'm Izuku Midoriya."

"Mina Ashido." She beamed brightly. "Wow, so you're the Izuku Midoriya." The girl quickly fluffed out her skirt and tidied her pink curls of hair. "Kirishima talks about you, like, all the time."

"I do not." Kirishima poked his head through one of the openings in the playground wall above them.

"He does."

Izuku smiled.

"I don't!"

"Could you just find Mochi, please!" Mina glared up at Eijiro.

"I'm trying to figure out why I'm inside this playground and not you."

"Because I'm wearing a skirt." Mina pointed at her bare legs.

"And that makes a difference, because?"

"You're an idiot."

Eijiro vanished back into the large playground. "Whatever. I'll find him."

Izuku seated himself by one of the tables in the area around the playground. Mina impatiently bounced on her toes, watching for Eijiro to emerge from any one of the entrances.

"Don't worry, he'll find him."

"Oh, I know." Mina heaved out. "I just get…yeah…anxious now. Since…an incident..."

"Mochi goes missing a lot, does he?"

"Hm. He's one of those types of kids who goes on adventures." Mina huffed. "And if you blink, gone, poof…Mum and Dad work full time, so, it's just me and him."

"You seem to know Eijiro really well."

Mina shook her head. "He sits two rows behind me, three across." She danced her hands around, making mock desks. "I don't think we'd even talked at all, this whole school year, until about a month ago…when I caught him alone in the gym at school, doing some sort of weird martial art practice. For some reason, we just started talking..."

She looked back at him.

"That's how I learnt about you."

Suddenly, they heard an eruption laughter from above. Izuku looked up. Eijiro was waving at them from an over hanging net, holding a little pink boy that was wearing a homemade set of red wings, crafted out of crape paper and cellophane. It kind of clashed rather terribly with his bright pink complexion and hair, but the whole thing was way to adorable not to melt over.

"Oh…my…gosh…" Izuku whispered. He needed a photograph. Hawks was going to die of embarrassment and Rilo was going to freak out over how cute it was.

"I found him!" Eijiro whooped. "We're going to take the big slide, come and watch us! Come on!"

Mina blew a rasp. "Come on, we'd better go, or they'll both sulk that we miss it."

They headed around to the large set of slides. Izuku pulled out his mobile, flipping up the camera to film the hilariousness of Eijiro taking the enormous thing with Mochi in his lap. They both ended up on the mat on the floor, laughing in hysterics.

Mina rolled her eyes.

Eijiro grinned up at her. "Oh come on, if you were not wearing that skirt, you'd be joining us."

She flashed a grin. "True. True."

Izuku stood over Eijiro as he lay on the padded ground. "Having fun."

"Yep."

He offered his hand, hoisting Eijiro up.

"Mochi! No!" Mina flung out her arms as the little pink boy vanished into a ball pit. "Oh my goodness. Come on…please…come back…" She covered her face in defeat. "Gah."

"Don't worry, I'll fetch him…again…" Eijiro bounced away.

Izuku watched him go. "I think we've now, effectively, lost them both."

Mina started giggling.

"I say we just take the loss." Izuku shrugged. "Let them run wild for a bit. Eijiro will watch him. Do you want a drink?"

"Oh, that'd be nice, thank you." Mina twirled around, following him towards the nearby vending machine. "You know, Eijiro said you are really timid."

"Er. I am." Izuku tapped Hawks' card over the payment pad and two drink dropped down. He crouched, opening the vending machine and pulling out the cans, offering one to Mina with a smile.

"You're not acting timid."

"Sure I am." Izuku sipped his can, glancing away. "You just haven't seen me when I'm confident."

"Oh, I guess…that's true." She frowned. "I hadn't thought about it that way." She leant back on the wall. "You must be something when you're confident."

"I don't know." Izuku tipped his head. "I guess."

Finishing their drinks, they headed back in the direction of the ball pit.

Eijiro was half buried in the pool, and Mochi was pelting him, rather enthusiastically, with balls.

"Mina, can I take a photo of your little brother with his wings?" Izuku asked her.

"Oh, of course." Mina brightened. "Mochi! My friend wants to ask you about your wings!"

"Just thought I'd ask permission." Izuku pulled out his mobile as the little boy clambered out of the pit and bounced over to them. Eijiro followed, flipping back his hair.

"Wow, this indoor playground is great."

"Your inner child is showing, Kirishima." Mina rolled her eyes.

"And that's a bad thing?" Eijiro laughed.

Izuku snapped a photo of Mochi, holding it out to show him. The boy's eyes brightened in happiness. "My wings look amazing."

He puffed out his chest, striking a pose.

"They do." Izuku agreed. "Just like the real thing."

"Yeah!" Mochi ran off, back to the ball pit.

Izuku smiled, standing back to his feet. He noticed Mina's gaze softening as she watched her younger sibling tumble around.

"So, I'm gathering from his little obsession, that you guys met Hawks." Izuku sat back on a seat.

Mina nodded. "Yeah. My Dad had a company trip up to Tokyo, so we went up to visit him, and Mochi got lost in a mall because I was an idiot."

Eijiro frowned. "Ashido…"

"No, I was…and…" she kicked her leg back and forth. "I learnt something about myself from the whole thing." She breathed in deeply. "If I want to be the person I want to be, I need to be more responsible for my words and actions."

Her smile dazzled. "And yes, Mochi is now utterly obsessed. I had to make him those wings."

"They're super cute." Eijiro propped his chin on is hands as he crouched. "You're heaps creative."

Mina kicked him lightly.

"Don't think I haven't noticed how you've been skipping out on club activities after school."

"Wait, what?" Izuku's head snapped around. "Eijiro!"

"Training with you is so much more fun than club activities."

Izuku groaned into his hands. "That isn't the point. To get into U.A our school records need to be practically flawless. Skipping out on club activities doesn't work. Okay. No more skipping out. Mina, you have my permission to drag his arse to whatever club he's supposed to be in."

"Nice." Mina grinned. "Though I'm not sure why I needed permission, but somehow, I feel so much more official now." Her hands went to her hips.

Eijiro suddenly sulked. "I'm hungry."

Izuku glanced at his watch. "We should grab lunch."

"Mum didn't give me spending money." Eijiro pouted. "So, I will starve."

"Don't be so dramatic." Izuku reached for his pack-pack. "I can pay."

"Can't use your pocket money, Izuku."

"It isn't mine." Izuku shook his head. "I've got my brother-in-law's card. We're good to go."

"Oh, okay then!" Mina slapped her hands. "Mochi and I are totally joining you."

"That's fine."

"Izuku, you can't be that kind to people." Eijiro nursed his head. "And Ashido, don't abuse his innocence. He is completely unaware that he does it. He walks about being all happy and sunshine and rainbows. It's scary. He needs to be protected."

Eijiro grabbed him, hugging him.

Mina whooped, throwing her own arms around them both. "Yay, protection huddle."

Izuku slumped his head back. "I just want to make up for all the unkindness in the world."

"See what I mean?" Eijiro whispered conspiratorially to Mina. "He's to perfect."

Mina agreed. "You're right, where did you find him?"

"In a park. Like a lucky penny."

"Okay, now you guys are just being ridiculous." Izuku shrugged out of their hold, picking up his bag. He headed for the ball-pit, leaning over and holding out his arms. "Mochi, come on. We're getting lunch."

Mochi's head burst out. "Yay! Lunch! I want a burger!"

"Okie dokie." Izuku heaved the boy up. "Let's go get burgers."

He kept a firm hold of Mochi's hand as they headed out into the busy main mall. He'd never had friends to go to the mall with, so, experiencing things with Eijiro had been a whole new world to him.

He'd really, honestly, expected Eijiro to give up on the whole 'friendship' thing a few days after they'd met, but, he hadn't—if anything—he'd become more and more persistent. Izuku glanced over his shoulder at Eijiro and Mina, lost in a debate over something their class was involved in. He was glad—really glad—that Eijiro had managed to open up to someone else in his class.

Maybe he should try harder with Kaachan.

Izuku sighed.

That was asking to get burnt.

Bleh.

He let Mochi chose which burger place to get lunch from. The little boy was extremely disappointed to find that the kids meal was not Hawks themed, indeed, none of the meals were Hawks themed. They had a lot of hero themed boxes, but none of them were Hawks' themed.

Izuku stared at the menu. "Hawks is amazing…" he whispered.

Getting into the top-ten meant something big. The fact that Hawks had achieved it without a merch line was momentous. But now that he was joining the top-ten ranks, it was only a matter of time before the marketing and merchandise followed.

Mochi finally settled on an Edgeshot meal theme as a compromise, because he looked cool. Izuku couldn't find fault in that logic.

"Look at us…" Mina motioned to their fast food when they all finally found a seat in the food court. "We all ended up with hero themed boxes."

Eijiro grinned, holding up his Crimson Riot cup. "My Dad says that life is going to suck heaps, so, do things that make you happy when you get the chance."

"A good philosophy." Izuku grinned at his All-Might burger.

"I know, right." Eijiro smiled. "My Dad's the best."

"I hope I get to meet him someday."

Eijiro beamed. "I hope so too!"

Izuku reached out, helping Mochi unwrap his burger. "So, Mina, you and Mochi going to the Heroes Ranking Convention?"

"Hm, not sure yet." Mina stole a fry from Eijiro's box. "I heard a rumour online, coming out of Fukuoka, that Hawks' is in the top-ten, but I so don't want to disappoint Mochi if that's not true." She ruffled her little brother's hair fondly.

"Guess you're in luck, cause Hawks has made the top-ten." Izuku quipped absently while fiddling with his burger. He gasped in sudden horror. "Oh my gosh! I said that out loud!" He snatched his head up, looking at a stunned Eijiro and Mina, thankfully, Mochi hadn't seemed to have really been paying that much attention—to focused on his meal.

"Did you just say Hawks has made the top—"

Izuku slapped his hand over Eijiro's mouth. "Shhh! Don't say it out loud again! I'm not even supposed to know. Gah! Forget I said anything."

"How do you know?" The faintest outlines of pupils in Mina's inky black eyes focused on him and Izuku covered his face.

"I just do. Please. Oh gosh, please, don't ask anything more. I suck a lying." Izuku squeaked.

Eijiro folded back in his chair, amusement tinting his tone. "Ah, well, now I think you're pretty good at it."

Izuku ignored him, deciding his best course of action was to simply apply himself to his meal. Eijiro laughed, giving him a fond elbow rib.

"Guess I'm bugging my parents for tickets then." Mina grinned. "Thanks for the tip, Izuku."

"You're welcome." Izuku muttered sheepishly. "Don't tell anyone else. Please. I'll be in so much trouble."

"Oh, I won't. I swear." She slapped a hand to her chest.

Izuku ducked his head to one side. "Thanks."

Their conversation drifted towards what they were all planning for spring break. Izuku couldn't really expand much upon his plans, other than his hopeful trip to see family in Fukuoka. That had Eijiro narrowing his eyes at him with even more suspicion.

Yeah—

Eijiro wasn't an idiot.

Izuku paused from sipping his cola, watching as a man, dressed in what could have passed as a hero's costume, seated himself at one of the food court tables with a little girl in tow. The skin on the nape of his neck tingled. A sensation Hawks' talked about sometimes. A warning. Knowing something wasn't quite right, while everything in the surrounding area looked perfectly normal.

No one was paying the hero and the girl any attention. There was no reason too. It was a normal sight in their society. A hero and a child. That was a natural, safe thing for everyone to see.

Until it wasn't.

Izuku's jaw set tight.

"Izuku?" Eijiro tensed up beside him, seeming to finally notice the twitching of the knife that had slipped into his hand.

"Eijiro, this might get a bit messy. If it does, drag Mina and Mochi below the table." Izuku whispered.

"What's going on?" Mina asked.

Izuku tipped his head towards the table in question. "You see that man sitting with that girl in the bright yellow dress…"

Eijiro nodded slowly.

"Yeah, he's dressed in a hero costume."

"He's not a hero." Izuku taped his knife irritably. "He's a wanted villain in about three prefectures. He pretends to be a hero, kidnaps kids, and then…" Izuku glanced at Mochi happily nibbling on his burger.

"Anyway." Izuku slid off his seat. "I'm going to try to get the girl away from him. If I send her over to you guys, can you keep her with you."

"Um. Izuku…" Eijiro shook his head. "I know you train with your brother, but…you're not a hero."

"Keep your heads down. I'll try to make this quick. His quirk only harms kids younger then ten, so, we should be good, but…Mina…keep an eye on Mochi."

Izuku breathed in deeply, giving himself a quick shake before throwing himself into a happy skip. This—this performance had to be flawless.

"Hi!" Izuku bounced up to the not-hero. "Are you Salmon-man?"

"Salmon-man?" The villain looked startled.

"You look like a Salmon." Izuku burst out enthusiastically. "Your hero suit, it looks like a salmon, so, I thought you might be Salmon-man!" Izuku turned to the girl, smiling warmly. "Do you see the pink girl over there, and the boy in the Crimson Riot shirt?"

The girl nodded through a sudden burst of tears.

"Good. Get up, and go over to them. They'll look after you. Everything is going to be okay now. I promise."

"Wait a minute!" The man protested as the girl scrambled quickly away.

Izuku slammed his knife down, piecing straight through the man's hand. "Don't move, villain."

"I…I am not a villain!" The man bellowed in pain. He looked fiercely around the food court. "This child is assaulting me."

"Oh, no…a child is assaulting you." Izuku mocked. "How the tables have turned for you, villain. You are wanted in three prefectures for your crimes against children. What, did you think that because you hadn't hit the media that heroes wouldn't have gotten wind of what you look like." Izuku kicked the chair out from under him, sending him slamming into the table. "Sucks for you, but I spend hours looking through the villain database."

Clutching at a bloodied nose, the man spluttered. "No kid could have access to that."

Izuku innocently touched his chest, smiling sweetly. "You're an idiot. I could be a hero with a de-aging quirk. I could be using a projection to make myself appear younger. You know, there are numerous ways to I could look like this, none of them would be correct, because, I am, in fact…technically…still a kid. But, as a villain, you should always be thinking of how you could be caught. I am very disappointed."

The villain gripped at the table, eyes focusing on him.

Izuku arched an eyebrow. "Your quirk only works on kids under ten, I'm thirteen." Izuku bent closer, whispering into the villain's ear. "And if you try to use it again, I will kill you, immediately."

"You're bluffing." The villain leered.

Screams erupted from all around them. Izuku snapped his head around, watching as children throughout the foot court dropped, clutching their heads. Little Mochi shrieked.

It was odd.

Hawks' had talked about it so often, that split second moment that he'd make the strike, but—

His hand moved, his knife flipped around, smooth, like liquid in his grip. The villain's skull smacked hard against the table as the butt of his knife collected their temple.

The screaming stopped abruptly.

Izuku stared at the unconscious villain lying at his feet.

How strange. He'd intended that to be a kill blow, at yet—

He studied his trembling hand, and the knife clutched in it.

He hadn't been able to do it.

Clicking his tongue in irritation, he searched around in his pants for hand-cuffs. Oh—right—he wasn't wearing the utility belt All-Might had given him. It was hard, getting into practice to always be prepared.

"Eijiro!" He turned around. "Can you look in my bag for a pair of hand-cuffs, they should be in there somewhere."

The entire foot court was staring at him. Izuku gave a small wave, shuffling awkwardly.

Yeah—

This didn't feel totally awkward in the slightest.

How did any hero cope with this intense force that came from hundreds of eyes staring at them. It felt like he was being crushed.

"Here, Izuku, catch." A pair of hand-cuffs sailed through the air.

He snatched them neatly up and cuffed the villain.

Somewhere in the distance, he could hear Mall security coming.

Izuku's stomach dropped.

He had a terrible feeling things were about to go really—really wrong for him.

"Eijiro." He pulled out his mobile, throwing it at his friend. "Call my brother, tell him I took down a villain, and he's needs to come. Like…right now."

Eijiro stared at the villain, then slowly at the mobile he'd caught.

"Izuku…Izuku, who exactly is your brother?"

"Hawks." Izuku flashed a smile. "Wing Hero."

0000

Since meeting Izuku, Eijiro had felt the shift in his life.

Izuku was kind of amazing that way.

From the moment he'd seen the goof-ball practicing outside his bedroom window, in the parkland, looking so hilariously ridiculous, and yet not giving a care at all—he'd wanted to get to know him.

His smile was kind, and he cried for the stupidest reasons.

Tripping over his skateboard triggered Izuku's tears. Accidently getting his foot stuck in a door made Izuku freak out. Getting a papercut made Izuku think he was dying because his quirk didn't activate.

Seriously, the guy was basically a ball of yarn that would unravel at any given notice, and then would have to be painstakingly rewound up and cared for. Someone else might have found it annoying—maybe that was this mysterious Kaachan's problem—but Eijiro—he couldn't shake the feeling that he just had to protect Izuku.

He'd kind of known there was something else going on though, with all the training—

No one went through what Izuku was going through just for fun.

And it wasn't just about getting into U.A.

But he had never expected—never ever expected—Izuku to pull out a knife, walk up to a villain, and just stab the guy straight through the hand like it was nothing.

Where had his soft, squishy friend gone.

One moment, he was there—

The next—

His eyes had become like emeralds, hard set and cutting. All his timidness had vanished, and he moved with fluid-like confidence and grace.

And then it had flipped again, and timid Izuku had turned back to him. Eijiro had watched the confidence all drain away. An act. It had all been an act.

Everything had happened so fast after Mall Security had arrived. He was so glad he'd done what Izuku had asked and called—

Called—

The Wing Hero—

"Oh my gosh…" Beside him, Mina clutched at Mochi. "He wasn't joking."

No—

Izuku hadn't been joking.

It really—

It really was Hawks.

The Wing Hero.

He really was walking right towards them.

Dressed in a tight red, knitted sweater, a pair of lazy trackpants, and Endeavour slippers.

Right—

Yeah—

Eijiro's life had shifted, rather dramatically.

"Yay!" Mochi flung his arms up. "Hawks!"

With utterly no inhibitions, Mochi bounced up to Hawks and squealed. "Up! Up!"

A tired, patient smile settled on the boy and Hawks crouched down. "I'm sorry, bubble-gum. I'm a little sore right now." Hawks rolled up the sleeves of his sweater, revealing bandages.

Globby tears dripped down Mochi's cheeks. "You got hurt."

"I did. It's okay." Hawks rubbed Mochi's cheeks. "They're healing up really well, I should be good by tomorrow."

"Oh." Mochi suddenly beamed. "Yay!"

Hawks gave a groan as he stood. He glanced at Mina. "Fancy meeting you again, Mina. Small world."

She gave a shy bow.

"So, by the power of deduction, you must be Eijiro Kirishima." Warm golden eyes settled on him. Eijiro had never expected the gaze of the wing hero to be so kind. The man had always looked so intimidating on camera, but that wasn't what looked down at him now. Obsidian eyes were large, and haloed by gold, making whatever they looked upon seemingly appear the whole focus of the man.

Eijiro was pretty sure his entire life was laid bare in that moment between slow blinks of the wing hero's eyes. He breathed in deeply. "Ye…yes, sir."

"Alright. What's happened? Where is my brat."

Eijiro sighed. "Um. So…mall security…they took him away."

"Ahah." Hawks arched an eyebrow, glancing around the food court. "Where is this villain?"

"The police came, they just took him too." Mina quickly piped up.

"Wow." Hawks drawled, rolling back on his heels. "I'm late. Heh. Guess that's what happens when I have to walk."

He didn't seem overly fussed about it.

"Hawks? What are you doing here."

Hawks lazily tipped around at the voice from behind. "Hey ho, Tsukauchi. I'm here for my brat."

It was one of the police officers who'd come for the villain. Eijiro had tried to talk to him, but they'd not been very receptive after Izuku's whole hand stabby, stabby thing.

"Wait…" The officer paused. "Your brat. Oh, no. You mean that licence is real."

Hawks frowned at the officer.

Eijiro could feel a rising tension as Hawks' wings began to hackle. It wasn't much, but they just seemed to expand enough that his annoyance was obvious.

Tsukauchi nursed his head. "Shite."

"He isn't down at the station, is he?" Hawks shifted on a foot. "Tsukauchi, you didn't fucking book my brat did you?"

"No, no, we didn't."

Hawks breathed out. "Oh, thank goodness. Gods, the paperwork would be a nightmare, and I am not in the mood."

"No, you really don't look like you are." Tsukauchi chuckled. "Nice slippers."

"Thanks." Hawks glanced down at the Endeavour slippers he wore. "I was making dumplings." Eijiro froze as a hand ruffled his hair fondly. "But it sounded rather urgent, so I figured I'd better come and see what trouble Izuku had managed to get himself into."

Eijiro smiled as Hawks' hand settled on his shoulder. "Thank you for calling."

"No…no problem, sir." Eijiro shuffled.

"I was on my way to Mall Security to pick up your brat, apparently, so, how about we head over together. See if we can't get this sorted…without the paperwork." Tsukauchi offered.

Hawks stretched up his arms. "That'd be great. The wife wants us all back for dinner in an hour." He looked down at Mochi and then up at Mina. "You two joining us?"

Mina shook her head. "We'd better head home. Tell Izuku thank you, you know, for…for helping that little girl. He was really brave."

Hawks smiled. "I'll let him know. You two get home safe." He ruffled Mochi's hair and the boy giggled.

"Bye Kirishima!" Mina waved as she and Mochi left, ducking under the police line.

Hawks tipped back around on a heel, hands buried deep in the pockets of his trackpants. "Alright, let's go find a baby birdie."

Eijiro fell quickly in line with the two men as they strolled through the mall. There were still patrons milling around in the late evening. The villain hadn't deterred shoppers. It had just been another villain. That was a part of everyday life.

"You look like you got messed up pretty bad." Tsukauchi motioned to the bandages covering most of Hawks' arms and shoulders.

"I was a bit of an idiot the other day," Hawks flipped a hand around. "And I played with a pyromancer. Guy was probably on Endeavours level. If we'd really decided to go at it, I reckon we'd have levelled half a city block." Hawks rubbed his neck wearily.

Tsukauchi shook his head. "It is terrifying to think that there are villains out there that match Endeavour."

"I donno." Hawks sighed. "A class f villain is just as terrifying, to be honest. You're lucky Izuku is so religious with reviewing the villain database. I don't even bother checking it before I come down here."

Tsukauchi sighed heavily. "He's under your agency, Hawks, but he's living in my jurisdiction. Could you stress upon him how important it is that he doesn't act without your authorisation."

Hawks rubbed the bridge of his nose wearily. "Alright, whatever."

"Wow, that really sounded like you are going to lecture him."

"Yep. Totally."

Tsukauchi nursed his head. "Who…who thought it was a great idea to ever give you an apprentice."

"All-Might, actually."

Tsukauchi halted in mid-step. "No. Oh. No."

Hawks looked back at the police officer, grinning. "Yep."

Whatever strange conversation was going on between the two men, it was entirely lost on Eijiro, but something was going on.

They finally reached the mall security office and Eijiro almost flew through the door at the sight of Izuku sitting despondently on a chair in a lonely corner. Hawks grabbed his shoulder, holding him back. He looked up at the hero. The man's gold eyes had clarified into sharp dots.

"Let's not get you in trouble too, kiddo. Stay with me."

"Oh, okay."

Tsukauchi approached a woman behind a desk. "Hey Kojima, I'm here for the young hero apprentice you have in custody."

Eijiro watched as Izuku's head snapped up in their direction. His face lit up at the sight of them.

"Why is he cuffed?" Hawks suddenly interjected. "Did you cuff my kid?"

"Hawks." Tsukauchi raised a hand, urging calm.

"Ah, fuck off." Hawks shoved past him, slamming open the door into the small side room where Izuku was.

"Hawks!" Izuku bounced up. "You came."

Eijiro squeezed around Hawks' wings, bursting free of them. "Izuku!" He flung his arms around his friend. "You're okay. Did they hurt you?"

The tears began. "No. No. I'm okay. I just got a lecture…and I got laughed at…and they took my apprentice licence. I'm sorry, Hawks. I messed up."

Hawks arched an eyebrow. "Your first villain takedown and I wasn't here to witness it. Not sure how you messed up, Izuku. If you see a villain, you act. That's the job. Did any civilians get harmed?"

"Um. No."

"Did you damage any infrastructure?"

"Er. No."

"Then you did great. Come on. Time to go."

Izuku glanced at the cuffs. "They cuffed me."

"I know." Hawks frowned. "I am not impressed." His wings rippled. "It has connotations that I'm sure they're not aware of, but, you don't cuff avian aviators."

"I'm not an avian aviator, Hawks."

"Really?" Hawks mockingly held Izuku's cheeks, squeezing them. "I could have sworn you were. You just haven't grown your wings."

Izuku giggled.

"Come on, baby birdie, let's get you home." Hawks waved them both out the door. The police officer was waiting, leaning on the security desk. Izuku's cuffs beeped, falling off and clanking onto the floor.

"You're free to go, kiddo."

"Oh, um. Thank you." Izuku bowed. "Is, um…is the girl…is she okay?"

Tsukauchi nodded. "She's back with her parents, and we'll provide the help she needs."

"Oh. Um. That's good." Izuku shuffled.

"Here is my number, encase you get into trouble when Hawks isn't around." Tsukauchi handed over a piece of paper, along with what Eijiro had to presume was Izuku's heroes licence.

His friend—

His best friend had a heroes licence.

How was this real—

They'd been discussing the Heroes Ranking Convention and—

Wait a minute—

Eijiro looked up at Hawks.

Guess that explained how Izuku had tickets.

Izuku clutched at his licence.

"Give All-Might my regards." Tsukauchi inclined his head.

"Oh. Um. I will." Izuku squeaked.

Hawks chuckled, ruffling Izuku's hair. "Thanks Tsukauchi." He threw a wave. "See you around."

"I hope not, Hawks. Stay in your own city, please."

"Fuck you, Tsukauchi."

"I'll send over the paperwork."

Hawks flung out his arms. "And in protest to the bureaucracy of our technocracy, I won't fucking do it."

0000

They stepped out of the mall into a soft spring evening. The air was nippy and cool, but the type of cool that felt refreshing against hot, flushed skin. Izuku looked up at the sky. It was beginning to clear from the grey that had hung around during the day, and now, pastel hues coloured the skyline as the sun slowly set.

What was different, he wondered. Was it just his mood?

Izuku glanced at Eijiro.

"So…um…you okay?"

Eijiro was fiddling with his skateboard's wheels. "Dude, I should be asking you that. You're the one they took away in hand-cuffs."

"Well, I kind of threw a lot on you…" Izuku shuffled. "Sorry. Um. For not…um…telling you…"

"That your brother-in-law is Hawks, and you're his apprentice. Yeah." Eijiro frowned. "I donno. Somehow, it sort of makes everything make sense. Like, I've been trying to fit things about you into a puzzle that just hasn't been working, and now, it does." He shrugged, flashing a smile. "It's cool, man."

Izuku breathed out. "Really, you're not…like…upset."

"Ah. No."

"Oh. Good. I was…worried…you know…"

"You worry way too much." Eijiro scoffed.

"This is true." Hawks shoved them both forward. "Now can we please get moving. I want to get home, and we have to walk."

"Oh no, the horror." Izuku mocked. "Walking."

Hawks huffed. "It's so boring, and slow. You'll understand when you get your wings."

When he got his wings. He didn't have a quirk, and All-Might's quirk was a power quirk—

Wasn't it—

Izuku shrugged the comment off.

"You're also wearing Endeavour slippers in public." Izuku pointed out.

Hawks looked down at the slippers with a smile. He wiggled his toes around, making the flame on the slipper glint in the streetlight. "Well, they're more respectable than rocking up in bare feet."

Izuku held up his mobile, snapping a photo of the man wearing his low riding tracksuit pants in public. "I'm sending this to Best Jeanist. He's going to flip."

"What?" Hawks snapped around. "No, don't you fucking dare!"

Izuku bounced onto Eijiro's skateboard. "Go, go, go! Quick!"

Eijiro immediately pushed them off down the sidewalk.

Hawks shouted after them. "Izuku! Don't you send that photo."

"I already did!" Izuku shouted back.

"Izuku! You little shite!"

Izuku laughed.

"Should you taunt him like that?" Eijiro asked. "I mean, he's the Wing Hero. Couldn't he catch up with us."

Izuku clung to Eijiro. "I'm just playing my part, and don't worry. He's not allowed to activate fierce wing at the moment, because of his injuries. We're safe—"

There was a bounce. Eijiro yelped as the skateboard flew out from under him and they both became airborne, only to end up floating above the pavement, hanging there by a feather caught in their clothes.

Eijiro laughed. "So awesome!"

Izuku pouted.

Hawks' Endeavour slippers came into view. "Really, Izuku. Really. Do you just forget that I have detachable feathers."

His forehead was flicked.

"I didn't think you could use them at the moment, not with the medication still in your system."

"I metabolized the medication hours ago. Sure, I might not be at my sharpest right now, but I'm capable of using my telepathy. I was trained under much worse conditions, kiddo."

Izuku sighed.

Right—

That's right—

Hawks had suffered much—much worse things—much—much younger—

"I still sent the photo to Best Jeanist." He flashed a grin.

"Fuck. I should never have given you his number."

"Dude, you have Best Jeanist's number! So cool!" Eijiro was twirling about in the air, trying to catch his feet, resulting in him doing summersaults.

Hawks looked at him in amusement. He set them both back on solid ground and handed Eijiro his skateboard. "We need to find a bakery, Rilo wants a cute cake for dessert."

"I know one." Izuku bounced down the road. "Mum gets my birthday cakes from there. It's just down the road. Come on."

Hawks refused to go into the small bakery. Izuku would have said something about his shite mood, but that'd have been testing fate, so instead, he dragged Eijiro in after him to find a cute cake.

They weren't having any luck.

Izuku frowned at the collection of cakes, none of them had cute duckies on them. Major disappointment. Rilo liked duckies for some weird reason. Eijiro propped his chin on his shoulder, momentarily reminding him of how short he was compared to his friend.

"This for your sister, right?"

"Yeah. She's really unwell, so we're trying to cheer her up. She loves ducks and cute things. Apparently I'm much better at figuring out what cute is." Izuku made quotations with his fingers around the word cute.

"Probably because you're related." Eijiro shrugged. "And, I'm going to be honest here, Izuku, you kind of like cute things too."

"Hm." Izuku pouted.

"How about that one." Eijiro pointed to a cake.

"You only like it because it's red."

"Well, yeah, dah."

Izuku laughed.

The door opened Hawks' head appeared. "What's wrong?"

Izuku sighed. "I can't decide."

"What's so hard, just pick a cute cake, they're all cute."

Izuku gave him what he hoped was the most condescending glare that he could achieve as a teen. "Do you want to pick it?"

"Fine, you know what…I'll come in." Hawks tucked his wings up tight and folded himself through the door. It was always a very fascinating thing to watch him achieve the feat.

He popped out, feathers puffing and ruffling in irritation before settling and he came to stand behind them both, hands resting on their heads. Izuku could tell Eijiro was still mildly freaking out about having 'Hawks: Wing Hero' being so casual with him. He supposed it was kind of weird—

Was it?

He'd become so used to it.

Even All-Might had become normality in his life. He'd so totally gotten over how amazing it was having All-Might around when the man could drag him out of bed at five in the morning to train.

"That one." Hawks pointed to a delicately iced cake, tinted yellow, and drizzled in some sort of syrup.

"Is it cute?" Eijiro asked.

Hawks smiled fondly. "It's sweet."

"I'm so confused." Eijiro groaned.

"Don't worry." Hawks stepped up to the counter to order. "It'll make sense when you find a girl someday."

When they reached the apartment block, Hawks stared at the entrance into the stairwell. "Yeah, fuck no." He handed the cake to Izuku.

"You shouldn't be flying." Izuku worried as Hawks walked away.

"I am not in the headspace to go into small spaces right now, Izuku. I'll see you up there."

Izuku nodded. He held the cake and turned to Eijiro. "Come on."

"What's that about?"

"Oh, um. Hawks is a bit…er…iffy…about tight spaces." Izuku motioned to the stairwell they traversed up.

"Guess we all have something, right?" Eijiro shrugged.

"I guess so." Izuku fished around for his keycard, slapping it against the front door of the apartment. He kicked the door open and they both stepped in.

"Izuku, sweetie, is that you?"

"Yeah!" He shouted back. "It's just me, Rilo, and my friend. Hawks is taking the balcony."

"Oh, yep, he just popped up."

"This is so cool, Izuku. I can't believe you have totally normal family-time with a pro hero." Eijiro grinned as he removed his shoes, leaving them at the rack.

Oh—

Eijiro had no idea.

No idea at all.

Wait until he experienced a meal with All-Might and Hawks at the same time. That was something else. The two of them had some really wild stories to tell, and there was something to be said about the physical presence of an A-list hero and an SS-hero. Somehow, even if they were just wearing trackpants, their presence filled a room with warmth, weight, and protection.

That's what he loved about having Hawks and All-Might around.

Everything just felt so much warmer, and so much safer.

Izuku directed him into the small living room, placing the cake down on the table. Hawks was shoving through the balcony doors, looking a little ruffled up.

"Izuku took down his first villain, babe." Hawks praised. "That's what the fuss was about."

Izuku shuffled awkwardly as Rilo bustled around the kitchen counter, throwing off her mittens to grab his cheeks and squeeze him.

"Ohhh, you did! Look at you, being a hero."

"I didn't do anything big." Izuku shrugged it off.

"Ah, no!" Eijiro scoffed. "He walked up to this guy and just stabbed him, straight through the hand, like bam!"

Rilo blinked rapidly. "Oh. Okay. A little violent, Izuku." She narrowed her glare at Hawks, who gave an uncaring shrug.

"Gah, Hawks." Rilo huffed.

"Gah, what?" He slapped her hips playfully. "I'd have killed the guy on the spot, so, technically, Izuku showed great restraint."

She frowned. "It involved a child then?"

Izuku nodded.

She hugged him again. "I'm very proud of you."

"It was wild." Eijiro whispered.

Izuku grabbed Eijiro. "Rilo, this is my friend, Eijiro Kirishima."

"Hello, Kirishima." Rilo headed back around the kitchen island. "It's so wonderful to meet a friend of Izuku's."

Eijiro rubbed the back of his neck. "It's nice to meet you too. Um. Thanks for having me."

"I hope you like steamed dumplings." Rilo pouted at the bamboo steamer. "Or at least, our attempt at steamed dumplings."

Izuku wiggled into a seat at the table. "Did you help, Hawks."

Hawks had slumped into his own seat, returning to what he must have been doing previously before he'd left. He peered over his laptop screen. "Yep. So, if they suck, you can blame me."

Rilo blew a rasp. "Oh, please. I'm pretty sure yours are the ones that actually look half decent."

Hawks swung an arm over the back of his chair. "I've just got very talented fingers, babe."

A tea-towel was thrown at his face as Rilo charged up to him, looking about to tackle him off the chair. Hawks grinned, leaning on a hand lazily.

"Aw, sucks, I'm wounded. You can't do anything."

She slapped the tea-towel over his head, ruffling up his hair. "Suffer the static."

Izuku watched as Hawks' wings puffed up. Rilo happily skipped back to the kitchen. Hawks flipped the tea-towel off his messed up hair.

"What unbearable suffering," he quipped. "Help, the torture of being messed up by my gorgeous wife, whatever the fuck will I do."

Izuku swung his legs back and forth. "Do you need any help, Rilo?"

"No, sweetie, I'm fine. You and Kirishima are welcome to go play on your game station if you like."

Izuku glanced to Eijiro. "Want to start up a game, or just hang here."

"I'm cool just hanging, and it's heaps warm in here, it's nice."

"Yeah, we're keeping it warm for Rilo." Izuku offered. "I don't know how you guys slept in here last night, it was hot."

"Hm. Not as hot as we've had a place." Hawks sipped his coffee, only to pause and lean forward to focus fully on his laptop screen. "Oh…no…looks like Canary had a run in with a villain." Hawks rubbed at his temples, sinking lower in the chair, making it creak.

"Is everything okay?" Rilo peered over her shoulder.

"Hm, well, Medusa is indicating things are fine. Bubbles hasn't called in a panic, so, I presume that means he survived the encounter with his wings attached. Little fluff ball he is."

"But, the villain got away, isn't that a bad thing." Eijiro piped up.

"True, it is." Hawks inclined his head. "But not every encounter we have ultimately leads to capture. Canary most likely assessed the situation as to dangerous to handle on his own, and decided not to pursue. Which was a good decision."

Eijiro looked thoughtful. "What would be the difference between you going up against a villain, and your sidekick going up against a villain?"

"That'd depend on the ranking class of the villain." Hawks offered. "Something you'll learn about at U.A. But, just to state your curiosity, villains are ranked according to the English alphabet, with the exception being SS class – the highest rank—don't fucking ask me why SS is above A, no clue who designed the original system—also, sometimes there is the horrifying possibility of a Calamity Villain."

"Calamity Villain?" Eijiro breathed out.

Izuku nodded. "That's the type which could take out whole cities. They're pretty rare though. Haven't had one of those in ages."

"Thank goodness." Hawks muttered.

"Who was the villain Canary ran into?" Izuku raised his head off his folded arms.

"Porcupine, class b." Hawks frowned. "Actually, that's…I'm pretty sure he shouldn't be out of prison." He shuffled onto his feet with a groan. "Fuck…"

"Hawks, you know you shouldn't be moving around so much." Rilo chided.

"You weren't complaining earlier, babe." He bent over their gear, rifling around for something inside one of the gym bags.

"Oh my fucking god, Rilo…what didn't you pack."

"What do you mean, I packed everything on the list you provided." She waggled a finger at him. "It's all you this time, sweetie."

Hawks dropped his head back, groaning.

"What are you looking for?" Rilo asked.

"My little black book."

"No, no. I put that with your spare armour." Rilo leant over the kitchen counter. "Other gym bag. The one with my undies."

Hawks lifted a wing, peering under it at her. "You put my hit book with your undies."

"Pretty sure it's not the first place someone would immediately presume it to be." Rilo quipped.

Hawks' wings rippled with amusement. "True. True. Alright, I'll give you a point for that."

"Yeah, spy point." Rilo bounced.

Eijiro bent over to Izuku, whispering. "Are they always like this?"

Izuku smiled. "Oh, they're usually much worse. You're getting a toned-down version of them. They have this dial that I can use," he mockingly pretended to crank a dial at Hawks back. "It stops most of their super embarrassing behaviour."

"But…he's…he's Hawks." Eijiro murmured.

"Yeah, I am Hawks. Surprise. I am a grumpy old man, pretending to be twenty-two." Hawks sat back down with a thump on the chair, his wings seeming to just melt over the floor as he flipped open a small black book.

"Okay…well, that's what I thought." Hawks clicked his tongue. "Porcupine has a life in prison sentence for mass murder."

"Mass murder, seriously?" Izuku sucked in a sharp breath.

"Yep. Oh, this is before my time." Hawks scratched his chin. "He's got to be pretty old by now. Still, the question remains, what is he doing out on the streets...in my city." Hawks flopped back. "If I find out someone, somewhere, filed paperwork incorrectly…I swear…I'll stick a feather through their skull." He threw his little book down.

Rilo slapped her spatula on the kitchen counter. "Hawks."

"I mean that hypothetically, of course." Hawks countered himself.

Izuku snorted a laugh. Right. Hypothetically. Sure.

"Right, you stabbing a knife through that villain's hand isn't seeming so wild anymore." Eijiro offered.

"Want to see something really wild?" Hawks slapped shut his laptop, throwing it away. Izuku watched as a feather caught it before it hit the floor, and it floated back to their pile of gear in the corner of the living room.

"Yeah!" Eijiro burst out.

"Izuku, hold out your hand."

"Oh, are we doing the hand trick." Izuku slapped his hand on the table.

"Yep."

"Oh, no, no, no." Rilo turned sharply. "Hawks, you are not doing the hand trick, not on Mum's table."

Hawks and Izuku pouted at her.

"At least use the chopping board." She relented.

"Throw it here, babe."

Rilo threw the chopping board to him, and he neatly caught it, slapping it down on the table.

"You got your knife?" Hawks asked.

"Yep." Izuku tugged his knife out, handing it over.

Hawks looked to Eijiro. "Okay, so, aim of the game is to obviously not hit the fingers." Hawks twirled the knife around playfully. "But to still go as fast as you can. Watch."

Eijiro leant closer as Hawks held the knife and suddenly stabbed. Izuku didn't flinch. The first time they'd done this, he had flinched away. The second time as well. It had taken enormous effort to keep his hand right where it was and watch as the knife effortlessly flipped and glided between his fingers.

A part of him always expected to lose a finger, because how could he not, when Hawks moved so fast with the blade, yet he made it look so easy—and that—that was what he wanted to someday be like.

He looked over at Eijiro and smiled. "It takes practice not to flinch. Rilo can't do it. She squeals and turns into a gooey ball."

"I have enough knives to contend with, Izuku." Rilo huffed, throwing another tea-towel at Hawks, as if he was entirely to blame for the comment.

Izuku frowned, looking at Hawks, who casually leant back, flipping the knife he held up and down. "You'll get it when you're older. One day, you'll be sitting there, and it'll just…hit you…out of the blue," Hawks playfully spread his hands, "what triggers the calcification of my wings. Poof. You'll never look at me or Rilo the same again."

"Wow, I love your family." Eijiro laughed.

Izuku looked over at his friend in confusion.

"You guys talk so openly about your quirks and stuff. It's so great."

"You're not allowed too?" Izuku squeaked.

"Nah. My Mum is pretty strict about quirk usage. It's not bad or anything," he quickly held out his hands at Hawks. "She just doesn't think we need to show them, or use them, in everyday life."

Suddenly—

Suddenly all the scrapes and bumps Eijiro had made sense.

Izuku's stomach clenched.

Suddenly, the reason why Eijiro adored his Dad so much sense.

Hawks leant forward, resting on an elbow. "It's not an overall bad mentality to have. Some quirks don't need to be on show, nor would people find themselves using their quirks in their day-to-day life. Not everyone goes into a profession that is even aligned with their quirk…" Hawks smiled. "Take your friend Katsuki's father…would you ever expect a man with a quirk that causes explosions to go into fashion design?"

Izuku shook his head. "No."

Hawks flipped the knife. "Your quirk doesn't need to define who you are, but that being said," Hawks smiled at Eijiro, "it is a part of you, a special part of you, and you should never be ashamed of using it."

Hawks held the knife out to Izuku. "Your turn."

Izuku grinned.

Eijiro gasped. "Wait, you can do it too?"

Hawks slapped his hand down on the cutting board.

"Oh, no…why…" Rilo groaned from the kitchen. "Why are you both so stupid."

"Because we're awesome." Hawks' wings rattled. "And one…and two…and go!"

Izuku smashed the knife down, concentrating on both precision and speed with each movement.

Hawks smiled as he stopped. "You're getting much more confident."

"Confident." Eijiro spluttered. "How…how do you even…that's nuts, Izuku. Aren't you terrified of slicing off his fingers."

"Nah." Izuku flipped the knife back and forth. "Once I figured out that Hawks could snatch his hand away faster than I could ever move the knife, it became really easy."

"Oh, that's the trick." Eijiro relaxed against his chair.

Hawks winked. "That's the trick."

"You can try it if you want. Seriously, you can't hit him." Izuku offered the knife. "Dad can't even get him. You should watch them go at it, it's so funny!"

"Yeah, but he could still Detroit Smash me through the window." Hawks muttered. "So, it is terrifying—"

Hawks was out of his seat before Izuku registered the clattering from the kitchen. He snapped his head around, watching as Rilo's legs simply faltered from under her. Hawks caught her, and several feathers snatch up the frying pan she'd dropped before it clanged over the floor.

Izuku rushed around to join them, grabbing the frying pan from the floating feathers, propping it back on the counter.

Rilo covered her mouth as her coughing fit continued, blood leaking through her fingers. Then she just seemed to freeze, her hand going limp, her legs struggled as she fought for air.

Izuku looked up at Hawks and froze.

Broken.

Raw brokenness.

"Rilo, you need to breath." Hawks urged softly. "Calm down. You're fine. Just breath. Come on. Come on. You can do it."

She wasn't breathing.

Izuku swallowed.

She—

She wasn't breathing.

"Rilo." Hawks' hands slid up against her chest. "Come on, honey. Don't do this. Come on. Come back to me."

It was as if Hawks' activated fierce wing, only—he didn't actually move.

Izuku felt the charge in the air, it sparked against his skin, making his hair stiffen. Rilo suddenly shifted, gasping and coughing. Her hands grappled for Hawks as her blue eyes clarified, their glow returning.

"Alright. There you go…" Hawks soothed her hair back. "Just keep breathing, babe."

What—

What had Hawks just done—

Izuku scrambled up. He ran a towel under water, handing it to Hawks. He took it, slowly cleaning Rilo's hands and bloodied mouth as her haggard breathes calmed.

"Keigo…I…I…my legs…" Rilo gripped his shoulders.

"Don't panic. You're probably just overdoing it." Hawks lifted her carefully, cradling her in his arms. "Honestly, babe, and you chide me about overexerting myself." He sighed. "I should be the one insisting you stay glued to a bed."

"I just want to finish dinner." She fiddled with her feather pendant.

"Don't worry, Izuku and I can handle some fried rice and dumplings." Hawks settled her into the seat he'd vacated. Eijiro appeared, handing over a blanket. Hawks smiled in gratitude.

"Thank you, Eijiro." Hawks folded the blanket around Rilo. "Would you mind keeping her company."

"Sure." Eijiro beamed.

Hawks pressed a kiss to Rilo's forehead. "Now, come on, babe, don't look like that. Cheer up." He tweaked her chin as he stood, heading back into the kitchen.

"Oh!" Izuku suddenly burst out. "I know, I have something that will cheer you up." He dug around in his pocket, pulling out his mobile and revealed the photo of Mochi in his homemade wings.

Rilo's eyes lit up immediately.

"Oh my gosh!" She snatched at the mobile, holding it up. "Hawks! Look! He has little homemade wings!"

"I know, I saw them." Hawks called over his shoulder. "It was very creative."

Eijiro enthusiastically spread his hands, immediately picking up on the theme. "You should have seen Mochi at the indoor playground. I had to pretend to be a villain while he ran around being Hawks. Really adorable."

"Awww." Rilo gushed. "Hawks, see, this is what merch is."

"So you say."

"Oh, bleh. You're such an uncreative goose."

Izuku giggled, heading back to the kitchen to take up the frying pan once more. He relit the stove. Okay—that had worked—phew—

Rilo's expression had been horrible.

Hawks—

Hawks—

Had been worse—

He never wanted to ever see look on anyone, ever again.

He relaxed his shoulders a bit.

That had worked—

He sensed Hawks' eyes on him and looked up.

"Thank you," Hawks mouthed.

Izuku nodded.

Anything.

He'd do anything.

"Hawks…" Izuku whispered. "Is…is…Rilo dying?"

Hawks paused from slicing a cabbage. "Yes." He resumed the knife strokes. "Yes, Izuku. She is."

Dread filled him with all the potency of ice.

"Um…" He stared at his shaking hands clutching the frying pan. He stared at the rice. "How…how long does she have."

"Hopefully, if it all works out, a lifetime." Hawks forced a smile.

"So, you're working on it."

Hawks twirled the knife. The knife was pointed at him. "We are."

000000

Izuku stared at the paper his mother had handed him.

It was a marriage certificate.

And it was backdated.

This was legit forgery he was holding.

Slowly—

Slowly it dawned on him what he was looking at—

He looked up, glancing between his mother and Yagi, then to Hawks and Rilo.

"Okay." He breathed in deeply. "What's going on?"

"We wanted to have all the pieces in place before we spoke to you." Mum fidgeted. "There was a chance it wouldn't go through."

Izuku blinked. "So…you…you went back to your hometown this weekend, to finalize your marriage to…"

He looked at Yagi.

"To All-Might." He squeaked.

Oh—

Izuku choked, covering his mouth.

"Yep, we broke him." Hawks shifted off the arm of the couch. "Told you both you should have said something."

Yagi sighed, placing a hand on Mum's shoulder. "Izuku…I know this has been all rather sudden—"

Izuku gave a laugh. He startled even himself with it. "That's not the problem." He scrunched up his hands through his hair. "You're saying, this isn't just a cover-story anymore." Izuku looked to Hawks. "This is real."

"Technically, it is a cover-story, but we've just…" Hawks waved a hand around, "Cemented it so deep into reality that it's now as solid as we can make it."

Izuku turned to Yagi. "That's what you've been doing, all that paperwork?"

Yagi nodded. "I've been trying to work out how much we could fabricate, and how much truth could be stretched into something feasible."

"Wow." Izuku flung out his hands. "Just…wow…" He looked back down at the marriage certificate, frowning at the date. "Guess I'm now All-Might's son," he muttered.

That was not how he'd been expecting his school year to end—

But okay—

He'd gone from never knowing who his father was, to now having a Dad.

"We're using the bureaucratic technocracy to our own advantage, Baby Birdie." Hawks offered.

"But should we…I mean…you guys are…heroes…this is basically just…manipulating…" Izuku waved the certificate around.

"That's true, there is a line, and we're blurring it." Hawks inclined his head.

"But when you're up against the very government that makes you a hero, there is no line." Yagi's tone dropped. "I am quite sure you know enough about Hawks' and Rilo's situation by now, Izuku, to understand why your mother and I have gone this final step. All together, we can protect each other."

Okay—

That was All-Might speaking, not Yagi.

Even Hawks had dipped his head respectfully to one side and quietened.

It made their living room seem smaller somehow.

He glanced to Mum, and she smiled warmly. It had been such a long—long—long time since she'd smiled like that, and it had only been happening since Yagi had stepped through the front door.

The day that sludge villain had run into him hadn't just changed his fate.

He looked to Hawks, and Rilo seated beside him. She was so delicate at the moment. Hawks moved around her like she was going to shatter to pieces. Even as the weather was warming up, she was wearing heavier clothes, covering up her translucent skin that was beginning to lose its natural glow and dull to an awful stone grey. Last night—watching her struggle to breathe—seeing the absolute brokenness in Hawks' eyes.

He needed to fix that.

"This will help save you guys?" Izuku breathed in deeply.

Hawks nodded.

"That's all I want." Izuku whispered. "I just want everyone to be happy." He rubbed at his teary eyes. "And if this makes everyone happy, then it makes me happy."

Hawks crouched in front of him. "Izuku, are you sure—"

"Yes." He assured, throwing his arms around Hawks. "I want to save you, and Rilo. I want that, more than anything."

Hawks' arms encased him. "You're a brave kid, Izuku."

No braver than Hawks must have once been, he was sure of it. Hawks hadn't had anyone to tell him he was brave.

Izuku bubbled out an awkward laugh as Hawks rubbed at his cheeks, wiping away his tears. "I'm sorry, Hawks."

"Hey, it's okay. It's okay. This is a lot."

"You know, it has been a bit of a crazy end to the school year." Izuku tipped back.

"Oh, sweetie." Mum fussed with her dress.

"Does this have something to do with the Heroes Ranking Convention?" Izuku looked between Hawks and Yagi.

"It does, yes." Yagi nodded.

Hawks thumped back against the couch, hooking a knee under his chin. "You're going to play a part in one of the greatest performances to ever bedazzle Japan."

Izuku looked expectantly up at them. "What's my part?"

"Oh, you've already been doing a rather good job of it, to be honest." Hawks tossed a hand about. "The adorable, sometimes annoying, little brother."

Oh—

Right—

He puffed out his chest. "I can do that."

"But you will have to play it forever, Izuku." Hawks cocked his head. "You'll have to memorise all the information we give you this week, and it will have to become reality to you."

"So…I'll be lying?"

"Not lying." Hawks shook his head. "Assimilating. Basically, it's what spies do when they are deep—very deep—under cover."

"And we are very deep under cover." Yagi offered.

Izuku nodded slowly. Alright—he sort of got it.

"Okay." He beamed. "I can do it. Besides, I get an instant big sister and a hero brother-in-law." He gave a cheerful twirl. "This is, like, the best day ever. I expect to be enormously spoiled for all my missed birthdays. Oh, and I want pizza tonight. We're getting pizza." He gave a watery smile.

"I like that idea." Yagi agreed.

"You would, Mr. American." Hawks grumbled.

Izuku bounced up to Mum, hugging her tightly. "Are you happy?"

"Very much so, sweetie." She kissed his forehead. "Now, are you sure—"

"It'll take some getting used to." He looked up at Yagi. "I'm not saying it won't, but, it's okay. I promise. It's okay."

He watched as they relaxed. They'd really been worried if it was that obvious in their stances.

He gave a cheerful grin. "Anyway, I can always run away and live with Hawks if you guys want your space."

"Oie!" Hawks flipped up from where he'd collapsed on the couch, head on Rilo's lap.

Rilo started giggling.

"Oh, what's this…this is your responsibility calling." Izuku tugged out his apprenticeship licence, waving it at Hawks playfully.

Hawks flopped back, returning to Rilo's lap. "Well, I'm screwed."

"See, he loves me." Izuku grinned.

Yagi's hand settled on his head. "We all do, Izuku. We all do."

And he felt it—

This feeling—

This warm happiness—

This was what he had to protect.

"The pizza has to have chicken on it." Hawks suddenly piped up.

"Keigo, not everything needs chicken." Rilo groaned into her hands.

"No, sweetheart, chicken makes everything immediately better."

00000

Keigo stared at the message on his mobile.

Shite—

He sighed. Alright—alright—

He'd better deal with it now while it was still fresh.

"Better get fucking paid for this in actual cash." He shifted Rilo gently off him. She stirred, coming awake with a small jerk.

"Keigo?"

He brushed at her hair. "I've just got to nip out."

"Why?"

"Commission job."

Her blue lips sucked in a sharp breath. "Now. But…but you've barely recovered."

"It's nothing big, just tying up loose ends." He tucked the blankets around her, reaching for the heater control on the couch, and cranking it up higher. "I'll be back by breakfast. It won't take me long."

"Please…be careful, you've still not recovered."

He cupped her cheek. "Don't worry so much, this body has been well trained."

Her hands curled against his chest. He tried not to show how panicky her icy cold hands made him. Instead, he bundled her up tighter in the blankets and wrapped his large aviator jacket around her.

"Do no emerge from this nest until I get back." He held her cheeks. "I don't want you having another episode while I'm not around to kick-start your quirk."

"I still don't understand what you did."

He worked on quickly clipping up his armour. "Well…I guess…I figured, even if the mod is limiting our quirks reciprocal flow, we did have something going for a bit. Right?"

She nodded.

"And usually a reciprocal flow goes both ways." He made a movement with his hands.

She frowned.

"Fierce wing is an enormous burst of energy. Thus, I theorised, there is no reason why that energy can't be redirected." He tugged on his boots. "So, for the time being, I'll just have to keep jumpstarting you." He flashed her a grin. "Like an old car."

Rilo swallowed. "Keigo…"

"It's not forever." He clasped her cheek. "I'll be fine."

She giggled as he pressed kisses against her lips.

"I love you," he drew away, pointing to her as he dragged open the balcony door. "Stay in our nest."

He bounced onto the balcony wall to launch, pausing only when he spotted Izuku waiting below. Keigo sighed heavily. Great. Of course he'd overheard the conversation. It was highly unlikely the kid had been getting any sleep due to the emotional weight of what they'd thrust on him that day.

"Alright. Time to let him blow off some steam." Hawks dropped down, landing on the pavement. Izuku dashed up to him.

"They let him go, didn't they?" Izuku gripped his knife tightly. "That piece of scum, he got let go."

"He did, kiddo. He did."

Izuku flung up his arms and stomped around. "What the actual fuck, Hawks. I literally caught him in the act."

"Ah, I see my sophisticated vocabulary is beginning to rub off on you. Mum is going to be so pleased." Hawks cocked his head.

"I don't understand."

"It's bureaucracy, Izuku. We're not supposed to understand it. We just exist in it."

"You're going after him."

Keigo nodded. "That's the job."

Izuku raised his chin. "I'm coming with you. I need to see this through."

Kicking off the wall Keigo sighed. "Alright." He turned his back to Izuku. "Come on then, get on. Let's go hunting."

0000

Izuku looked around the subway station. There were still commuters bustling about, despite it being so late at night. He kept a hand wrapped around one of Hawks' larger feathers, like a child—maybe—but it just felt weirdly safer in the moment, to be attached to the man somehow, in the depths of the subway when it was nearing midnight.

Hawks didn't seem to comment about him hanging on to a wing, instead, he just lazily, and so casually, walked on through the dimly lit corridors with all the confidence of someone who'd been down in the subway hundreds of times—

He knew otherwise.

Hawks had never, ever—ever—taken a subway—

Ever—

"Um…Hawks…"

"Hm."

"Why are we down here?" Izuku whispered.

"Drop spot." Hawks turned a corner, heading straight for a series of lockers. He flipped out a card, scanning it over a locker that pinged green and he yanked the door open. Izuku peered around him, watching as he removed a guitar case.

"That's…not actually a guitar, is it?"

"Sure it is." Hawks slapped the locker shut. "I play. Come on."

They backtracked their way out of the subway, out onto the streets again. Hawks once more offered his back and Izuku climbed on. The fact that Hawks was letting him fly with him like this meant something special, it really meant he saw him as a little brother. He'd read about it in the book Hawks had given him. When a quirk hadn't manifested yet in a family of avian aviators, the young were always carried around in the air until they could fly on their own.

At least, that's how it had been—

Before flight restrictions.

Hawks landed them on a roof of an apartment complex in a rather sketchy part of town. Sketchy enough that Izuku hadn't ever ventured into it, and certainly wouldn't have ever done so at night.

Hawks glanced over the edge of the building, clicking his tongue at the cars parked below. "Prostitutes, really…ah well…not my fucking city."

Izuku tired to looked, only to receive a hand slapped in his face, over his eyes and he was shoved away. "Away, child. I want you, at least, twenty-one, before you start fucking."

"What. You're like, twenty-two and married."

"I do not see your point." Hawks sat himself down with a thump.

Izuku pulled a face. "I'm not an idiot."

"Sit your arse down, brat." Hawks heaved the guitar case down, unclipping it.

"That's not a guitar." Izuku stated.

"Sure it is." Hawks quipped. "It's totally a guitar."

"That's a sniper rifle. I mean, it's in pieces, but…that is what it is, right?"

"Wow, look at you, so smart." Hawks began to lazily put the weapon together, piece by piece.

Izuku rocked back and forth on his butt, ignoring the cool concrete roof beneath him. "Why do you need a sniper rifle, couldn't you just use a feather."

"Okay." Hawks hooked a knee under his chin. "Why do you think I'm using it?"

Izuku frowned, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Well. I guess…maybe because a feather could still be traced back to you?"

"Yeah, there is that." Hawks nodded. "However, sometimes the Commission likes to send a message. Or, in this case, they'd like to keep the message alive."

Hawks finished assembling the rifle, flipping it back and forth to check it. "Have you ever heard of a hero named Lady Nagant…"

Izuku's brow compressed. "I…I think so…didn't she…she murdered someone important, right?"

"Actually, I suppose, yes. What she did would constitute as murder, though, I suppose by that point her sanity could be disputed." Hawks paused. "She murdered the former President."

"Oh." Izuku sucked in a sharp breath.

"She was once the pet of the Commission, like I am. Her quirk was a rifle." Hawks held out the weapon. "I've only seen footage of her in action, but she was a masterpiece. As much as I am a living blade, she was a living gun." He glanced over at the apartment block across from them. "Sometimes the Commission likes to let those who remember Lady Nagant know that they're watching, and a rifle will find them if they fuck up."

Izuku swallowed. "And you…you have to go along with it."

Hawks' gaze was haunted. "Trust me, kiddo. It's better I do. Because Lady Nagant got defiant, I've…shouldered the…consequences of her defiance. I was her replacement. I don't know too much about her beyond that. I wasn't supposed to even know she existed at all." Hawks dipped his head to one side, giving a sigh. "But, I am a glutton for information gathering."

"All-Might said there isn't a secret in all Japan you don't know."

Hawks smiled sadly. "Oh, how I wish that was true, then maybe this awful feeling I have in my wings would go away."

"Awful feeling?"

"Yeah." Hawks eased the rifle down, resting it on the edge of the roof. "This feeling that we're plummeting straight into hell."

"An Upheaval?"

"I believe so."

Izuku tugged on an ear. "What…what do we do?"

"Well, baby birdie, we're already doing everything we can." Hawks smiled up at him. "We're stronger together, yeah."

"Yeah."

"Okay. Time to learn to shoot a rifle." Hawks slapped his hands enthusiastically. "Let's go."

Izuku waved his hands around. "What? No. I can't shoot a gun."

"Oh, please. It's easy." Hawks blew a rasp. "I picked it up no problem."

"Yeah, but you're…you." Izuku spluttered.

"So? Everything I can do, you'll do better." Hawks waved him over. "Come on, lie down here with me. Yep, get under me."

Izuku shuffled and rolled beneath Hawks.

It was—

Warm—

Hawks' wings encased them, and the rifle, in a warm bubble.

"Oh…now I know why you're always around Rilo at the moment." Izuku looked up at him.

Hawks chuckled. "My temperature runs pretty hot due to my quirk. Cooling off tends to be the problem I have. Avian aviators in my category, the emission speed category, we usually suffer from overclocking, hence why we burn out rather young. I always thought it was just a natural part of our biology…until I met Rilo."

"What do you mean?" Izuku frowned.

"The quirk compatibility factor." Hawks fiddled with the rifle. "If there is a whole category out there of quirks that match my category, then why the hell have we been dying young?"

"Because the Bureau has been holding them captive in powerplants." Izuku hissed.

"Exactly."

Izuku dipped his head away. "So, um, what do we do now?"

"Now we wait." Hawks whispered.

"We…we just wait…" Izuku looked up at him.

"Yep." Hawks remained focused on the window in the distance. "We wait."

"For how long?" Izuku squeaked.

"However long we need."

Izuku was sure he fell asleep tucked up beneath Hawks, because he startled awake suddenly when Hawks moved an arm slightly.

"Hawks?"

"He's back." Hawks whispered. Izuku watched as he flicked something on the rifle, making things click inside. "Okay, put your hand here."

Izuku breathed in deeply, slowly raising his hand and nestling it up against Hawks' far larger one. "The key is patience." Hawks assured. "Keep your breathing steady."

"My hands won't stop shaking."

"That's fine."

"I'll mess up the shot."

"No you won't." Hawks assured. "I promise."

Hawks was so relaxed, even with his full attention on the window. Izuku could only feel tension, waiting.

Suddenly, the man appeared.

He was so ordinary, without his fake hero costume on.

Just an average, ordinary man, who could have been anyone on the streets.

Hawks whispered. "One, two, three."

Izuku barely registered the moment Hawks' finger squeezed his around the trigger. His ears rung—stinging with the noise—and his hands, arms, chest—ached from the reverberation that had kicked-back through his limbs. The man in the window just crumbled, like a loose pile of rags.

"Nice." Hawks lifted off him, "Perfect headshot." He started to quickly deconstruct the rifle back into the guitar case.

Izuku stared at his trembling hands. "Wait. You…you mean…I just killed someone."

"Yep." Hawks slapped the guitar case shut. "It's alright, you're going to feel shite about it, and you're allowed too."

He snapped his head up at Hawks as the man stood. "The moment you stop feeling shite about it is when you know you've crossed the line."

"But…but the guy was a horrible, horrible man."

"Doesn't mean anything, a life is still a life, Izuku. All life is precious. So, come on, let's go pray at a temple, then get some chicken."

"How are you so unphased?" And was he supposed to be like that?

"I'm not, kiddo." Hawks offered his back. "I broke a long time ago. I am an emotional wreak. I mean, I did just let a thirteen-year-old participate in a hit-job. Not sure how much more fucked up I can get, really."

"Chicken sounds great." Izuku climbed onto Hawks' back.

0000

Hawks slapped the two baskets of fried chicken down on the table outside one of the few still open shops. Hawks—it seemed—had an uncanny ability to find open chicken shops. They were in a quant little alleyway that was lit up with neon signs, and every so often someone would come past and quip something to Hawks and he'd respond with a natural, fluid ease.

Izuku was pretty sure someone, somewhere, should have questioned the fact that he was a teenager, sitting alone with Hawks in the early hours of the morning—

But no one did—

"That's just how safe everyone feels." Hawks offered in explanation. "They don't question things anymore. Things they probably should question. When right is wrong and wrong is right, something, something, end of world, I donno."

A young couple walked past, the man immediately brightening upon sighting Hawks. Hawks raised a hand, giving a wave. He mimicked a camera and Izuku watched in amusement as Hawks pretty much made the guys night with a single photograph. Hawks slipped back into his seat, giving his wings a small shake.

"Does it get exhausting, always being on display?" he asked.

"It does." Hawks sipped his cola. "But I very much choose this life."

"You did?"

"I did. I had the choice to be an underground agent, but I wanted freedom, and I decided that a life outside…" he waved his hands around, "out here, in the public eye, would give me far more freedom than a life in the shadows."

"That's what you're trying to do with Rilo, isn't it?"

"Sort of, only on a larger…more grander stage."

"Do you…do you think the Bureau will retaliate?"

"I rather expect them to. I've undoubtably pissed them off considerably, and I don't think they want to it known, even in small circles, that they've fucked with quirk evolution for such a long, long time."

Hawks was lazily picking at his chicken.

Izuku tensed up. "But…but…what if…"

"Izuku," Hawks' eyes settled on him. Warm. Comforting. Affirming. "Everything will be fine. Even if it all goes to shite. It will still be fine."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because fate. Now, eat your chicken. You still have school tomorrow, and you're going on no sleep, and you're all wired up from your first hit, expect to feel like absolute shite. Cry all over Kaachan in the bathroom, or something. I donno."

"Don't see why I have to go." Izuku grumbled around a mouthful. "It's almost Spring Break, and we're not doing anything productive, and I just sit there and get told I'm a loser."

"Don't let them get to you."

Izuku folded over the table. "Can't I come to Fukuoka, and do like…home schooling or something…"

"I do not have time to teach you jackshite." Hawks flicked his forehead.

"But I'm not learning anything!"

Hawks sighed. "I'll talk to the parentals about it, alright. Chill out." His mobile pinged and he glanced at it. "Finally. Took their time."

He typed out a reply and several beats later, a casually dressed young man walked up to the table.

"Hey Hawks."

"Hey yo, Handler."

"Madam says congratulations on your ranking." The man passed over an envelope to Hawks.

Izuku hesitated as one was handed to him also. He slowly took it.

Hawks lazily leant back in his chair. "Tell her to fuck off."

The man lifted the guitar case. "I'll pass it on."

"Nice to meet you, Midoriya." A smile was directed towards him, and that's when he saw them—the mocking eyes, full of detesting. His stomach sunk. It was a look he was all too familiar with. He faced it at school, only, this was on a whole different level. This was like knives, twisting straight through him. Was this the look Hawks always had to contend with?

"Oie, Handler, he's not yours, he's mine."

"Whatever is yours is ours." The man flashed a sinister grin. "That also includes your wife, Hawks."

"Is that just shite you're sprouting, or did Madam say that?" Hawks arched an eyebrow. Izuku noted his hand was around one of the wooden chopsticks left on the table. And he looked fit to drive it straight through the man's eye. "And be very clear on your answer, Handler. Remember how disposable you are to her. That is the only fucking reason you're assigned to me."

"Know your place, Hawks."

"Fuck off." Hawks whispered.

The man turned, carrying away the guitar case. Hawks watched him until he was out of the alleyway entirely, before his irritated wings settled a little. "Arsehole."

"Yeah. Wow." Izuku's leg jittered beneath the table. "Jerk."

Hawks laughed in delight, reaching out to squeeze his cheeks together. "You're adorable."

Hawks flipped open the envelope that had been handed to him. He smiled. "Finally, a decent payment. I was starting to think Madam was being stingy at me."

Izuku stared at the money in his own envelope. "Um. Is this normal?"

"Pretty much. Well, usually I'm covered in blood and need a shower, so, this was a pretty easy hit." Hawks flopped over the table. "They're nice when they're long distance and I don't have to get my feathers dirty."

"But, you…we…got paid to kill someone," Izuku swallowed nervously.

Hawks held out a hand. "If you don't want it—"

Izuku clutched the envelope to his chest. "Mine. He was my first villain!"

Hawks chuckled.

"Are you going to train me up to replace you at the Commission?"

"No." Hawks shook his head. "Fuck no, but, I was taught to use the resources I have while I have them, so, while we have the resources of the Commission behind us, we'll use them. Make sense."

Izuku nodded. "Okay."

"Then someday…" Hawks sighed, leaning back to look up at the night sky through the neon lights of the alleyway. "Someday…maybe I won't have these shackles, and I'll get to choose my own fate."

Authors Note:

So, I am aware that in canon, Izuku does have a father - he's just that typical-genre trope absent parent.

But for the sake of this AU - said father is no longer in the picture, for whatever reason, I donno, something happened. ^_^;;

Hope that change is okay with you all...