Chapter Twenty-Five: Wednesday
Rilo slowly lifted herself out of the mountain of blankets that Keigo had tucked around her the night prior. The weather was getting warmer, but she was finding herself growing colder. Her skin was losing its glow—
It was as if—
As if—
That little spark inside her that kept her generator burning was flickering, struggling to stay on as it fought against the insidiousness of the mod. The only positive thing—she supposed—about it all, was that she was dying a lot sooner than her handlers would have ever expected.
She could die with Keigo, someplace safe, and happy—
And not alone, in the corner of some stark, steel room, after having suffered an unspeakable fate that Keigo had barely been able to explain without breaking down. She'd been terrified of her eventual fate, but his tears were just as confronting as he'd held her, and she'd been overwhelmed by the sudden realisation that he loved her.
She'd known it—of course—
He said it, not just with words, but his actions.
But—
He in that moment, it had suddenly felt crystalized and real. He wasn't letting her go, he was going to fight for a future together.
What if they've never met?
She clutched at her scalp, heaving in air.
"You're not going to die," she whispered. "You're not going to die…trust them…trust them…"
"Oie, fuck."
Rilo blinked, rubbing at her tears.
"Keigo?"
It was very dark in the apartment. Keigo didn't really need lights to see, so if he did tend to move around at night, or the early mornings, he never really turned them on. Without her usual glow illuming the walls, the whole studio apartment had become very stark and oppressive. No longer did she like the architecture at all. The homeyness was gone, stripped away, leaving behind the raw, industrial reality.
If they ever found a new place, it would be made almost entirely of windows.
Keigo was right.
Walls were horrible.
She crawled to the edge of the bed, peering over to see him half tucked underneath, which was a considerable feat for him, considering his hatred of small spaces—and his wings.
"Are you stuck?"
"No. I'm not. If I was, I'd just lift the bed." His voice was muffled.
"Oh, right." She smiled at that. "I forget how strong you are." Gloriously strong. It came in wonderfully handy sometimes. From opening jars to having sex in odd places. He was creative—since his mind never did turn off.
She reached out, slapping his arse several times.
"Hey! Hey! Watch it, you horny little lightbulb. I am a captive here."
"I know. Which is what makes it hilarious. What are you doing?" She rubbed at her blurry eyes.
"Trying to find my goddamn boots." He pulled out from beneath the bed and sat back in a feathery heap on the floor. "They're gone. I can't find them anywhere."
"Which pair are we talking about?" She brightened the lights in the apartment with a wave of her hand as she climbed out of the nest that their bed had become.
"My PR boots." He dropped his head back. "For the Convention. Bubbles is wanting to make sure we have everything set and ready to go…so…I need my boots." He wiggled his bare feet.
"You are so lucky to have Bubbles."
"That's why I have a Bubbles." He flopped onto the floor in a dramatic display.
Rilo slid down, sitting on him. "Is this that old saying, that behind every great man is an even greater woman."
He snorted laugh, peering down at her where she sat, perched on his pelvis. "Truly, a wise saying."
"Truly, indeed, considering I know where your boots are." She playfully drummed his stomach.
He sat up, holding her in his lap. "Where?"
"You're talking about the hideous ones, with the silver studs…" she made a duckie face.
"Hideous? How dare you, they're my favourite boots. They're like good luck charms. I'd probably trip and fall over on stage without them."
She brushed her fingers gently over his hairline, folding back his fringe. He took her hands. His smile was soft as he fiddled with her fingers, drawing them to his lips. He pressed kisses down her arm until he reached her neck.
"I could play with you all day," he murmured.
Rilo closed her eyes. "I wish you would."
He hugged her. "I know, babe. I know. I'm here."
She wouldn't cry. She'd been crying too much.
"It's okay." He took her cheeks, and she noted the dampness around his own eyes. "If not now, when, yeah."
She nodded.
"Oh, right, boots…" his gaze clarified. "Where are the boots?"
She giggled. "I had them fixed up and cleaned." Weakly she stood, using his shoulders as a crutch to stand. His hand held hers fiercely as she trembled momentarily, almost collapsing.
"Rilo?"
"I'm fine…" she whispered.
"Which is it, the pain meds, or the pain itself?"
"I…I don't know…" she turned away from his anxious eyes. "I really don't know anymore, Keigo." Padding across the apartment, she crouched down, pulling out a box. She fought back tears of frustration that her arms were so weakened, in just such a few short weeks, that she struggled to lift even such a small box. She threw on her All-Might smile, trying—hoping—it would chase away the cold that infected her veins.
"Surprise." She held out the box. "I noticed these boots always ended up in almost every professional photo taken of you. You always build your attire around them, but the soles were getting very worn, obviously from all your landings. So, I got them fixed."
Keigo shook his head in amusement as he propped himself up on a knee. "You notice the weirdest things, babe."
"I am nothing if not observant when it comes to hero magazines."
"Yes, it is a truly marvellous thing about you." He chuckled.
She made it two steps in his direction before her whole world tipped sideways.
"Rilo!" Keigo held her—
And oh—
That terrified look in his eyes was so scary—
He gripped her cheeks. "Come on, come on, Rilo, breathe. Don't do this. Rilo. Babe. Come on. Fucking breathe."
She struggled against the compressing of her airway, the heaviness of her lungs. She may as well have been pushing against iron bars. It just—
Nothing worked.
Everything was heavy.
Even her eyelids.
Keigo's warm hands folded around her chest and she heaved in a gasp of air at the ignition spark. She grabbled for him as her muscles came awake once more.
"No, no, you're fine, Rilo. It's okay. It's okay." He held her fiercely. "It's still working. I can still restart you."
She reached for his cheek with a shaky hand. "You…you can't keep doing that, what about…what about you…"
"Okay, you know what…" he pressed his forehead to hers. "We're done."
"What?" Rilo choked out.
"You're coming with me."
"But Keigo—"
"No. Rilo. I'm done. Fuck this place. Fuck the Bureau. I'm not losing you. So, we're done." He lifted her, placing her on the bed. "Get dressed, pack a few things. We'll stay at the agency."
"Keigo, I can't just stop providing power to the city."
He started laughing, looking around the apartment with a wild, manic glint to his eyes. "That's the Bureau's problem. It's not ours. Frankly, I should never have let it get to this point, but, hey, I'm not perfect."
"But I'm a generator," she whispered. That's all she was—all she had ever been.
He homed in on her, his hunters gaze fierce. "No, you're Rilo Tamaki, my wife. You're the daughter of All-Might." He gripped her hands. "Do you understand what I am saying. They cannot get to you, because to get to you, they have to go through us."
"But I'm not really those things." She wiped at her tears.
He frowned. "Rilo, are you my wife?"
"Yes."
"Then never say you're not. I need you to have faith in me. Alright."
She nodded.
He dragged out a gym bag. "The public will believe that you are what we say you are, you need to trust us. All-Might—Dad—he's got this handled."
"You're so confident." She covered her face with trembling hands as tears overwhelmed her.
Keigo huddled up close to her and she slipped into his arms. "Rilo, what you're seeing as confidence is actually overwhelming fear." He whispered. "This is something I have never had to deal with before. Maybe the Madam is right, maybe I'm not cut out for domestication."
She sucked in a sharp breath, grabbing his shoulders. "Don't say that! I never want anything that woman has ever said to ever come out of your mouth."
He sunk against her lap, his wings becoming lipless around them. Rilo folded over him, clutching at his back.
He was just as broken as she was.
He was just as afraid.
"Keigo, I want to see Izuku go to U.A. I want to see the future you build."
"I know, babe."
"I…I want…I want to make a home with you, and have kids, and see you smile."
"I know." His lips gently pressed to her damp cheeks. "It's okay. I know."
"I want to be there." The tears just wouldn't stop. "I want to live, Keigo. I don't want to die."
His arms tightened. "Then hold onto that, and have confidence that I'll take us to the other side of this."
She nodded.
"You okay?" He eased away.
"Yeah." Rilo smiled against his shoulder.
"Thank you for fixing my boots." Keigo kissed her nose. "It means a lot, you know, that you notice those little things."
"They're still ugly arse boots."
"Oh fuck off." He flicked her forehead. "As if I trust the fashion sense of an All-Might fan-girl who thinks wearing a giant yellow puffer jacket is the height of style."
"Pff." Rilo stood in a huff. "Puffer jackets are awesome."
"You look like a rubber duck." He reached under the bed, pulling out two gym bags.
Her hands went to her hips. "A cute duckie!"
There was a look of accepted defeat about him as he turned to her. "Fine, you look like a cute rubber duckie."
"Yeah." Rilo fisted the air in victory.
Keigo slapped the two bags down on the bed, standing to his feet. He pointed to them both. "Look around the apartment, take your time."
Her chest tightened.
"And start packing only what you truly treasure the most into these two bags, nothing more."
"But all my All-Might—"
"It's a shoe box, Rilo. This is your old life. Don't take baggage into the new one."
He was right. Rilo glanced hesitantly around the apartment. Her lifetime of collecting heroes' merch. Her precious tea cups, each with a special little tag about just what made it so valuable. Even the books on her little bookshelf, books she'd read hundreds—thousands of times—
She didn't need any of the things that surrounded her. It had all been stuff she'd used to clutter up the void, to fill the space between spaces and to pretend that she was living something that resembled a half-life.
"What about all our clothes?"
"It's important that we still make it look like we're living here." He stuffed a few items into another gym bag. "Jeanie will send up whatever we need."
"It's so wasteful."
"That's why being a minimalist is a better way to live," he quipped.
She grabbed a pillow, throwing it at him. Just that action alone took effort and she almost toppled over.
"Oh, no…" Rilo squeaked. Several feathers caught her on her way down and she floated back onto her feet. Keigo arched an eyebrow at her, holding the pillow she'd attempted to throw.
"You okay?"
"No. I'm so weak that trying to hit you with a pillow hurts." She picked up the only Hawks' plushie she'd managed to make, tucking it away into the gym bag along with one of her favourite books, and her original edition—mint condition—All-Might collectable cards. Now she was glad she'd given Izuku her All-Might collection of mugs.
"You won't be like this forever." Keigo held out a jacket and she looked at it, it was her new favourite of his. The insides were lined with dense wool, for his high-altitude climbs, and it just made the coat so toasty. He threw it around her shoulders, bundling her up into it and she snuggled into the collar as he zipped the whole thing up.
"And now you are a marshmallow." He puffed out her hair.
"All the better to nibble on."
"And you call me vulgar." He was so gentle as he cradled her cheeks, using the pads of his thumbs to softly brush her lips. "Damnit, don't make me undress you…"
She giggled. "Picture Bubbles, really annoyed at you for being late."
His eyes shifted to the side. "Yeah. That's not really a sex deterrent, babe, that's more of a reason to have sex."
"Bad, Keigo, bad." Rilo slapped his chest and he laughed.
"But you are correct, I shouldn't press Bubbles buttons this week. It is her very important week."
"You'd think she's getting into the top ten."
"Ah, well…I suppose, in a way, she is." Keigo sighed. "It's hard to explain, how an agency is tied to the hero who runs it…but…they kind of become sort of a single entity, in a way. It complicates matters, and it's why I really didn't want to make an agency, due to the Commission, but, I also realised it'd be one of the few ways I'd gain some semblance of freedom. I just fucking hope it doesn't all come crashing down on me one day."
Rilo settled a hand on his arm and he reached out, kissing her forehead. "Listen to me, worrying about things so far in the future, it's hilarious."
"People would be surprised to learn how much you do worry."
He laughed. "I know right. So much for having some of the best mental training ever. Starting to wonder if that made it worse…though, considering I haven't flipped and murdered Madam yet, probably was a good investment on her part."
Keigo clipped the gym bags to his belt, heading for the alfresco doors. Rilo padded after him. It was a eerie—was this—the last time she'd ever—
She glanced back at the apartment—
Was she really never going to come back—
Was that allowed—
"Rilo. Come on."
She lingered at the threshold of the balcony. "What if they come for me."
"Even if they do, we'll work it out." He assured. "But we're not staying any longer. It's not healthy…not for me, or for you." Keigo held out his hand and she took it, letting him pull her through the doors onto the balcony. He'd once carried her into the safety and warmth of the apartment—now—now they leaving an empty and hollow place behind. She curled up against him, seeking the warmth he emanated.
"You are so cold." He sighed. "So, let's get you to the agency so Medusa can fuss over you."
"Bleh."
"Don't bleh me." He flicked her nose.
"Bleh." Rilo stuck out her tongue. Keigo's mouth assaulted hers, giving her no opportunity to resist as he backed them both up against the glass doors. He tangled her hands up in his own, dragging them against the cool glass as he took her full weight. There was no spark, no magnetic burn that near overwhelmingly fuelled a need, or desire, not like that first encounter. So long ago.
This was familiarity and gentleness.
Home.
"That…" he breathed out against her neck. "That's the kiss I wanted to give you the night I caught you."
"Then I say we've come full circle, right?" She rested against his shoulder as he held her in an arm, searching through his assortment of keys.
"I'd say this balcony has done its job, wouldn't you?" He smiled.
Rilo listened to the clank and click of the lock, clicking shut one last time. He flipped the keys around, tucking them back into the pocket of his hero costume.
She poked at the little bird seed feeder she'd made, watching it swing idly back and forth. Keigo kissed her cheek.
"Don't worry, we'll find a nice nest someday." He bounced her up, catching her in both his arms as he leapt onto the rickety railing. "Let's go."
Rilo glanced back at the studio apartment. The lights were still on. She waved a hand and they flicked off, revealing a dark, empty void.
Its true form.
Emptiness.
She clung to Keigo—to home.
He stepped off the railing.
00000
Keigo had spent the morning out on patrol, he'd returned for lunch, then swung back out again for a double patrol with Bubbles. Honestly, Rilo was rather fascinated to see how smoothly they operated, with one of them sometimes having to rush back to pick up Medusa if a scene required his medical assistance.
Keigo had an hour off for dinner before he was rostered on for a night shift, and after consuming their usual plain chicken and rice takeaway in the lounge, he was finally giving her a tour of the whole agency.
There were a lot of stairs.
That was the first thing she was really noticing.
The stairs.
The powerplant had been an enormous tower and she'd been jogging up and down its stairs just for fun most of her life, but whatever energy she'd once had was gone, and her little remaining spark didn't get her very far anymore. Keigo had watched her with an amused eyebrow raised as she gallantly and stubbornly insisted that she take every stairwell herself.
That was until he pointed out that he only had half an hour before shift, and that while her efforts were commendable, he was going to just carry her. She couldn't fault his logic, and she hurt all over, so she gave in.
Besides, being wrapped up in his warm arms was nice anyway.
"This seems like an overly long workday for you." She fiddled with the tussles of his jacket. "I mean, three shifts in one day, that's a bit…unusual, right?"
"Ah, yeah, it is. Bubbles is giving Canary some time off. He'll be taking the brunt of things over the weekend while we're at the Ranking Convention. I'd have felt better about leaving him if his sister was still here…but…" Keigo shrugged. "Ah well, I will trust all the work I've put into the police force over the years, and trust my city to fucking behave while I'm gone."
"Canary's not a fighter."
"Hm. He doesn't give himself enough credit. He's a lot more deadly than he thinks, but, because of his quirk, he gets a rebound effect and can feel the pain of whomever he's attacking."
"How awful." Rilo bit her lip.
"It's a bit brutal on him." Keigo reached the last stair and settled her down. "Alright, so, in that direction…" he pointed down the walkway. "Is the lodge, where you've been sleeping all day. There are ten rooms. They're pretty basic." They headed in the direction of the doors, and he swung one open. Rilo peered into the room. He was right, it was just a room with a bed, a large window, and a closet.
"It's just a place for visiting heroes to crash when they come by Fukuoka."
"Oh, so that's really what a lodge is." Rilo looked up at him.
"Yeah." Keigo clipped the door shut. "It means visiting heroes don't have to feel pressure to get hotels, as it can be difficult managing publicity and media. Agencies are rather considered off-limit to such industries, so, lodges were established." He frowned. "However, whether you're welcome at a particular agency can all depend on hero-politics." He waved a hand around. "It can be awfully complicated if you've fucked up something somewhere. So, I usually get hotels, much to Bubbles continued frustration to our agencies budget."
"Because you fuck up things." Rilo poked his cheek.
"Because I don't want to socialise with narcissistic arseholes and unfortunately, the hero industry is full of them." He steered her around and pointed to a door with Canary's name on it. "We all do have our own rooms, since night-shifts happen, and during emergencies we tend to bunk here. I'm pretty sure Canary's got a whole arse gaming system in there."
Rilo laughed.
Keigo pointed down the long hall. "Showers are communal." His wings fluffed up. "And big enough for my wingspan."
"I bet you had something to do with that."
"I insisted on it."
She giggled as he turned her around. "And the gym is this way."
He led her around the walkway that circled the interior of the agency. Rilo peered over the banister to the lounge below. Now that she thought about it, the way it was positioned, it really looked like a little nest amongst all the stairs and pillars.
She smiled. Keigo had a theme, and he'd run with it.
"This is very well designed, Keigo."
"Oh, thank you." He looked rather pleased at her praise. "I put a lot of thought into it. Figured, if I was going to bother with an agency, I'd do it right. I based it off the concept of the interior of a hollowed-out tree, right." He leant over the banister, pointing to the four main structural beams that lifted straight to the glass ceiling. "Everything follows a spiral pattern upward. I didn't want hard edges, that's like the Commission, very nasty. I wanted…airiness. At least, that was the brief I gave the designers. I can't take all the credit."
He stepped up to double doors and swung them open. "And, here is the happy place." Keigo spun around, spreading his arms as he grinned at her. "Yeah, like it."
Rilo giggled at his giddiness.
Apparently, this was his favourite spot. Not surprising.
She'd been expecting something that just dealt with weights, but it wasn't. Of course she knew Keigo was capable of acrobatic movements, he did them practically lazily sometimes, as if completely forgetting it wasn't normal to handstand off a small wall while walking.
"Okay." Rilo stared around the gymnastics section, eyes settling on the highest bar, lost far up in the ceiling and dangling from several wires. "I get how you're so strong and flexible now."
Keigo laughed.
"Well, yes…" he wrapped his arms around her from behind. "I train a lot, but I was raised from a young age to be this way. It's annoying for me now when I don't train. I really feel it."
She tipped her head up, kissing his chin. "So, our house will need an indoor gym."
He laughed again. "You know, that'd help."
Releasing her he grabbed one of the bars and twirled about playfully, raising to do a one-armed handstand before backflipping off.
Rilo shook her head. "I have no idea how you do that with your wings."
"Years of practice. Should have seen me when I first started. The amount of times I landed either flat on my arse, or on my face." He shook his head in amusement at the memories, giving his backside a rub in recollection. "I'll get you going when the mods removed, yeah?"
Rilo grinned, bouncing up to the mat and he lifted her. "So we can skydance together?"
"Most definitely." He grabbed the bar, hoisting them both up and Rilo squealed in delight as he flipped them around several times. She clung to him upside down, laughing as he hung freely by his legs.
"Keigo! You goose."
He clasped her cheeks. "Oh, babe, never stop laughing." He pressed a kiss to her lips before slowly dropping his hands and swinging his legs off the bar, catching their combined weight in a handstand. Rilo closed her eyes, holding him tightly, knowing full well he was about to do a handstand launch with her attached, and sure enough, everything suddenly twirled, only for them to float back onto the mat. Rilo peaked open her eyes, glancing around. She sat up, amused that he lay comfortably on the mat, staring at the glass ceiling.
"Don't look so smug." She slapped his stomach and he laughed.
"Oh come on, admit it, I'm good." He winked.
Rilo lay on top of him, smiling as she drew little circles against his armour.
"I wasn't aware you could be so gentle with your launches."
"I'm only gentle with you." He brushed at the loose strands of her braided hair.
"You can be a little rougher." Rilo pouted.
He snorted, giving her arse a small slap. "Later."
Rilo snuggled, tucking herself against the curve of his neck as his wings blanketed them both. Even if it was just a few moments—
A pause—
The world felt right—
Hugged up tight with him, buried beneath his wings.
Until a voice disturbed them.
Rilo cracked open an eye.
"Hawks, what are you doing?" Bubbles stood over them both, her hands on her hips.
Rilo had the hilarious thought that, in that moment, Bubbles really did look like a mother—or even an elder sister—scolding them.
"Resting." Hawks tipped his head back. "It really is something you should try, Bubbles. I highly recommend it."
Bubbles rolled her eyes. "You have patrol in five minutes."
Keigo heaved a sigh. "Alright, alright." He heaved Rilo up. "Come on, babe. Let's get you settled again."
"Wait…you're not taking her home?" Bubbles stalled them and Rilo glanced back at Bubbles from over Keigo's shoulder. Keigo tensed up around her.
Oh—
Oh no—
The pupils of his eyes had widened.
Home—
She was home.
With Keigo—
Her fingers tightened against Keigo's armour, and he breathed in.
"No Bubbles. I decided we'd bunk down at the agency until things…improve." He turned and vaulted off the edge of the walkway, gliding down to the lounge a story below, leaving Bubbles behind.
Rilo clutched at him as he landed. "Please, don't go."
"I know, sweetie." He pried her hands away and tucked her back amongst her net of blankets on the couch. "I won't be long, okay."
"I'm sorry, for being selfish."
He gripped her cheeks. "It's not selfish to want comfort."
Rilo giggled as he peppered her forehead with soft kisses.
"This is better, yeah?" he asked. "You feel safer here."
She nodded. "I do."
"Good." He eased to his feet, mimicking a phone with his hand. "Call me if you think you're going to have an episode, even if it's a false alarm. I don't care."
"I will," Rilo assured.
She watched him leap over the edge of the banister and glide to his office. With a sigh, she thumped down sideways on the couch.
He was right; the couches in the agency were a lot more comfortable than the one she'd had at the powerplant.
00000
Bubbles dashed down the stairs from the lodge, pursuing Hawks, her heart racing in a panic. He was being reckless. Utterly—utterly reckless—
Hadn't they sorted all this out on Monday—
So why was he endangering everything she'd worked for by bringing Rilo to the agency?
Surely there would be repercussions to this.
Surely, he understood that!
She burst into his office.
"Hawks! We need to talk."
He halted from stepping onto the launch pad. "I'm pretty sure you just informed me I needed to go on patrol, which is it, Bubbles?" He spread his hands, cocking his head to one side.
"This wasn't part of the plan. Bringing Rilo here could escalate things before the Convention…and…and throw everything we're working towards into disarray! All my hard work to get you, and the agency, to this point will be ruined!"
She flung out her arms, storming up to him.
His feathers began to slowly hackle, and Bubbles halted abruptly.
His voice was so quiet, as though he was constraining a force behind it. "Bubbles, I do not give a fuck about the agency right now. The woman I love is dying. Can you at least have the decency to let me look after her in a place that isn't some monstrosity of a creation, designed to kill her."
Bubbles blinked rapidly. "She's not…actually…going to die…is…is she…"
Hawks glanced away. His wings rippled, tinkling, and she realised in horror that they had calcified. She'd—she'd made him angry enough to trigger his calcification.
"I don't know." He shuddered out a breath. "I just…I just don't know, right now, Bubbles. I am trying to focus on a day a time." He slipped his visor on. It did nothing to hide the look in his eyes, a look of utter, momentary betrayal. Like she had stabbed him and drained away every ounce of his trust.
"So, I would greatly appreciate it if you could, please, keep Rilo company until I get back from patrol. Call me if she starts struggling to breathe. I know it's an inconvenience, and I know it's not what you had planned, and I'm fucking sorry for being a man, and falling in love and complicating your life."
He stepped off the launch pad and vanished into the evening.
Bubbles slumped back onto his desk, staring out at the cityscape.
Had—
She raised a hand to her lips in horror.
Had she actually said those words—
Had they left her mouth.
Had she put the agency ahead of someone's life.
"Oh my gosh…" she choked out. "I said that to him."
0000
She was Bubbles—
Dependable. Determined.
Strong. Courageous. Authoritative.
Annoying.
Smart. Boring. Workaholic.
Many words had been used by many journalists over the years to describe her, but flexible had never been one of them.
She liked her numbers.
She liked her rules.
She liked things to have a time, a place, and purpose.
But there was one thing she liked above all—
If there was a wrong—
She liked to make it right—
Because she was Bubbles.
Balancing two boxes in her arms, Bubbles headed into the agency lounge. The heat was turned up, making the whole area rather cosy, despite it not actually having any walls. The warmth emanated from the heated floor, which always resulted in Canary lying on it. Sliding the two boxes down on the centre table, Bubbles looked towards Rilo, bundled up amongst so many blankets stolen from the lodge.
All those months ago when Hawks had first shown her a photograph of Rilo in the gym, she'd wondered just who Lightbulb really was. It had been difficult to even comprehend and compartmentalise the idea that Hawks had an interest in anyone—or anything—outside of work.
But she'd accepted it and moved on, content that he at least wasn't making drama out of it in the media. Gosh—it felt awful now—knowing the reason he'd kept everything so hidden.
The only reason why she'd ever found out was because, for a moment, his optimistic disposition had broken apart and he'd worried something might happen to him and Rilo would be left alone.
Alone in a terrible situation with no help.
Bubbles breathed in deeply.
"Hey, Rilo."
"Bubbles…I…um…I thought you'd have gone home for the evening." Rilo poked her head out from beneath her mountain of blankets.
"No, no," Bubbles tossed a hand around dismissively. "I thought I'd hang out here with you for a bit."
Rilo's shoulders sunk. "I'm so sorry, did Hawks ask you to stay with me."
"He did, yes." Bubbles lifted the smallest box off the larger, popping open the lid. "And it's fine, there is actually something I need some help with, and I thought you'd be the perfect person for the job…but…first…"
Bubbles headed towards Rilo, holding out the pastry box. "I was informed that you like cute cakes, so, I got us these."
Rilo's face immediately brightened. "Oh my gosh, duckies. They are so cute!" She clasped her hands together in delight.
Bubbles felt the tension in her chest ease just a little.
The moment she'd recovered from the sheer shock of the realisation that she'd—she'd—triggered Hawks' calcification she'd flown straight to her favourite little bakery down the street. Was it for her own comfort? Probably, yes, but she had read all of the files Hawks' had provided them and tucked away them was a mention of Rilo's love of cute things, and ducks. She randomly liked cute ducks. Which was—
Weird—
But okay.
"Hawks mentioned something about you and duckies." Bubbles beamed down at the little cakes, decorated, and styled up as small yellow ducks. "Though, to be honest, we could almost call these Canaries."
"Ohhhh," Rilo swept her legs back and forth giddily. "We should sell something like that, if you ever get that coffee shop up and running." She slapped hands to her cheeks. "It would be so adorable! Little Hawks and Canary cakes! Can you imagine! Okay, okay, I have to text Hawks, like, right now." Rilo rifled around in her blanket fort, searching for her mobile.
Actually, looking at the cakes she'd picked out, Bubbles rather could imagine it now. It was never something she'd have ever thought to implement—she was just too analytical—to focused on the agency's internal business end. They still had a dated website that—while Hawks loved it for its retro appearance—was barely useable on any modern device, but no one in the agency could be bothered doing anything about their online presence.
None of them had the time.
And hiring someone to do it all—
Gah.
That'd cost money.
Though, with Hawks moving up in the ranks, maybe they'd have to start focusing more on the presentation side of things. Sometimes she wished she had a more creative side to her brain.
"Um, would you like tea?" Bubbles asked. "You know, to go with your cake."
"Thank you, so much, Bubbles." Rilo slowly emerged from her blanket fort, unfurling like a flower. "Oh…it's cold."
"Okay, well, sit at the table, and I'll wrap you back up." Bubbles pulled out a chair. Rilo slipped into it, and Bubbles began piling the blankets back around her until she was once more just a marshmallow of coverlets.
"There we go." Bubbles clapped. "All done. Now, some tea will help warm you up."
"Thank you." Rilo smiled.
Bubbles set the kettle to boil and began serving out the small cakes, passing one out to Rilo. She watched in amusement as Rilo took several photos of the cake, giggling as she typed out a text message.
A soft ping heralded a reply.
Bubbles glanced over her shoulder at Rilo. "What did he say?"
"He said he'll murder me in bed if I make the idea come into fruition."
"Oh." Bubbles frowned. Was Hawks in such a bad mood that he'd dismiss such a sweet idea—had her comments been so disrespectful that it had made him annoyed at even Rilo.
"Win, win for me." Rilo cheerfully clapped her hands. "Cute cakes, hot sex. I don't see the downside at all!"
"Oh…that's what he meant." Bubbles sighed in relief. She collected the mugs of tea, carrying them over to the table.
Rilo was staring up at her with a look of deep, anxious concern. "Whatever did you think he meant?"
"Ah, um…nothing…" Bubbles glanced aside.
"Oh, Bubbles. Hawks and I just like to tease each other. I'm sorry if it's a bit much for you."
Bubbles slipped into her seat. "It's fine. Honestly, I'm glad you two are that comfortable…being so…ah…open…" She tapped the rim of her mug. "I cannot imagine what it would be like, trusting someone that much, then again, I don't think I actually want to." She smiled. "I'm happy being married to an agency."
Though she wondered if she'd still have a job after all this.
"Then I think you're perfect, Bubbles. Why be anything else, when you're the best personal assistant in all of Japan." Rilo squished her duckie cake with a spoon in a rather violent action. Bubbles almost laughed—almost—because it was such a contradiction to the adorable woman's sweet demeanour.
Bubbles sighed. She really didn't feel like she was the best personal assistant right now. The look on Hawks' face haunted her.
Like she'd betrayed him.
The woman sitting across from her was the woman he trusted with the depths of his intimacy, and she had not acknowledged that.
Years ago, he'd chosen to trust her with his agency, and during the one time—the one time—he'd needed her—
She'd faltered.
Bubbles closed her eyes.
Well—
It proved she was only human.
"So, what was it that you needed help with?" Rilo asked.
"Oh, right…yes…" Bubbles clapped her hands together, brightening up somewhat. This was rather fun, after all. She was quite sure Rilo would understand how thrilling it all was. "So…you know, with Hawks getting into the top ten…"
"So exciting." Rilo bounced.
They both gave a momentary, joint happy squeal. Bubbles breathed easier. She bent over, collecting a pile of photographs from one of the boxes she'd carried in. "He's now contractually obligated to sign autographs at the Heroes Ranking Convention."
Rilo snorted into her hand. "I'm sorry, what?"
"Yeah…I know." Bubbles rolled her eyes.
"He's never going to go for that." Rilo set her mug down with a clunk. "He doesn't do autographs."
"Well, he has to now…"
Rilo flopped back in her chair, giving a long groan. "Ohhhhh, I am never going to hear the end of this."
Bubbles sorted out the photographs into piles. "Well, he's just going to have to swallow his pride about it." She flipped the assortment of photographs around to face Rilo. "Okay, so, we need to find a nice selection of photos to have on the table that people can choose for the signing. These are all the ones I have available right now that I can get printed up in the next few days."
Rilo shuffled forward in her seat, picking up a handful of the photos. "Oh wow, I've never seen some of these! Bubbles! Oh my gosh, look at all these."
"Yeah, we end up with heaps that just lie around from promotional stuff. I never know what to do with all of it…and it just…it seems like such a waste." Bubbles blew a rasp. "I am not cut out for any creative sort of…ideas…"
"That's okay." Rilo was already sorting the photos. "You shouldn't feel pressured into doing everything, Bubbles."
"I suppose so…"
"Oh," Rilo tipped her head back. "We'll do a yearly calendar. Brilliant. Even better, we should totally do one that the people of Fukuoka can submit all the selfies they take with Hawks. That'd be so great." She rocked back and forth on her chair.
Bubbles spluttered. "Hawks would never go for it."
"Pfff." Rilo rolled her eyes. "Okay, again, you seem to be under this weird impression that he would just flat out refuse every idea you come up with. Bubbles, he's an arsehole, yes, but he's also in the hero business, he knows how it works."
Bubbles sunk against the table in defeat. "I'm so worried about this weekend, it's making me feel sick."
"Oh, Bubbles." Rilo reached across the table.
"And I was awful to Hawks." Bubbles thumped her head against the table. "I said something so horrible."
"Whatever it was, it'll be fine."
Bubbles peered through her watery hair, studying the young woman across the table. Her skin was grey, almost frighteningly lifeless in how frozenly cold it appeared, and it was hard to imagine the glow that Hawks described her having. Yet despite that icy bitterness that seemed to grip her, Bubbles could see the softness still lingering in how she moved.
That must have been what Hawks loved. That softness.
As heroes, the world was rough and harsh.
Bubbles frowned. She had to admit, it always felt like she was fighting something, not just villains, but always fighting to take the agency to the next level, always fighting to get deliveries on time, or to pay compensation, or to tackle reporters and local authorities. Her world was sharp lines, stonewalls, broken bones, long nights, early mornings—
Loneliness—
It would—
It really would have been nice—
To know softness—
Maybe, just maybe, she could understand a little of what Hawks was talking about when he said he wanted a world of laziness, simplicity and long, peaceful evening.
Rilo smiled. "You see, Hawks, he really isn't one to hold onto things, he says it takes up too much emotional energy, energy that is better spent on things that really matter."
"Oh." Bubbles frowned at the thought. Maybe she still would have a job.
"I know, right." Rilo pouted. "If only I had that ability. Hence why I always tell him to inform me when I get my bouts of overly-emotional irrationality, otherwise, gosh, I'd just be wasting energy on everything."
Bubbles managed a small laugh. She slowly peeled herself off the table and tucked into her own cake, humming in delight at its sweet honey taste.
"So, what are you sorting the photos into?" Bubbles leant forward, curious at the piles Rilo had created. She'd dragged over the whole box of photographs. Honestly, Bubbles had sort of expected to just skim through the first few, she had never expected a full deconstruction to take place.
"Ah, right…so…" Rilo pointed to the first pile. "These are a big no."
"They are, why?"
Rilo blinked at her. "They're way to oversexualized for a convention, where there will be children around."
"Oh, right, yes, of course." Bubbles nodded quickly.
And that was why she tried so hard to avoid dealing with children—even as a hero—
they were alien creatures to her. They didn't even tend to factor into her thinking, they were so far removed from her day-to-day life.
Canary was hard enough to deal with. Was he still considered a child at nineteen?
That made her sound so hypocritical, considering she wasn't that much older.
"Also, some of these are from when Hawks was sixteen." Rilo reached for another handful of photographs. "Let's not use those. He might actually kill us both for that."
Bubbles laughed awkwardly into her tea. "I forget he's been in the business longer than I've known him."
Rilo sighed. "Yeah…the business…"
Rilo startled suddenly as her mobile rung and she picked it up, hooking it by her ear as she continued to sort photos. "Hey…um…yeah, no, no, I'm fine. Hawks, it's been barely an hour." She glanced up and Bubbles felt piecing, electric blue eyes on her. "Ahhh, yes, Bubbles is with me. We're looking at photographs for your signing…no, don't you start." Rilo flopped to the side. "Now you're just being crude." She pinched her lips together. "Well, I would promise you coffee and cream when you come back, but someone made this super annoying sex rule because I'm all fragile and delicate and dying…"
Rilo raised her eyebrows, grinning suddenly. Bubbles hid behind her tea mug.
"Oh, so, because it's a technicality, that'll be okay then, is that your amazing argument of justification." Rilo swirled her tea around. She gave a delighted laugh. "I promise I'll pick good photos. You can review them when you come back. Yep, we'll save a cake for you. I love you too. Stay safe."
She sighed as she flipped the phone down.
"Rilo? What's wrong?" Bubbles tensed up.
"Oh, no, no, it's nothing." Rilo waved a hand about quickly. "Well, it is something, but it's not…Hawks tends to have a systematic way of regulating his emotions, and I sort of bulldozed right into it and have made his life rather difficult." She glanced up. "I've made your life difficult too."
Bubbles managed a smile. "You know, I will admit, this is all a big adjustment for me, but, I've had a real good think about things, you know." Bubbles took up her empty mug. "Just because I don't want certain things in life, doesn't mean others wouldn't want them. I guess I just, never expected Hawks to be the sort of guy to…"
"Want to settle down?" Rilo held out her own empty mug.
Bubbles took it, heading back to the kitchenette. "Yeah. Yeah…I…ah…maybe I read too much into the persona he projected, and not enough into…what he…actually did." She frowned, turning back around to lean on the counter as the kettle boiled. "I mean, he adores Tsubames kids, despite everything that woman has put him through." She crinkled her brow. "I could never understand it."
Rolling her shoulders Bubbles turned back around. "So, maybe don't think of it as life has become difficult, maybe it's more, that…we're all learning, and growing…and adapting with each other."
"Thanks Bubbles." Rilo wiped at her eyes.
"I was still an arse to Hawks, so, there is that." She idly bounced the tea bags in the mugs, watching the boiled water grow dark.
"Give yourself a little grace, Bubbles. You've poured everything into getting Hawks onto that stage, and now he's kind of co-opted the whole thing."
"I know, but still…" Picking up the mugs, Bubbles headed back to the table, scattered with photographs. She smiled at them all, and just how hilarious the scene really, truly was. The two of them, in the agency lounge, looking over photographs. Just—the two of them—
Bubbles paused from sitting.
Wait—
It was just the two of them, right—
So—
Canary and Medusa weren't around—
She glanced back and forth.
"Um. Rilo…"
"Yeah?" Rilo paused from making a little pile out of several photos.
"Ah…and…you…you can say no, because this is…really…weird…um…would…would you mind showing…me…the mod-hancer?"
Oh gosh—
Now that she'd said it, it sounded so inappropriate.
It was to private, right.
Yes. It was.
Oh no—
Rilo puffed out her cheeks. "Well. That'd be fine."
Oh—
Oh—
Okay.
Bubbles relaxed her tensed up shoulders.
Just like she'd done, Rilo glanced around the lounge. "But…" She sighed. "We might actually have to wait until Hawks get back."
"Er. Why? Is…is he that protective of you."
Rilo scoffed. "No…well…yes…but no…really, it's because every morning he straps me up in bandages." Rilo pulled the neck of the sweater she wore down, revealing thick wrapping. Undoubtedly Medusa's linin bandages.
Ah—right—
That much of it would be extremely difficult to remove without considerable force. She'd need a very—very—sharp knife. Most likely something from Medusa's office.
"There is a bit of a knack to removing it all without disturbing the mod," Rilo offered.
"Ah." Bubbles nodded. "That's understandable. Gosh, though, that must be uncomfortable."
Rilo shrugged. "I'd much rather be uncomfortable than the alternative."
"The alternative?" Bubbles frowned.
"Yeah." Rilo glanced away, looking out across the agency into the city night life. "Having never met Hawks, and dying alone, after being robbed of everything. At least…at least now…I have a chance."
"Oh…" Bubbles felt her chest tighten.
Now she understood the look in his eyes.
The desperation, the clawing, the need—
A chance—
0000
Bubbles looked up from her fifth cup of tea that evening.
The agency was dark, but she'd noted lights in the lodge flicker on a good half hour ago, indicating Hawks had returned from patrol, and sure enough, he was now heading towards them, still towelling off his hair from a shower. His wings still dripped water periodically, indicating he hadn't blasted himself with the air-drier and had most likely just lazily shaken himself off like a wet dog. That was always a very amusing thought that made her face pinch up.
What threw her off was the lazy casualness of his attire.
Even when rostered on for night duties, or in the case of an emergency that required they all remain at the agency, there was always a sense of professionalism around each other. Sure, visiting heroes had often mentioned they were an extremely relaxed and easy-going agency—perhaps too much so, considering Canary's sister had most likely needed more structure and firmness.
But Hawks naturally bred a culture of easiness.
Canary was allowed to lie on the warm floor and read his comic books.
Medusa was permitted to do his work in the lounge and not in his office.
And her obsession to bring order to the chaos was always appreciated.
Amongst it all, their own culture of professionalism had been established. Frankly, she'd never seen Hawks or Canary out of their hero costumes, or their armour, until the other day when Hawks had walked in wearing civilian clothes.
And now he was in a shirt and trackpants.
With Endeavour slippers. Of all things.
"What? Don't like the slippers?" He flashed her a grin.
Bubbles sucked in a sharp breath.
Whoops. She'd been caught staring. She covered her face. So embarrassing.
"Sorry."
"No, no. It's fine. I realise I am extremely handsome, even someone as completely uninterested in fucking as you are, must feel the allure." He flung out both hands and wings and Bubbles burst out laughing.
"Shut up, Hawks. You're not attractive to everyone."
He winked playfully as he strolled past. "Ah, at least you can laugh." He flipped the towel off his shoulders, flopping it over Rilo's head.
"Oh, ew! Hawks! I don't need your man sweat all over me." Rilo squeaked laughter as he ruffled the towel into her hair.
He started peppering her cheeks with kisses. "Suffer, babe."
Rilo clasped his chin. "You're doing it again."
"What?"
"The whole not shaving thing."
"Yes, babe, it's called being a lazy arse." He smiled at Bubbles. "Have no fear, Bubbles will not let me walk out on stage looking raffish."
Bubbles scoffed. "Yes, but that doesn't mean you won't do anything raffish."
"Aw, she knows me so well." Hawks folded his arms around Rilo.
Nope. It was more like she was fully preparing herself for the oncoming storm that was going to be the performance he and All-Might were going to partake in on that powerful stage.
Maybe—
Maybe it was a privilege to be a part of it.
To be trusted.
Rilo pouted. "Yeah, but I kinda like it."
Hawks kissed Rilo's nose. "I'll keep it then, hey. Maybe it'll make me look a bit older."
Bubbles snorted, realising afterwards that Rilo had echoed her amusement and Hawks was giving them both a mockingly insulted smirk that quirked up a single eyebrow.
"Oh come on, I'm likely going to be the youngest on stage, you can both give me some sympathy." He headed for the coffee machine, opening the drawer where he kept all his prized little coffee pods that he ordered in, he even allocated a whole section of the lounge's funds to the coffee machine.
Though, she supposed they did each have something they were allocated funds for. Perhaps it wasn't all that unusual that Hawks simply allocated his funds into something he loved.
Afterall, she allocated hers into little pastries and treats.
Was…
Was there really that much difference?
"Did anything happen out on patrol?" Rilo asked.
"Ah, nothing much." Hawks dipped his head to one side. "Caught a few teenagers trying to purchase alcohol. Gave them a warning."
Bubbles huffed. "You're too soft."
"They were just brats, Bubbles, not villains. When I was sixteen I was a little fuckwit too. I drew graffiti all over the police station roof because I could. Was it heroic of me, no, but fuck that. I wanted to, because they were all arseholes and deserved my artistic ridicule." He placed a hand on his chest and swept around mockingly.
Rilo covered her face as she giggled.
"You know, I think some of it is still there." Hawks flashed a grin.
"Okay, you know what, we're never letting that out to the press." Bubbles thumped her head against the table.
"Oh, Hawks! The little duckie cake is in the fridge. You need to see it." Rilo suddenly burst out.
"I need to see it, do I?" He tipped his head around. "You sent me photos."
"Not the same." Rilo drummed the table.
"You're just wanting to eat some of mine, aren't you, babe?"
"No…" Rilo's voice pitched.
"Ahah. Yeah, that totally sounded convincing." Hawks chuckled.
Several feathers whizzed past, opening the fridge.
Bubbles ducked instinctively as the plate they'd stashed away for him flew by and he caught it. He carried his coffee and the duckie cake back to the table, dragging a chair over with a foot to shove it up against Rilo's before slumping into it.
Rilo moved in with a spoon and he poked her away with a finger. "Fuck off, my duckie cake."
"I thought I was your duckie cake." Rilo gave him an innocent, sweet smile.
He slid the plate away from her. "Don't even try it, I am immune to your siren song for the next few weeks."
Rilo sat back in a huff. "Ohhh, you are no fun."
"Babe, I promise an amazing summer holiday with heaps of adult fun."
Bubbles glared at them both. "Summer holiday? Excuse me. What summer holiday."
Hawks pointed his spoon at her. "Oh yeah, book that in. At least like…what…two weeks?" He looked to Rilo. "Yeah, two weeks."
Bubbles heaved a sigh, dropping her head back in defeat. "Hawks, we really need another sidekick."
"I know. Losing Twin Two was annoying, as much as I feel it was necessary for her to find a more suitable agency. I'll start looking around." His eyes flicked across the photography laden table as he spooned cake into his mouth.
"I see you two have been admiring my physique all evening." He motioned to the gathering of pictures. Rilo dropped her head against his shoulder.
"There is a lot about you to admire."
"Why thank you, gorgeous." He kissed her forehead.
Bubbles noted that his down layer of feathers was what puffed up in happiness.
She'd never seen his wings react so naturally—so warmly—before. Usually, they displayed such negativity and violence. Had she forgotten somewhere, over the years, that they weren't actually a weapon?
Still.
She cringed inwardly. It just made her feel worse for having made him react so negatively towards her.
No—
Not her—
Her words.
Rilo dumped a pile of photos in front of him. "So, you get to choose four photos for the signing."
"What, no…I'm a so not choosing. Fuck that."
Rilo kicked him. "I whittled them all down, but you should be involved, at least a little. Bubbles and I decided you should pick the final selection."
"Well, that's super sweet of you both, but I don't care."
"We care." Rilo insisted. "Choose."
"The first four on the pile."
"Hawks!" Rilo drove her hand into his side and he leant away from her. His smile was soft, his laughter rich, and unfiltered delight brightened his eyes.
Sitting across from them, Bubbles found herself wondering if she had become an invisible spectator, for she certainly felt like one.
"Okay, okay. Don't make me spill my coffee." Hawks eased his Endeavour mug down and picked up Rilo's carefully curated pile of photos. He idly started flicking through them. He held out one to Rilo.
"Really? Seriously…you picked this monstrosity."
Rilo giggled. "That was me testing you."
"Ah." He threw the photo over his shoulder. "Well, fuck that. Getting into those pants was worse than torture."
"Oh come on." Rilo rolled her eyes.
"I like my balls not squished, babe."
"I'll make a note of that, and try to be super gentle the next time I jump on your lap."
"No see, you're actually designed to fit on my lap and bring maximum pleasure, those pants weren't designed for pleasure, at all."
Bubbles choked on her mouthful of tea.
"Oh, sorry, Bubbles. Forgot you where there for moment." Hawks cocked his head at her as she struggled with her closing airway. Giving her chest several firm pats, Bubbles heaved for air.
"Please, stop doing that when I take mouthfuls, Hawks."
"Stop drinking poison liquid." He sipped his coffee. "Become a coffee person." Hawks grinned, handing a photo to Rilo. "On that note, use this one."
Rilo smiled. "Aw, I love this one. It's so cute."
She held it out to Bubbles.
It was a photograph of Hawks perched on a rickety old telephone pole, somewhere out in zone eighteen. He was hunkered down, wings tucked either side of himself like shields against what must have been cold, bitter winds. What was most noticeable was the small, content smile he wore as he sipped a takeaway coffee.
It wasn't a photo she'd have picked at all.
She hadn't even remembered it as in the pile.
There was a collection in there of photos Hawks and Canary sometimes took themselves while out on patrol, just random pieces—or sometimes not even random pieces. Every so often, they caught incredible moments, even terrifying moments. Once Canary's camera had gone off mid-fight and—
Hawks flipped up the photo.
Right—
Of course he'd pick that one. It was one of a kind. No one would ever get that type of shot ever again, unless they genuinely had a quirk that could get them in the middle of a battle scene with a camera strapped to them. It wasn't really something heroes tended to think about in the moment.
"Yeah, this one, this one is cool. I think guys would like this one, right? I still can't believe Canary's phone camera went off the moment I split the car into a million pieces." He tipped the photo back and forth in amazement. "It really is a brilliant picture."
"Okay, that's two. Just two more." Rilo put the first two aside.
Hawks sighed, flipping through the rest. He clicked his tongue in irritation. He tipped his head towards Rilo. "You'll sit with me, right, while I do this?"
"Well…er…"
"Oh, gosh, yes." Bubbles flung her arms out across the table, grabbing Rilo's hands. "You must do that."
"Wow." Hawks sat back with a smirk. "Did not expect that reaction."
"No. I mean…" Bubbles coughed lightly. "It just means I don't have to do it."
Hawks' raised his brow. "Ahah."
"It's a time-wasting sink hole, when I could be off talking to people and networking, and you know, doing important business things." Bubbles fluttered her eyelids.
"Right, because sitting on my arse sighing photographs isn't important." Hawks made air quotation marks.
"No, not for me." Bubbles fanned herself, hoping she was putting on just as much sarcasm as he sometimes generated. "It is for you, not me. I'm not the face of this agency. Ha. Sucks to be you."
"You don't mind, Bubbles?" Rilo worried.
"No." Bubbles quickly switched to Rilo. "I mean, by then you'll have been announced, right?"
Hawks nodded.
"Okay, so, it'll be a really good opportunity for you both to talk to people as a couple, and Rilo can easily handle the totally boring stuff I'd have been doing, while I go and do actually important things for the agency."
Hawks leant towards Rilo, looking as though he was whispering, but speaking loud enough for her to hear. "She thinks she so fucking amazing."
"Yep." Rilo agreed. "But she is."
"Alright. If Rilo's going to sit with me…" Hawks shuffled around in his trackpants, pulling out his mobile. He fiddled for a while before holding it out to Bubbles. "If I sent this to you, can you print it?"
It was a photo that no one other than an aviator of Hawks' calibre could have achieved. A stunning photo amongst sunset tinted clouds. The illusion of Rilo walking on the clouds was most likely achieved by her balancing precariously on his detached feathers, and he so effortlessly floated just above her, hand outstretched as if asking for a dance.
"Oh my gosh, Hawks…" She grabbed his phone, trying so hard not to squeal at how much the media were going to salivate over the photo when she released it. Oh—she could feel the excitement, and already imagine the positive press. "This is stunning!"
Now she got it. She understood what he meant when he said Rilo glowed. She made the clouds around her look as though they were on fire.
"This is what I meant the other day when I said if you had wedding photos." Bubbles kicked her legs happily.
"That's not a wedding photo, that's just us adventuring around in the evenings."
"Right, yes, because everyone can take their significant other to high altitudes and take photographs in the sky." Bubbles deadpanned.
Hawks playfully ribbed Rilo. "Still haven't tried sky-sex yet."
Rilo giggled. "Is that what you're promising me after I get better."
"Is that what you want?" Hawks caught her chin.
Rilo made a soft squealy sound. "Maybe."
Hawks folded over her.
Bubbles sunk into her seat.
Nope.
No.
Do not kiss.
Don't.
Okay—Stop—
Bubbles slapped her hand down on the table. "Excuse me, I'm still here."
Hawks tipped his head around towards her. "No, really? Fucking wow, Bubbles, I had no idea." He sarcastically drawled out.
She grabbed a spoon, lobbing it at him and he laughed as he caught it. "So violent, Bubbles."
Bubbles folded her arms, ignoring him.
Rilo tugged on his shirt. "We need one more photo."
Hawks scratched his neck, reaching for his mobile. Obviously, he was dismissing all the photos on the table now.
So much for all that effort then, Bubbles mentally scoffed. Right—so—she wasn't going to bother with any more promotional material for a long time unless it was absolutely necessary.
"Remember that really cool accidental selfie I took…" Hawks glanced to Rilo.
Rilo squinted. "Oh, when you were trying to do the loopy-loopy?"
"Yeah." He flicked rapidly through his gallery. "Failed it because I was laughing so much at something you said, but, because of that…" Hawks held out the mobile to Bubbles, revealing a photo. It was at an extremely random angle, most likely because the camera had been airborne at the time. His visor was almost falling off, mostly due to the fact that he was actually laughing as he flipped backwards in the air. "It's a genuine smile from me. A rare gem of a photo. You have my permission to print it."
A genuine smile. She had his permission to print a photo of him with a genuine smile.
What an odd thing—
No—
Now that she thought about it—
Having looked through so many photos that evening, none of them had the same smile as the image on the phone in front of her.
There really was a difference—
Keigo—
She was looking at a photo of Keigo, and that was what she was receiving permission to print, it wasn't the smile, it was the man behind the visor, the man sitting across from her right now.
"Alright." Bubbles clapped her hands. "Send me the files. I'll get it all printed so we are ready to go."
Hawks folded over the table and Rilo gently brushed at his back. "It'll be fine, honey. Remember what you said to Izuku the other day, that we all have to do things we don't want to do."
"Oh fuck off."
"Tut, tut." Rilo waggled a finger. "Eat your own words, handsome."
"Hmmm…" He stretched, snatching up his coffee mug and heading back for the coffee machine. "At least you'll be there, so, I suppose I'll suffer it."
Bubbles started gathering all the photos back into their storage box. "All that, and I should have just asked you both if you had photos anyway." She grumbled.
Hawks chuckled. "Yup." He eased back on the counter, tipping his head to one side. "I've always thought it a shame that only heroes get to see the world from a certain point of view, due to flight restrictions, yeah?"
Rilo eased forward on the table, her whole focus leaning into Hawks' words.
"Wouldn't it be nice to share some of the sky with people who can't fly."
"Oh darling, and you say you're not romantic." Rilo tipped her head.
Hawks pointed a finger at her. "I'm not."
"Hmhm, you keep telling yourself that." Rilo looked to Bubbles. "You know he brought me the cutest pair of matching Endeavour and All-Might keyrings the other week, it was so sweet."
Wow—
Hawks was so cheap.
Keyrings? Really?
"I love it so much." Rilo pulled the keyring out from amongst her piles of blankets. She held it out. "Isn't it adorable! I've got the Endeavour one, and Hawks keeps the All-Might one."
Bubbles turned in her seat. "You're a fan of Endeavour."
Hawks looked down at his slippers while holding up his mug. "No, I'm wearing these because I'm a fucking sissy." He drawled out mockingly.
"Well, I suppose even heroes have heroes." Bubbles mused.
"We do." Hawks slumped back into his seat, folding a wing around Rilo. "We are all only human, after all."
"Oh…that's right. Hawks, Bubbles wants to see my mod." Rilo's hand settled on Hawks' knee. "I told her to wait until you got back, since I can't remove the bandages myself."
Bubbles tensed on her seat as Hawks' golden eyes flicked towards her, though his question was addressed to Rilo. "Babe, you sure?"
"She should see what she's risking things for. It's okay." Rilo nodded. "You trust her, so, I do too."
Hawks sighed, setting his mug down and lifting himself off his seat. "You sure, Bubbles? It's one thing to have it explained, but seeing it is something else entirely."
Bubbles swallowed, trying to dampen her dry mouth. "Yes."
"Alright. If Rilo's fine with it."
Rilo untangled herself from her blanket fort. She paused from slipping out of the layers of clothing she wore, looking up at Hawks. "Canary isn't around, is he?"
Hawks arched an eyebrow. "You're safe."
"Actually, I was more worried for his safety." Rilo quipped.
Hawks swept off the enormous sweater she wore. "Don't worry, I won't be gouging anyone's eyes out."
"Hawks!" Rilo protested.
Bubbles stood as Hawks removed a feather, calcifying it and carefully using it to slice cleanly through the tightly wound bandages that entombed Rilo's entire back and neck, as well as her upper arms.
"Her thighs are also strapped, but for modesty's sake, I won't bother removing those." Hawks flipped the feather in the air, cracking the hardened bandages back. Rilo gave a breath of relief, staggering forward slightly and he caught her.
"You alright?"
"Yep." She nodded.
He pulled the whole mess of bandages off, dumping them on the floor in a bloodied pile.
Bubbles stood, slackened, as he brushed Rilo's hair to the side. "There you go. Apparently, this is what industrial quirk abuse looks like."
Rilo's entire back was bruised. Agonizingly bruised, like she'd been slammed into a wall several times and the skin was now angry with deep purples and reds, all emanating out from metal nodules protruding from her spine. The skin around the metal connectors was raw and bloodied. Most disturbingly the nodes glowed a soft, hideously nefarious green taint that immediately made Bubbles nauseous; it almost looked as though the mod was alive from that pulsing glow. Alive and consuming Rilo from the inside.
Hawks pointed to Rilo's still bandaged arms. "She's has two more plugs on each arm, and two more on each thigh, they basically look the same. They're wired up internally and the whole thing rests just above her spine. The one we're really worried about is this one." He held back Rilo's hair, revealing a large socket at the nape of her neck. "It's the main interlink with the powerplant, and it's extremely close to the brain stem."
"Oh. Rilo. I am so, so sorry." Bubbles choked out.
Rilo turned around, hugging against Hawks, but reaching out a hand to Bubbles. "It's fine, Bubbles. Really."
She shouldn't have been saying those words.
Because none of it was really fine.
Not at all.
"It's not though, is it?" Bubbles looked to Hawks.
"No, but, it will be fine." Hawks tweaked Rilo's nose fondly.
"Yep." She grinned before shifting uneasily. "Um, so, I'm kinda cold…"
"Seen enough Bubbles?" Hawks' brow lifted.
"Oh, yes, ah…sorry, Rilo."
Rilo waved her hands. "It's okay, Bubbles. No need to apologise."
Hawks heaved Rilo up, dropping her down on a chair and throwing a blanket around her before he crouched to clean up the dirtied bandages.
Bubbles clenched her hands to her sides. "Hawks…shouldn't we go to the press about this."
With proof of something so horrendous, surely something could have been done.
"Ah, no." Hawks looked up at her, an eyebrow raised.
"But…it's…"
"Inhumane? Why, yes, it is." Hawks wound the bloodied linin bandages up, throwing them in the incinerator tube. "Glad we agree on that."
"The public have a right to know their…their…entire…energy grid is coming from something so corrupt."
"If you want to spiral us faster into an Upheaval, be my guest Bubbles. However, I can assure, the public out there, they're not ready to know anything about this. If you're not ready, and you're a hero, and I wasn't ready…and I fucking know things. How do you think an already destabilising society will take the knowelage that their government gives utterly no fucks about meta-humans."
She deflated. "Okay. You're right."
"We're heroes, Bubbles. We're in the business of keeping peace. Let's try to do that."
"So we lie."
"We lie until we find the right chance to reveal the truth." He shrugged. "And that day will come. Just, trust that it will. Fate provides, Bubbles. Trust Fate."
He worked on rebinding Rilo, and it was rather obvious it was a laborious task both were familiar with. Just how long had they been managing with this whole painful situation on their own?
"Hawks…you said…you said the mod is the reason why the two of you met."
"Technically, yes." Hawks yanked the enormous sweater back over Rilo's head and bundled her up in blankets once more. He grinned at his work and she kicked her legs happily.
"Am I a marshmallow?"
"Yep." He kissed her cheek.
"Do I get nibbled on later."
Bubbles slid her mug of tea away. "I give up. You're both insufferable."
Hawks laughed, squeezing Rilo's cheeks. "Let's try not to kill my number one sidekick, sweetie. Bubbles basically runs this agency."
Bubbles smiled. "Oh, so glad you admit that."
"Bubbles, I admit that every day." Hawks slumped back in his chair, taking up his coffee. "And yes, technically, the mod's existence allowed us to meet, but it also…inhibited our meeting…since…I've lived in Fukuoka for years now, and never felt Rilo's existence until recently."
"I'd started what we're calling the 'end-of-life-cycle'." Rilo tipped to one side on her chair. "The mod had just started to degrade enough that Hawks was able to finally pick up on the electromagnetic field I can generate, which I spat out in a panic when I fell off my balcony."
"Barely." Hawks wobbled a hand about. "I mean, we're talking a feather twitched here and I fucking floored it." He made a zooming motion. "I am still impressed I made that catch. Damn, I am good."
"Yes, yes, puff your feathers." Rilo ruffled up his hair.
He playfully buried his hands into her blanket fort, making her squeak.
"So, um, do you think you catching Rilo began the degradation of the mod?" Bubbles quickly interjected before either of them began what looked like a tickling war. My gosh, she'd had no idea Hawks was this playful—
Now she was really curious—
Did he act like this around Canary?
Or at least, did he act differently around Canary than he did around her?
Was that why Canary had responded so very differently to the news of Rilo than both her and Medusa. In fact, it had almost seemed like Medusa had known about everything all along.
Okay—that—that wouldn't have been surprising at all if he had.
Medusa has ways of knowing things.
"No, I think we triggered the mod's degradation the first time we met." Hawks offered. "Rilo falling off her balcony wasn't our first meeting."
"It wasn't?" Bubbles sat up straighter.
"Nope." Hawks shook his head. "I almost killed her, by blowing her back into traffic when I launched…ah…several months before the balcony, right?"
Rilo nodded.
"I'm pretty sure that's what triggered the mod's early failure, the shock absorption of fierce wing. Don't think the mod was prepared for it." Hawks scratched his chin. "Anyway, that's what led to me sensing her fall from the balcony. See how it all sort of falls together, yeah."
Bubbles frowned. "No. I don't…it doesn't make sense for the Bureau to allow any of their assets out into the public if just running into an emissions type causes a failure in the mod." Bubbles tapped the tabletop irritability.
"I don't think it's just any random emissions type." Hawks folded forward, hugging his Endeavour mug. "The Bureau has effectively managed to sustain the cultivation of living generators for centuries now, which is…frankly…terrifying to think about on its own." He cringed, bristled feathers hackling. "It took natural quirk evolution a fucking long time to just get to me, someone capable of absorbing the generation power of…well…" he glanced to Rilo, "…a whole city."
"Ohhhh…that's why Canary isn't compatible." Bubbles tipped back in her chair.
Hawks clicked his finger at her. "Yep." He made levels with his hands. "See, the Bureau has basically messed with quirk evolution to sustain a very high level of powerful generators, but, outside that bubble…out here…" he spread his hands, "despite what the media leads the public to believe, there isn't actually that many of us A-lister heroes."
Bubbles nodded. "That's true."
She was a D-rank, which did not place her very high at all, she worked her best when paired up with either Hawks or Canary. Canary pulled in at a B, only due to his incredible ability to forewarn civilians of danger, but his empathy when in battle near crippled him, practically making him a D-rank in battle when alone.
Hawks sighed. "Amongst the inhumane things the Bureau is doing, it is their interference with natural quirk selection that irritates me." He looked to Rilo. "You can't just…make babies, right? Right? I don't fucking get it?"
"Keigo, you are going to have let it go." Rilo's hand folded around his raised knee. "We can't change the past, but we'll work towards a future."
He lifted her hand, kissing the knuckles. "Come on, gorgeous, let's get you rugged up into bed."
Rilo nodded. "Okay."
Hawks dragged back his chair. His gaze flicked up and Bubbles felt it settle on her.
There was none of the intensity that had burned in the golden orbs from earlier. If anything, he simply looked worn down, tired, and—
Grateful—
"Thanks, Bubbles, for staying in."
She breathed in, wishing—wishing she could tell him how sorry she was. "It's all good. I've got the early shift in the morning anyway, so, you know, really wasn't a reason to go home."
"I mean it, Bubbles." His hand reached across the table, and her world momentarily shattered upon the realisation that his usually affirmed, assured grip was shaking. "Thank you."