Spring Break

by winterziyle

When it rains, it pours. The lightbulb Hawks caught is safe - at least for now - but in freeing the lightbulb, did he stir the already boiling pot? The streets seem peaceful enough, but whispers of dissiance are beginning to rouse the Underground on all sides. The villain Porcupine is threatening an imbalance in Fukuoka. The streets may seem peaceful. They soon won't be.

4. Chapter 4: To Pin a Tweet

Chapter Four:

To Pin a Tweet

Izuku lay in the net, strung up over the glass ceiling of the Hawks' agency. He stared up at the blue sky and slowly raised a hand, trying to clasp at the small tuffs of little white clouds.

The netting jostled about, and he looked around, watching as Hawks walked across the weave with elegant ease. He made it look easy; the ability to balance on the bouncing lattices. Izuku still hadn't figured out how not to get thrown into the air by his own body weight. It was annoying, considering all the core training he'd been doing over the months. Hawks came to crouch beside him.

"Hey little birdie, I was wondering where you'd flown off too."

"I don't have wings, Hawks."

"Not yet." Hawks tweaked his nose. "Give it time."

Izuku rolled his eyes.

"What's wrong with you? Heh?" Hawks sipped water from the straw attachment beneath his armour. Well, it was sort of water. It was water with extra steps as Izuku had found out. Heroes tended to add a lot of things to complicate their already complicated lives. The more he was learning about working hero culture, the more he was understanding that the job ruined a body. Every night he was exhausted. He had no idea—no idea at all—how Hawks lived off so little sleep.

It seemed incomprehensible.

Though it did explain the bags under his eyes and his sometimes-snippy attitude.

Izuku sighed and sat up. "This is…this is going to sound kind of petty."

Hawks' brow lifted. "Ah ah. Petty, sure."

"It is." Izuku huffed.

"Alright, hit me with your pettiness." Hawks thumped down on the netting, making the whole large hammock sway.

Izuku glanced away from the exhausted young man. Hawks hadn't seemed to take a breather in the past few days since he'd woken up after the tranquilizer had finally knocked him out. Though, Izuku was sure Hawks had just driven himself into a state of complete and total oblivion from sheer over-clocking his quirk. He loathed to think—

Even now—

Just to think of it—

What if he hadn't been there in that moment when Osamu—

What if he'd been a few seconds too late to stop Osamu—

Could heroes really be taken out so easily?

Hawks wasn't supposed to be so fragile.

And yet, All-Might and Hawks kept showing him that they were just as breakable as anyone else. He had to accept that, and then, go beyond.

At least Hawks' wings were almost regrown in their entirety. While not back to their full seven-foot span, they did allow him flight, and his mood had improved after that. It had been so weird having him wingless, and wow, had he felt like the grumpiest arsehole in existence. Izuku had made a big, underlining note in one of his notebooks about how a grounded hawk wasn't useless, no, he was ruthless. He could smile and laugh for a civilian, and then turn around and look like he was going to murder a kitten the moment that civilian walked away.

Still, even with a grumpy Hawks, he was just so relieved everyone he loved was alive. He got to go back to the ugly pink apartment Hawks and Rilo were bunking at, and see Rilo smiling, hear her laughing, and it chased away the horrible—nasty—awful vision of her hanging inside the glass cylinder, surrounded by wires and green sludge.

"I don't want to go back to school…"

"Wow. Okay. Yeah. Petty." Hawks rubbed wearily at his neck, giving it a crack. "You've got a whole week remaining of your Spring Break, Izuku, don't waste it thinking about the new school year. Besides, you…" Hawks poked him in the stomach. "You got a longer vacation. You're lucky I'm nice and could talk so skilfully to the principal of your shite school, otherwise you'd be in the deep end for skipping out."

Izuku pouted.

"It's going to suck so much, Hawks."

"You don't know that."

"Everyone hates me. Kaachan will still be Kaachan. I'm still quirk-less. It's not like people know I'm the son of All-Might. I mean…they'll probably find out eventually…but…"

"Do you think that'd change anything?"

"No…" Izuku grumbled. "And I don't really want to use Dad like that."

"Didn't think you would." Hawks tussled Izuku's hair fondly. "My baby birdie. Sometimes we have to do shite things in life, okay, and we just don't have a choice. Will I be able to get you more chances to come up here, probably, yeah. So, look forward to those times, and just…slog your fucking way through the bad times."

Izuku nodded.

"One more year, kiddo, and all this will be a memory while you fly into U.A…and then…well…you'll be complaining at me about other stuff, I'm sure."

Izuku gave a small smile. "But…it's okay to complain, right?"

Hawks calloused fingers pinched his chin. "That's what big brothers are for—"

"Sir! Are you up there?"

Hawks frowned at the loud shout from Bubbles. He bounced up, making the netting sway. He approached the edge and bent over, yelling back down into the agency below. "What is it, Bubbles?"

"We've got a situation! I'm getting conflicting reports on the radio, so, I think you'd better just head out there."

"What you got?"

"Something about a car, or a truck, hitting the Hidamari Kindergarten...but…I can't get more than that."

Hawks' wings rattled. "I'm sorry, did you say a kindergarten? Why didn't this come through the agency line?"

Izuku watched as Bubbles finally appeared, floating on one of her large, delicate spheres. She gave him a small, dismissive glance, before her attention flicked back to Hawks. She'd been doing that for days now, looking at him sideways and sort of seeming to try and fit him somewhere into her mind. He'd have found it off-putting, the way she dismissed him so easily, but he'd very quickly realised that she actually did it to everyone she wasn't in direct conversation with. She wasn't meaning to be rude, she was just really focused.

"That's just it, sir, I don't know why we didn't receive the call direct." Bubbles tossed her wayward hair back. "We've received it through Tenyru and Kuno, who seemed to be first on the scene."

Izuku crawled onto his feet, waddling his way across the netting. He grabbed hold of Hawks around the middle to steady himself. "Aren't they the two ambulance drivers' you guys work with?"

"Ah, yes, you met them the other day with the whole Osamu ordeal, yeah?" Hawks mused.

Izuku nodded. "They helped me with the kids."

"They're good friends with the agency. It helps to have paramedics on call that know how to work with heroes. Not all paramedics are on good terms with heroes. As first responders, they tend to see the worst results of our fights and how civilians are effected." Bubbles finally looked down at him. "File that away for future reference. You might have to write a paper on it at school."

"Oh…oh okay…" Izuku blinked.

"Well, it is odd it'd not come direct, but, if Tenyru and Kuno are requesting backup, we should head out. Tell Medusa to follow in his ambulance. He can bring Canary. We might need him to sooth the parents—"

"Actually…" Bubbles halted him. "That's…that's why…that's the problem, sir."

"The problem? There is more of a problem than a truck/car hitting a daycare centre?" Hawks arched an eyebrow at her. "I don't like it when you present me more problems, Bubbles."

Bubbles sighed. "I actually sent Medusa and Canary out about an hour ago, and they haven't responded."

"You know, you should have opened with that." Hawks flipped up his headphones and clipped on his visor. Izuku quickly followed his example. Before Izuku realised it, he was shoved off the netting. He plunged into the bowl of the agency, dropping like a pin.

"Hawks!" He heard Bubbles shriek. "Oh my gosh!"

Izuku laughed as he plummeted. Hawks caught him, swooping him up and twirling about to come to a neat landing in the open foyer.

"Whoo yeah!" Izuku flung up his arms.

Hawks bounced him into the air and he landed neatly on the man's back, hooking his feet in place on the little kits Hawks' kept on his belt.

"Later Bubbles." Hawks waved.

"You're teaching him to be as reckless as you, sir."

"Don't see the problem."

"I hope Rilo never lets you near your children." Bubbles shouted as they headed out the door.

Hawks twirled around, yelling back. "I'm going to toss them off skyscrapers!"

A bubble full of water was flung at them. Hawks missed it by side-stepping and launching into the air.

"Do you think Canary and Medusa are alright?" Izuku asked.

"I'm sure everything is fine," Hawks offered. "Knowing those two, they've got caught up in helping sort it all out and just forgotten to check back in. It happens from time to time, especially when kids are involved."

"I hope no one was hurt." Izuku worried.

"Alright, so, we'll be dealing with kids, Izuku."

"Yeah…I know." Izuku dipped his head against Hawks' neck.

"No, I mean, you might have to deal with your first casualty. At some point, that is going to happen. This is not easy, and it's not supposed to be easy."

Izuku clutched at Hawks' shoulders as they took the decent into the city streets.

"I'm here, alright." Hawks voice was soft over the radio. "When you need to talk, I'll always be here."

Izuku nodded. "Thanks…Hawks."

000000

Even before they'd reached Hidamari Kindergarten, Hawks knew something was wrong with the scene. If it had been as Bubbles had reported, it should have been a bustling area of anxiety, filled with parents and first responders but there was no movement.

None.

Nothing.

The streets were cleared.

Tenyru and Kuno's ambulance was parked out front, and Medusa's was haphazardly parked nearby in a far more hurried fashion. Hawks winged down, landing with an uncomfortable thud that sent a sharp pain through his knees. Izuku slid off his back.

"Keep low." Hawks murmured, glancing at the sharp metal spires protruding from the shattered front of Tenyru and Kuno's ambulance. Blood was seeping through the door, dripping onto the pavement. He didn't want to check—

He already knew—

Hawks' stomach twisted.

Sometimes he loathed his sense quirk.

No—

No, he had to look. Hawks glanced through the shattered window, and his jaw clenched tight.

Shite—

Tenyru—

The young man was pinned to the driver's seat by a metal shard.

Hawks reached through the ambulance window, touching his hand briefly to Tenyru's neck. No pulse.

Fuck.

Hawks grabbed Izuku, stepping into fierce wing and bringing them to the front of the pulverised daycare centre. The windows were shattered, and the door was cracked and broken by hundreds of the metal spines.

Izuku vaulted through one of the windows and Hawks followed.

About fifty children were scattered about, hiding beneath tables, or behind furniture, cowering in little huddled piles together. At his appearance, he watched their teary, terrified faces brighten and almost all of them began to scramble upwards towards him.

He held out his hands, stalling them all.

"Stay." He urged. "What have I taught you. Stay in place until I say what word?"

"Clear." The collective reply came.

"Good." Hawks smiled. "You're all very brave." He crept slowly down one of the walls towards a crouched Kuno. Despite his own bloodied shoulder wound, he was tending to one of the carers.

"Hawks?" A carer murmured at him. "Oh, thank goodness." She was nursing a small baby. Hawks glanced towards the nursey section.

"Hey," Hawks crouched. "Are any of the kids critical?"

Kuno shook his head. "Those little infomercials you do, seems like they really do work."

"What about the babies?" Hawks asked the carer.

"We only have two in today." She curled her shoulders. "Hawks, they utterly smashed up the nursey. If the babes had been napping. They'd have…how could they do this!?"

"This villain is the kind who does not care about lives." He rested a hand on her head. "He exists to take them from this world."

"Tenyru?" Kuno asked. "Did you…did you find him?"

"I'm sorry, Kuno." Hawks grasped the paramedics shoulders. "He's gone."

Kuno slumped back against a wall. He gave a choking sob, curling forward. Hawks soothed a hand against his back.

"We…we were…we came here for a medical emergency, one of the kids broke their leg on the playground." Kuno clutched his hands to his knees, forcing himself upright. "We were leaving when…when…they came out of nowhere, Hawks, and…it was horrible. It…it was all I could do to get the kid and the carer back inside. I…I guess…Tenyru…"

"He called it in." Hawks assured. "He was a hero to his last moment."

Standing Hawks headed to Medusa. "What's the situation?"

"Porcupine basically has us pinned down in here." Medusa motioned with a tip of his head, and they walked to the corner of the large room. "He was barraging the place with his spikes every few minutes."

Hawks frowned. That explained the damage, and the wounded carers and children.

"Why didn't you use your emergency beacons?" Hawks asked.

Medusa held up the beacon, pressing it several times. "It's not working. They've got someone with a quirk that's obviously interfering with our tech. Not sure if its long range or short…"

Well—

Well, it had to happen eventually. Looks like he was going to have to upgrade their tech again. More sleepless nights. Fucking fantastic.

"Canary went out there to confront him."

Hawks' wings hackled.

No—

Fuck—

No—

No—

No—

"He threatened the children." Medusa removed his glasses, rubbing his eyes anxiously. "Canary said he was serious. He'd have brought this whole building down."

"How long ago?" Hawks inched towards a broken window, peering out into the deserted playground. Nothing moved, and there was no sight of Canary or Porcupine.

Medusa glanced at his watch. "Maybe…fifteen minutes. I heard fighting for a while, then things went quiet. Hawks…I…"

"Canary is fine." Hawks assured. "Izuku, find yourself something to use as a shield."

"Yes sir." Izuku dashed into the kitchen area, returning with a tray.

"Hawks, I'm sorry…" Medusa shook his head. "I should have gone out there with him."

Hawks shook his head. "No. Med, you know you're not equipped for combat. You're a medi-hero."

"I still shouldn't have let him go."

"No one stops Canary from doing what he wants." Hawks managed a small smile.

With a heave, he swung himself out a broken window. Izuku followed. Hawks flicked his gaze across the yard. He could sense Canary's rapid heartbeat against the softest plumage of his wings. It was a pained, frantic heartbeat, accompanied by struggled breathing. Hawks frowned. He knew that breathing pattern. Avians made it—

They made it when there was too much weight against their—

"Shite!" Hawks grabbed Izuku, stepping into fierce wing, and they appeared at the large wooden playground, built like a rocket-ship. Izuku wiped blood from his nose. Hawks ignored the brat's plight. That blood wasn't the issue, it was the blood in the sand around the playground that was. He dashed around the corner of the rocket-ship and halted at the sight of Canary's pinned up frame, hanging against the wood, stuck up there by his wings.

Hawks' wings calcified, taking the full brunt of a barrage of metal spikes that clattered down around them.

"Izuku! Get him the fuck down!" Hawks shouted. "Now!"

A roar of laughter followed hissing steam and heavy, metal boots thumping across pavement. Hawks vaulted in the air, twisting and summersaulting as several metal spires speared past. They buried in the nearby playground and wall of the daycare centre. Hawks drew a feather blade, slicing apart a metal spike as it flew past.

"Aw, don't you like my artwork, Hawks?" Porcupine howled in delight.

From the back of a truck the villain waved in his hulking armour.

"I made it just for you, to show my adoration for you."

Hawks jettisoned feathers into the air. The truck roared to life, speeding away in a roar of smoke. Hawks tucked behind the playground slide, missing the last few flung metal spires.

"Fuck!" He hissed. Blood dripped down from above. He could hear Izuku clambering around inside, talking softly.

He hoped that meant Canary was alive.

This is why he hated being last on the scene. This could have all been solved if he'd just been first in, first served. This could have all been solved if his predecessor had put a fucking bullet through Porcupine's skull twenty odd years ago.

But no—

No—

Someone had decided to put the lunatic in Tartarus.

He could have pursued.

But he doubted that would have resulted in anything but further casualties. Porcupine was being deliberate. This was a deliberate move to stir up pain and anger. He'd gone for the children—

Even amongst villains.

That was considered extreme.

Hawks switched gears, turning his attention to the playground. "Izuku!"

"Canary is stuck, Hawks. I can't get him free." Izuku called out.

"Run back and get Medusa." Hawks hoisted himself up, cleaving apart the playground piece by piece with a swarm of feathers. Izuku burst past him, running back across the yard.

Canary dropped free. Hawks caught him, cradling his fragile, trembling body.

"Hey, hey, I've got you." He carefully eased down onto his knees, lowering Canary to the ground. His wings were a mess, and he was bleeding from somewhere. It was seeping out from under his armour.

Medusa slammed down beside them. "Oh my god, what the fuck did he do?"

Hawks fought back the heat around the edges of his eyes. "Pinned him by his wings."

"Oh, Canary…" Medusa soothed Canary's hair back.

"Guess…guess I won't…I won't be flying for a bit…heh…" Canary's voice was weak. Blood bubbled from his lips.

Medusa chided. "Nonsense, Canary. You know we get the best care. You'll be in the air again in a week or two."

"I'm…I'm so sorry, Hawks." Canary murmured.

"No, no. You did so well." Hawks clasped Canary's cheeks. "Canary, listen to me. No one just endures torture, okay. You're one of the toughest little shites I know."

Canary choked out a weak laugh. "I learnt from…this…this really awful boss."

"Oh, yeah?" Hawks glanced briefly at Medusa.

The medi-hero raised a hand, making a circular motion, indicating the need to keep the young hero talking.

Izuku was talking through his headset, probably patched through to Bubbles.

"That much of a hard-arse am I?" Hawks focused on Canary's brilliant blue eyes. They weren't clouding over. Good sign. They were still sharp and alert.

"You're worried…" Canary murmured.

"Of course I am, Canary." Hawks levelled. "You took on a class-b villain on your own. Frankly, I think you're trying to give me a stress induced stomach ulcer as revenge for not taking you to the Ranking."

Canary grinned, showing bloodied teeth. "Yeah. That's totally it."

"Thought so."

"Owe, fuck, Med!" Canary's wings flapped in protest.

"Just checking." Medusa assured.

"Checking what?!" Canary choked out.

Medusa shared a glance with Hawks. "That he didn't break your back, Canary."

"I'm fine." Canary tried to sit up. "I can feel my feet. I'm fine."

"Hey, hey, stop moving." Hawks soothed. "Canary, stop moving."

Canary's blooded hands clasped at his face. "I'm so weak. I couldn't do anything."

"You protected the children." Hawks murmured. "Canary, you did everything."

Medusa clasped Canary's hand as he sobbed into Hawks' chest.

Hawks' closed his eyes and Medusa's hand settled on his shoulder. "He's going to be fine."

Hawks' stomach knotted up.

He hated that word so much.

Fine.

No one was ever just fine.

00000

Hawks massaged a thumb into his aching temple. He studied the holographic clipboard, flicking through the medical information on display. Izuku sat on the hospital bedside, holding Canary's hand, and idly chatting to him about some cool new game. Hawks glanced up as Medusa poked his head into the room, giving him a small wave with two fingers.

Canary's eyes tracked him as he exited. He had little doubt his young sidekick was clawing at both his and Medusa's emotions, trying desperately to read them. Sometimes he was grateful that he'd had training to keep his emotional state all bottled up.

He followed Medusa down the hall. "What's the prognosis?"

Medusa slipped off his glasses. "You know, when I first joined your agency and you had me sign up for the highest medical insurance a hero can get…I thought…I thought it was a bit steep, and a bit unnecessary."

Hawks' brow lifted.

"I don't think that anymore, knowing what I know now about the medical system."

Leaning back against the wall Hawks sighed. "Alright, I gather they're going to treat him then."

"They will." Medusa nodded. "I can tell they'd prefer not to, but, you've always known something's up with how things are run."

Hawks glanced back at Canary's room. "Oh, I noticed a trend early on at the Commission. To many heroes get taken out early on in their careers by shoddy medical practices." He glanced down at his knees. "I picked up it was due to the higher ups at the Commission funnelling them onto shitty medical plans." Hawks sighed. "Have to make room for those new hero generations somehow."

Medusa winced. "It's a good thing you made Canary sign up, Hawks. They're basically forced to fix him."

"Oh, I know there are medical quirks out there that can work miracles." Hawks eased off the wall. "And I know, if the Commission got a hold of me as a kid through the registry, the Institute of Medicine would do exactly the same with the divine ones…" he glanced around the passageway. "I'm not losing a sidekick because the quirk-less oligarchy are hording medical quirks above a line." Hawks held his middle finger up at the camera stationed at the end of the passage.

"How about the injured carers?" he asked.

Medusa flicked through his tablet. "They'll all make a full recovery. None of the children were harmed beyond scratches and bruises. Bubbles is preparing a press release for you, she'll have it sent through in about half an hour."

Hawks rubbed his stiff neck.

"She asks that you try to stay on script."

"Hm."

Haha—yeah since when had he ever stuck to a script.

His mobile buzzed. Hawks tugged it free from his jacket. Rilo.

Medusa slipped past him, hand resting briefly on his shoulder.

"Half an hour."

"I know." Hawks grumbled. "I'll be down."

Medusa slipped back into Canary's room.

Hawks flicked his wings up, puffing them into a warm cage that curled tightly around himself and he slid down the wall, landing in an exhausted heap. He answered the call.

"Hey, babe."

"Keigo? Is Canary…is he…"

Hawks nursed a hand against his head. "He'll be…fine."

That word tasted like ash in his mouth.

"Are you hurt?"

"No, no. Just tired, and pissed off." He sighed. "I don't know, babe, I…I always felt like I'd made it abundantly clear to villains to never touch the children. Only the absolute scum of the earth go for the children."

"He broke your rule." Rilo's voice was soft. He could almost feel the illusion of her hand tussling up in his hair. Hawks smiled.

"He did. Honestly, I'd expected him to go after you."

"It's possible that when he noted he couldn't go after me, he aimed for the next thing that'd tick you off."

"Hm…" Hawks tipped his head to the side. "True." He glanced at his watch. "I gotta go, babe, press junket."

"Bleh."

"Oh, thanks for the confidence vote." He drawled. "Don't wait up for me, I have a late shift."

"Keigo—"

"I know…I know…" he fought off a yawn, as if just thinking about his lack of sleep triggered it. "Please don't nag."

"Sorry. I just worry." He heard her sigh. "I can provide you with energy, Keigo, but that doesn't do anything if you're not properly resting. All you've done is increased your workload."

He dropped his head back. "Balance is always the hardest thing to work out, but we'll get there."

"Okay. Um…I'll leave you a meal in the fridge. Eat it."

He smirked at her tone. "I will, babe."

She hung up and his stomach just seemed to knot up immediately. Slowly his wings unfurled, releasing him from his cocoon. Hawks rubbed at his aching eyes, looking up through the blur, surprised to find Izuku standing beside him, waiting patiently.

"How's Canary?" Hawks heaved himself up.

"Putting on a brave face." Izuku offered.

Hawks nodded. He headed back for Canary's private room, shuffling his way through the door. Canary was propped up against many soft pillows. His arms were already showing considerable bruising and Hawks didn't want to know what his back looked like. From personal experience, he was only too aware of what being strung up by wings alone did too an avian aviator. Canary's breathing was horribly shallow, indicating he was in considerable pain when breathing.

Hawks eased down on the edge of the bed. "Medusa give you the good news?"

Canary nodded. "They'll patch me up."

"You'll be on your feet in a day or two."

"Not really my feet I'm worried about." Canary joked.

Hawks chuckled. "True that."

He reached out, clasping Canary's hand, briefly allowing his tightly bound emotions free, unravelling the terror he'd felt in that moment of seeing the young sidekick strung up. Canary blinked back tears, swallowing.

"I'm okay, Hawks."

"I know." Hawks clasped Canary's cheeks, bending forward to press their foreheads together. "But fuck, you scared me."

Canary's hands gripped at his back. "I knew you'd come."

"Always." Hawks murmured. He heaved himself up. "So, I've got a press junket, then I've got a nightshift. Do you want Izuku to stay—"

"Nah, I'll be fine." Canary tossed a hand about. "It's better that you guys are out on the streets than in here with me. I should call my sister anyway, let her know I'm okay, otherwise we might end up with Mirko storming the agency."

Hawks cringed. "Good idea." He headed for the door. "Come on Izuku."

Canary gave Izuku and warm thumbs up. "First press junket, Izuku! You'll do great! Just put on that All-Might smile of yours and let Hawks do all the talking."

Izuku shuffled awkwardly. "I'll try."

Hawks stood, reaching for Izuku's mop of hair to ruffle it up. "Alright. I'll check up on you tomorrow, before I head off to Musutafu."

"Thanks Hawks."

Hawks gave a small wave. Canary's smile was forced, but he noticed him reaching for his portable gaming device, and that settled some worry. Right, now it was time to face the media.

Wearily he headed through the halls of the hospital, Izuku trailing along beside him. The moment he noticed a sign to the first male's toilet he made an immediate beeline for it and Izuku twirled around in confusion.

"Hawks?"

"Gotta check I'm not looking like shite."

"Oh, no, no, you look like shite." Izuku quipped.

Hawks smacked the brat over the back of the head. "Language."

Izuku puffed out his cheeks in annoyance.

Ignoring the baby bird, Hawks did a quick check that no one was within the bathroom before scotting up to the nearest sink. Dampening his hands, he dragged them through his hair, trying to tame the frazzled mop.

Ah—

Yeah, really, it didn't do much, but it was the thought that counted, he was sure of it. After all, apparently, according to Rilo and his stylist, that was all he fucking had to do to look good. He turned up the bloodied cuffs of his jacket. It wouldn't hide all the blood, but it'd look a little less frightening for any kids watching the evening news. Izuku was washing his face.

"Is this part of the job?" Izuku asked.

"Yeah…yeah it is." Hawks set his headphones and visor in place, glancing at himself in the mirror. He looked strung out, the shadows under his eyes heavier than usual. Maybe he was the only one who noticed, because he was the one who was denying himself the sleep.

He smiled down at Izuku, who'd reset his own headphone and visor. Crouching, Hawks reached out, trying to refit the old jacket the baby birdie was wearing. The jacket practically felt antique, considering it was something he'd worn back before he'd even gone pro. Fuck—he'd been tiny.

"You're really going to have to give some thought into your costume."

"I don't know, I kind of like your old stuff." Izuku shuffled. "I feel safe in them."

"Well, I suppose it was the best the Commission had to offer." Hawks waved him out the bathroom.

"And…and I…I feel like I need to wait until…you know…" Izuku paused, obviously realising he couldn't mention One for All. "Wait…until I know who I am…to think about a costume."

"Fair enough, kiddo." Hawks jogged down a flight of stairs, heading for the hospital entrance. He flicked out his mobile, bringing up Bubbles email containing the information she wanted released. He snorted, slipping the mobile away again. "Yeah…okay…sure Bubbles…I'll do my best."

"Hawks, what do I do?" Izuku asked.

"If the reporters direct a question to you, and you think you can answer it, then do so, but if you're unsure, direct the question up at me. Don't feel ashamed of not having an answer. We're not here to appease reporters, we're here to let the public know what's happened, and that the children are safe."

Izuku nodded stoutly.

Hawks swept through the automatic doors, strolling with intent and purpose towards the gathering of journalists, waiting like a pack of animals, hemmed in by their news vans. It was intimidating, and even now, after years of dealing with them, he still found them confronting. He could be confident and blasé appearing on the exterior, wearing a brilliant mask of assurance, but a part of him would always be that little starving boy on the street—

That little boy that every single person standing around him now—

Would have simply walked right past—

Hypocrites, the lot of them.

Hawks flicked his wings out, getting immediate attention. "Hey folks," he clapped his hands. "So, update time! As I'm sure you're all aware, there was a villain incident at the Hidamari Kindergarten. The good news is, none of the children were seriously injured and I'm hoping they're all tucked up in bed by now…" he glanced at the nearest news camera, pointing to it with a smile. "Yes, I'm talking to all of you, little chicks."

There was a collective murmur of amusement, and an easing of tension in the air.

"Several of the carers were harmed, but they're being well looked after here at Sakura Hospital." Hawks breathed in deeply. "I am…I am devastated to say that we lost the life of a first responder at the scene." Hawks' wings dropped. "For the sake of the privacy of their family, I will not release their name, but I hope that all of Fukuoka will grieve with me."

Silence.

He waited.

Usually, it took about a minute.

Finally, a single hand was lifted. Hawks motioned to the daring reporter. It was Yvun—from the Fukuoka Daily—the most boringly named paper in all of history. He and Yvun did not like each other. Usually, his natural charm won practically everyone over—not Yvun—no—there was something about the wiry old man. He distrusted heroes. Why a man like Yvun, who so loathed heroes, was ever put in charge of writing articles about heroes, was a confounding mystery that Hawks had not yet solved.

"Yes, Yvun?"

"Word is your sidekick, Canary, is going to need replacing."

"That's not a question, Yvun, that's speculation." Hawks arched an eyebrow at him. "You know how I feel about your speculative fiction pieces."

Yvun huffed. "Guess you didn't appreciate my estimation on how long your marriage will last."

"It was amusing, Yvun. Good comedy, thank you." Hawks tossed back. "As for Canary, I can assure you all, that he'll be fine."

Hawks pointed to a female reporter. "Yes, Miki, your question?"

"My question is for your apprentice."

Izuku snapped to attention, going stiff like a rake. "Oh, um, yes?"

"The apprentice program is very old-fashioned, meaning, you haven't even been to hero school yet, right?"

"That's right." Izuku nodded. "I'm aiming to get into U.A. It's a lot of hard work."

Miki shot a glare at Yvun. "To help with the speculations, I was wondering how you became the apprentice of Hawks? I am sure there are many boys and girls your age who'd be very inspired by you."

"Oh…" Izuku frowned. "My sister." He glanced up at Hawks, who gave a small nod. Izuku touched a hand to his chest. "I'm Hawks' brother-in-law."

There was silence again.

Hawks counted in his head. Waiting for the pin to drop.

It was Yvun who broke the silence. "Wait a minute! He's All-Might's son!"

"Yup. He is, now, anymore questions related to the villain incident?" Hawks spread his hands.

"Should the people of Fukuoka be worried that this villain will strike again?" That question was asked by Kobayashi, a relatively young reporter, new on the scene if Hawks remembered Bubbles' notes.

"Kobayashi, nothing has changed. We live in constant fear that a villain—any villain—could strike at any time. That is why heroes are here."

"But you weren't there." Kobayashi insisted. "A paramedic is dead—"

"That paramedic was a good friend, and they died a hero. Without them using an old radio frequency to patch through the emergency, we wouldn't have known there was an issue, and we would be talking about an entirely different set of events."

He watched more hands lift into the air. Hawks motioned to another reporter.

"Hawks, sir, there has been some rising concerns that your agency is struggling to cover a city as large as Fukuoka."

"We're looking into hiring another sidekick." He pointed at an elderly reporter. "Ishii, good to see you out of your office, how can I help?"

"How is your wife?" The elderly reporter tapped a pen against a paper.

Hawks tipped his head to one side. "That's not relevant to this situation, Ishii, but, she's recovering. If anyone see's her out and about, be kind, you can say hello, I'm sure she'd love to chat, but don't overwhelm her…she…we…" he breathed in. "We went through an ordeal."

Hawks glanced at his watch. "Okay, wrapping it up folks, I've got patrol." He clapped his hands. "Any further inquiries, you know where to send them."

Hawks gave a small bow. "Thank you all for your time."

He motioned to Izuku, who quickly leapt onto his back. Hawks headed out into the street and launched into the twilight. He headed in the direction of the agency.

"Hawks…"

Izuku's voice crackled over the radio.

"Hm, what?"

"You can drop me off in sector fifteen."

Hawks frowned. "What…why?"

"I'll take the first half of your night shift." Izuku offered.

"Oh, Izuku, you don't have too—"

Izuku's hands tightened on his shoulders. "I know I don't have too, but I want too. You haven't been back to see Rilo, and you're going to be flying to Musutafu tomorrow. You need some sleep. I can handle it."

Hawks was grateful Izuku was behind him. The brat couldn't see the dampness that stung the edges of his eyes from the overwhelming feeling of relief. Fuck—

Was this what family felt like?

How the fuck was he supposed to know?

"Hawks?" Izuku worried.

"Thank you, baby birdie." Hawks murmured, his chest feeling uncomfortably tight.

Izuku hugged him from behind, almost causing him to lose altitude in the air, which just ended with them both laughing as he twirled about to restabilize.

00000

Keigo swung himself in through the bedroom window—

Again—

Yep.

He was really going to need to ask Dabi about a set of keys, this whole bedroom window thing was a little—er—weird. He recalled a discussion he'd had with Rilo some time ago, about locking the balcony doors, so unwelcome aviators couldn't just wing their way into her apartment.

And here he was—

Doing just that.

Ah, the irony.

He yanked hard on a wing, pulling it through the window. As it popped free, he stumbled and landed roughly on the bed in an upturned pile of feathers.

"Ah…fuck…" Keigo flopped out his arms and legs, staring blankly at the ceiling.

He could hear the shower running.

Dragging himself upright, he kicked off his boots and shrugged out of his bloodied jacket. Heading for the sliding door of the bathroom, he loosened each armour plate, breathing easier as every section came free to clank on the floor.

"Rilo, babe?" Keigo slid the door open, peering into the bathroom.

Rilo stood in a plume of swirling steam, attempting to brush out her mountain of bioluminescent hair.

"Keigo? You're back…I thought you had patrol."

"Surprise." He brushed at his stinging eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"You're very bright, babe."

She smirked at him. "You can come in here and turn me down if you like."

"Generous of you, babe, but…" Keigo rubbed wearily at his neck. "I'm actually pretty hungry, it's been a long day."

Rilo wrapped a towel around herself, stepping up to him. She didn't even need to touch him; he could feel the delightful current of her energy sizzling across his skin and it drew him down like a magnetic pull. He lifted her into a kiss. Rilo's cheek rested against his own. Her fingers danced across his chest, leaving static imprints.

"Make yourself some coffee…" she whispered. "I'll be out soon."

Keigo smiled. "I love you," he murmured.

"Go, you goose." Rilo urged. "Before I change my mind and drag you back in here to have my way with you."

"Oh, gosh…" He quickly stepped away, holding his arms up. "Poor me. How horrible a fate that'd be."

"Don't tempt me." She called back as she slapped shut the door.

Keigo shook his head. Removing the rest of his costume, and finally feeling less oppressed from just the irritation of its constant wear, he headed out into the kitchen. He was greeted with an apartment that was in the throws of being stripped and redecorated.

Great—

It sort of felt like his life right now.

In complete shambles.

Keigo stepped over several paint-cans.

He was halfway through preparing his coffee when the door to the apartment slapped open and a light flicked on. Keigo winced, his wings bunching up. Whoops, he hadn't realised he'd been working in pitch darkness.

"Hawks?" Dabi scooted through the mess. "Canary, which hospital is he in?"

Keigo squinted at the boiling coffee pot.

He slowly looked up, peering through his tussled hair, staring blankly at the scared man across from him.

"What?" he murmured.

Dabi gave a dramatic flounce. "Hospital, Hawks, which hospital did you dunk him in?"

Keigo rubbed at his tired eyes. "Dabi, you're unregistered. You can't just waltz into a hospital."

Dabi spread his hands at the apartment, walls currently stripped of wallpaper. "Right, how do you think I'm owning this place. I've got forged papers, you moron. So, hospital. Spit it out."

"Is there a reason you're so caring towards my baby sidekick."

Dabi shook his head. "I should have chased Porcupine out of the city."

"Ah, wow, is that remorse." Keigo eased up off the kitchen counter. His wing junctions ached. Carrying Izuku was demanding without a full wingspan. It was probably good for him, but that didn't mean he didn't feel the strain.

"Not remorse, just fact." Dabi shrugged. "This is my city. I should have done my job."

"Pretty sure it's my city." Keigo grumbled.

"Yeah, you're the hero. Big whoop. Congratulations. Confetti." Dabi sparked little bright embers into the air. "I'm the villain. This is my turf. You shouldn't have had to do my clean up job for me."

"Oh, wow…" Keigo stepped up to him. "You're feeling guilt. You're not a psychopath."

Dabi's ice blue eyes glared down at him. He could feel the growing heat building, smoke inked through the painful lines of his burn scars. Keigo smirked, not backing down.

"You fucking little bird." Dabi hissed.

"Tweet, tweet." Keigo struck, kicking Dabi hard in the shin, uprooting him and knocking him flat onto the kitchen floor.

Keigo waggled a finger. "Bad form, Dabi, bad form. You really need to work on rooting your stance."

"You fucking weigh like three hundred with your wings, how is anyone supposed to throw you! I am surprised you don't crush the princess when you fuck." Dabi protested.

Keigo flicked out his hands. "All I am hearing is excuses."

"Which hospital?" Dabi leapt up.

Keigo pressed a calcified feather against Dabi's neck. "If you so much as look at him wrong, I will disembowel you."

"Noted, hero." Dabi urged the feather away with a smoking finger. "So, which hospital?"

"Sakura." Keigo huffed. "He likes those American style hamburgers, smuggle him some. That'll cheer him up."

Dabi rubbed his chin. "You heroes eat like shite."

"We have terrible work-life balance."

"Starting to notice that." Dabi blew a rasp.

The apartment suddenly brightened further as Rilo stepped out of the bedroom. She looked between the two of them, her brow compressing in concern.

"Are you two fighting?"

"No." They responded in unison.

Dabi held up his middle finger at Keigo.

"Babe, if we fought, you wouldn't have to ask if it was a fight."

"Oh." Rilo mused. "I guess so. Dabi, do you want dinner?"

Dabi grabbed a jacket from the couch, throwing it on. "Nah, I'm heading out. You two have a nice evening. Get some sleep, birdie hero."

Keigo slumped into a barstool. Great—now even Dabi was even telling him to sleep.

Rilo's hands soothed his bare back. He turned around, pressing into her chest and heaving a sigh.

"Is it still the nightmares?" she asked.

"Hmhm."

"Keigo—"

"We're not talking about it, not yet." He muttered, looking up at her. Her expression was pained, so reminiscent of the look she'd had when hooked up to the ghastly machine inside that horrid facility.

"But Hizashi said we should…you know…communicate."

Keigo smiled. He pulled her closer. "We are, and we will."

"But not right now?"

He clicked his tongue, tipping his head back.

"Right now, I'm in the sort of headspace that if you told me to kill someone, I'd do it, fuck the repercussions."

She narrowed her brow. "So, basically, you're saying…to keep us both safe…we should wait until our headspaces are little…"

"A little less volatile." Keigo puffed out his cheeks. "Or irrational."

Rilo slapped her hands to his cheeks, making them deflate. "You're never irrational."

"Oh, no, no, I live in a perpetual state of irrationality. It's the secret to my success." He mumbled through her hands.

Rilo rolled her eyes. "Dramatic, Keigo."

She headed around the kitchen bench, dragging out a pot and setting it on the burner. Keigo watched as she removed a packet of ramen noddles from beneath the bench.

"Look what I found!" She beamed proudly, presenting the packet to him.

He laughed, taking one of the packets as she split the others, sacrificing them to the pot and pouring boiling water over them. His memories of eating these packets dry and raw were stark in his mind.

"Wait…babe, how did you know this was the brand I ate?" He looked up at her.

"In your memory shoebox, there was a packet. You must have kept it." Rilo offered as she strained out the noodles.

"Oh…" he had no recollection of doing so, but child him had been a very odd little boy.

"So, where is Izuku?" Rilo placed down two bowls, hopping into her own bar stool beside him.

Hawks rubbed at his pained shoulders. "He offered to take the first half of my night shift, so I could at least attempt to get some sleep."

"Don't you think you're working him a little too hard."

"Nope." Hawks rested his head on the kitchen counter. "I've got Medusa keeping an eye on him, both literally, and figuratively."

Rilo snorted in amusement at the comment.

"If he's this good without a quirk…" Rilo brushed at his hair gently and he closed his eyes, leaning into her touch. "What will he be like with a quirk."

"Not just 'a quirk' either…" Hawks raised his head, reaching for his chopsticks. "Dad's quirk is…it's something else. The more I learn about it, the more terrifying it becomes. It's making me question everything we know about quirks."

Rilo cupped his chin, lifting his head and he faced her dazzling eyes.

"What?"

"Eat your dinner."

"Do I get desert after?" His wings picked up.

"Is that all I am, just cake?" Rilo started on her own meal.

"Delicious cake." Keigo quipped.

"Oh, that makes all the difference." Rilo giggled.

"I see you and Dabi are making headway on the wallpaper." Keigo motioned to the apartment walls.

Rilo nodded. "Don't worry, Dabi is doing the manual labour. It is his apartment after all, if he wants it as bad as he does, he can work for it. I've actually been working on a design for your café."

"My café? I have a café?"

"Yup." Rilo leant her head on his arm.

"This is in my agencies budget, is it?"

"Nope, but it will be. It'll be the launching pad for your first merch-line." She spread her hands, her skin crackling in a display of her happiness.

"I have a merch-line?" Keigo slid his bowl aside, smiling at her.

Rilo finished her last bite. "Coffee." She looked so proud of herself.

"Bubbles has agreed, has she?" Last time he checked, Bubbles loathed his addiction to coffee getting out into the public. Worried it would tarnish his pretty image.

"Pff." Rilo tossed a hand about. "You let me worry about that."

"Oh, I am not worried." Keigo yawned, rubbing at an itchy eye. "You have at it, babe."

Rilo collected their bowls. He could sense her anxious eyes on him as she worked at the sink and he dragged his laptop over. It stared at it, sighing heavily. He really—really didn't feel like admin tonight, even though he had a very sad incident report to write up.

"Keigo."

"Hm?" He looked up.

Oh—

Wow—

Rilo hand both hands planted on the kitchen counter, and she was leaning forward, looking straight down at him. His attention was caught by the dip in the extra-large shirt she wore that opened wide to her chest.

"Oie," she tapped his chin. "Up here."

Keigo pouted, propping a hand on his chin. "Yes?"

"I don't think we should have sex."

He blinked at her. "Ah. Like…ever…"

Rilo gave a delighted laugh at his annoyance.

Keigo cocked his head at her. "You know, you seemed pretty keen when I arrived."

"Yeah…well…" Her eyes flicked over him, and her lips compressed in concern.

Keigo sat back, his wings drooping around his ankles lazily. He piqued an eyebrow at her. "Okay. Go on, babe. Do enlighten me as to why I should keep my hands off you."

"You need sleep." She turned back to the sink.

"I am aware." Keigo grumbled.

"You're not sleeping."

Keigo glanced aside. "Okay. Yes. I am aware of that also."

"Let's try just sleeping."

He gave a dramatic flounce of his wings.

"Keigo, don't act like someone just took a lollypop from you." Rilo commented over her shoulder.

"Oh piss off."

"Very mature." She splashed dirty sink water at him and he winced. "Help me dry the dishes."

He joined her, snatching for the tea-towel.

"We're taking Izuku back home at the end of Spring Break, right?"

"Hm mh." Keigo crouched, shoving the dried cooking pot back into its allocated drawer.

Rilo brushed at his fringe. "What about we take a few days off and just, go somewhere, anywhere, like we said we would."

He smiled up at her.

"So, you're wanting me to sleep, and then reward myself by not sleeping."

"Ah, yup."

"Hm, genius wife you are."

"I know. I am brilliant." Rilo's hands went to her hips. She gave a squeal as he hefted her over his shoulder as he stood.

"Alright. I agree to your terms."

"Yes."

"On one condition."

"Okay…what condition?"

"We sleep naked!"

"Keigo!"

"Hey, hey, I like a challenge."

"You're such a goose."

"What, don't think you'll be able to do it, Lightbulb?" He teased, slapping her arse.

He heard her huff. "Fine! You're on."

000000

Canary stared blankly at the villain in the doorway.

"Yo, Tweety."

"Er…why…why are you…"

Dabi held up a takeaway bag.

"Burgers!" The tips of Canary's wings happily twitched. "Did you get extra fries?"

"There is an extra option?"

"It's American, apparently, over there, you can get extra everything!" Canary struggled upright in his hospital bed. Dabi set the food aside, reaching out and aiding him upright. Canary grabbed his arms, using them for leverage as he shuffled about, wincing in pain. By the time he was sitting up, he could feel sweat dripping off his forehead from the effort to move.

Dabi didn't comment. He'd simply dragged a chair over and thumped down in it. The man smelt like cigarette smoke, mixed with burnt pine.

"They let you in here?" Canary accepted his burger as Dabi handed it to him.

"I'm just a normal citizen of Fukuoka."

"Right. Normal."

"Very normal." Dabi flashed him a grin, the stabled edges of his cheeks pulling tight. Canary had to wonder if that hurt. He didn't seem to radiate any pain from the action, so, perhaps he'd become so accustomed to them he no longer noticed the pain.

"Um…thank you…" Canary pulled at the paper covering the burger.

"Wasn't going to leave you alone. Empaths like you wallow around in self-pity. Hawks probably knew he was in a bad state to be around you, so he fucked off."

"Oh. Oh yeah, he did. How did you know that…"

"I've known a few empaths. You pick things up."

"No, I mean, how do you know Hawks is in a shite mood."

"He and the princess have got a lot of things to work out, and he's not taking a breather to process any of it, and due to that, he's not sleeping."

"Ah…" Canary smiled. "So you're actually here to get out of their way so they can have some time together to talk. That's nice of you."

"I'm not nice." Dabi bit into his burger.

"Sure, sure, keep telling yourself how not nice you are."

"I'm not." Dabi eased back in his chair. "If I was nice, I'd have run Porcupine out of the city, and you'd not be in that bed."

"Okay, guess you're an arsehole then. So…is…that supposed to be some massive revelation?" Canary picked at his burger. "You here to make yourself feel better?"

"Yep. I am."

"Well, at least you brought me a burger." Canary smiled at the treat.

"Hawks said you like them."

Canary depressed back into his bed. It wasn't really the pain he was in that was the problem. He was a hero, pain was—pain was really just part of the job. At some point, pain had become something normal and mundane—and that was awful in of itself.

No—he wasn't coping with feeling the terror from Hawks. His boss had looked up at him with frightened eyes, so full of fear. Porcupine had gotten exactly what he'd wanted in that moment, and that had sickened Canary.

"Oie, I'm not even an empath, Tweety, and I can feel your turmoil."

Canary's lips perked up. "Sorry, I can project sometimes when not…er…in a good state."

"What's got your knickers in a knot?"

Canary dropped his head back. "I'm supposed to run my own agency someday and I can't even fight a class-b villain."

"Don't look at Hawks as your goal, kid."

"Of course he's my goal, he's my hero."

"Then you're going to be chasing smoke for the rest of your life."

Canary frowned.

"And trust me, that ain't fun."

"You're not getting it." Canary huffed up. "Why am I even around. I slow him down…he didn't…he didn't go after Porcupine because he was worried about me."

"Of course he put you over going after a villain." Dabi rolled his eyes. "He's Hawks. I watched the man slaughter his way through an underground facility to get his wife. The man is nothing but people orientated. Touch what he loves, and he will ruin you. It's gorgeous."

Canary stared at Dabi. "How is that gorgeous?"

"Because it's simple." Dabi offered. "All I can offer you in advice, Tweety, is to find the same simplicity if your life. Don't be burdened down by this inadequacy bullshite."

Canary exhaled into his soda, making it bubble.

"Hawks didn't hire you because he wanted another one of himself, did he?"

"No." Canary sighed. "He wanted me."

Dabi shrugged. "Then don't try to be him. You suck at it. You're better at being you."

"You know, for a villain, you're like, really philosophical and weird."

"I've been around."

That, Canary could believe. Dabi's emotions were complex and wild. Most presumed that pyromancers were horribly incapable of controlling their rage, or were violent beasts that enjoyed setting fire to things just to watch the world burn. That hadn't been Canary's experience when meeting pyromancers. A lot of them had been the most controlled and levelled people amongst all quirk users, simply because of the nature of their quirk. They couldn't risk letting their flames rule them, so they ruled their flames.

"Why are you a villain?" Canary asked. "Why…why aren't you a hero?"

An intense swell of rage compressed Canary back into the hospital bed. It was just for a moment, but it was like an inferno, contained within the man.

"There is an old saying…a hero is born; a villain is made." Dabi's his gaze drew distant. "And someone made me."