Chapter Six: Flying Errands

The moving van was parked down the road from The House, so the kids didn't have to see The House itself. There was a low sombreness to the day. Haia was refusing to let him go, the little boy fiercely holding onto his neck as he worked on packing the last few boxes into the moving van.

Gran Tornio sat on a small ledge, sipping a cool tea. "You make that look easy, lad."

Hawks slammed the van's doors shut, locking them firmly in place. "Pretty sure you'd have been just as agile once."

"Who's to say I'm still not."

"Oh, well excuse me, grandpa." Hawks tossed the keys to the driver, who gave a warm salute. "I'd happily have a scruffle any time you want."

Gran Tornio scoffed. "As if I could be bothered keeping up with you."

Hawks watched as the van trundled off down the road. That was that. The kids' lives all packed up into a single moving van. How finite.

"Hey, Haia!" Etio's voice called out. "We got ice-cream!"

Haia's head lifted off his shoulder. "Ice-cream?!"

With a scramble, Haia crawled down his back, enthusiastically running in the direction of his siblings walking down the street, Tsubame following them at a far more eased pace. Her bruising hadn't improved, if anything, the intensity of just how severely she'd been beaten was far more obvious out in the sunshine. The night he'd spent with them a day ago—was it really only a day—it felt like weeks—it had been kind on him. A neat distraction from the difficult day, but he always had to return to work.

Would that be his future?

Would he have to learn to separate his horrific worklife with the sweetness of a happy home? What if he couldn't do that? What if he ruined everything—

What if he failed?

He pinched his nose. Okay. He was running loops again. Time to reset. He was irritated at pretty much everything right now, so thinking about unformed concepts wouldn't help.

He could only look out upon the streets he loved, and the people that dwelt within them, and accept the circumstances for what they had become. He had to work within the confines built around him somehow, to seek a benefit to the restrictions of his clipped wings.

Etio beamed at him and Hawks hugged the teen. "How's your leg?"

"Ah, yeah, it's been fine." Etio glanced down at it, giving it a shake. "Why?"

"I can only hypothesize about Kai's quirk, so, just keep an eye on yourself for me, yeah, send me a message if you feel anything odd."

"I will." Etio nodded. He shuffled around in the pocket of his pants, tugging out the feather pendant. He held it out and Hawks arched an eyebrow.

"Etio?"

"You can have it back."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah." Etio nodded. "They're really special, right?"

"They are. Only three got made. Don't think I'll find another jeweller who can do them."

Etio passed the pendant over. "I'll be okay, Hawks." He looked over at his brothers and smiled. "We'll be okay."

"Alright." Hawks tucked the pendant away. "But you let me know when you do need help, yeah."

"I will. I think I've learnt my lesson about not telling you stuff."

"Oh, there was a lesson to be learnt in all this, was there?" That was news to him.

Tsubame sighed, leaning into him. "Listen."

"Sometimes, it a hard thing to do." Hawks wrapped an arm around her. "Sometimes there are things you just don't want to hear."

He might have let his tone dip a little, and his voice cracked, as Tsubame looked up at him in concern.

"Is everything alright?" Her brow furrowed.

"Eventually, it will be." He managed a smile.

She breathed in. "Yes, yes, you're right, eventually it will be. You will come to visit, right?" Tsubame plucked at her dress.

"I will." Hawks assured.

Oh—the repercussions of not visiting would be steep.

So yes—

He would make himself visit.

"You'll bring Rilo." Tsubame pulled away, rubbing at her teary eyes. "She makes you smile."

"You're just wanting to get footage of us to sell to the media."

"Oh no, my plan is foiled." Tsubame pouted.

He playfully tipped to one side. "So, be honest, do you think I'm still sixteen?"

Tsubame arched an eyebrow. "You have a wife who isn't afraid to grab your crotch, Hawks."

"I know, she's great. You should see her when I mix up laundry day." Hawks rubbed his backside. "Don't think I'll ever recover from that one."

Tsubame covered her face. "My opinion of you is ruined forever."

"Fantastic." He settled his hands on her head. "This is wonderful news."

"You're awful."

"I am."

"Why am I leaving, Hawks?"

"To be free, Tsu." He stepped away, heading for the boys, calling to them to collect their bags, and with much complaining and tears from Haia, he managed to move them in the direction of Gran Torino's small, yellow car.

Somehow they all squished in.

"Is Izuku coming to say goodbye?" Jaku asked.

"Sorry, Jaku. He's taken my patrol today, so I could be here. With Canary out, we're really struggling to cover our usual routes." Hawks gave a shudder. "I even had the horrid thought last night, at five in the morning, to call Mt. Lady."

Tsubame started laughing.

"I know." Hawks' wings dropped in despair. "I have my moments."

"Will Izuku come and visit?" Jaku leant out the car window.

Hawks crouched down, leaning into the car. "Sure he will."

Eito leant forward in his seat. "And you promise you will. You really, really promise."

"Promise." Hawks gave a thumbs up. He popped open the door for Tsubame, turning towards her. Her gaze was lost down the street, lingering on the house in the distance. He let her have the moment. This was her life being uprooted after all. She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders.

"Okay, okay. I'm good." She stepped into his arms.

This was different.

They weren't colleagues anymore, actually, he wasn't entirely sure what they were now. Family—friend—those didn't really fit either. It was awkward.

"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for never leaving us."

Hawks hugged her as tight as he dared. "I had my reasons." He murmured. "Most of them selfish, jackarse reasons."

Her laugh was soft.

Hawks pulled away, clasping her bruised cheeks. "Be happy. Be free. For me, alright."

Tsubame nodded. "I will."

She climbed into the car and Hawks slapped shut the door. The kids all bundled up against the back window, Haia's sad, compressed face making his stomach twist up. Aw—fuck—at least the little brat was alive.

Hawks waved was the little car trundled down the road, vanishing around a corner. He dropped his aching shoulders back, rolling his head to one side.

Emptiness.

They had been a substantial part of his life; those three kids, and their annoying mother. Originally—sure—he'd aimed to only use them as a form of assimilation into society, a means to hide his true nature, to teach himself mannerisms and social ques he did not have due to his upbringing.

But somewhere along the way, they'd just become a part of life.

Fukuoka without them would be different.

He looked to the hazy spring sky and heaved a heavy sigh.

For some reason, his wings felt oddly heavy.

He unfurled them, braced himself, and launched. He had time to check in on Rilo before his next errand of the day. Before the removal of the mod, the magnetic field she generated—which he was sure only he could see, and feel, and perhaps interact with—had fluctuated, constantly at war with the mod-hancer that had been trying to contain it for years. Now though, without it, he'd never need a feather to know where she was. Something—something so deep, almost innate, burnt into the depths of his quirk, he was sure of it—told him she could have been on the other side of the planet, and he'd have been able to pin-point her location.

It was reassuring.

But there was that awful part of his mind that slipped into just how it could be used against them. Because everything could be used against them. Whatever was a benefit, could also be a determinant.

It was entirely his choice how to view it, he supposed.

And then Dabi had decided to just—

Blow a fucking hole in his quirk factor. He'd been so sure—so confident—so assured—that he knew the fundamental aspects of his quirk. That there wasn't anything more to explore beyond the bounds he had already reached. The Commission had put him through a waking nightmare to hone his quirk, and through that, he had gained a unique understanding of it.

But—

But what if—

What if there was more—beyond it—

Fuck Dabi—

Fuck him—

Oh—

What if he could go faster?

Shite.

Now that the possibility was even there. The itch would never leave.

Shite.

Hawks twirled down, swooping through the traffic. Dabi's shiny red—why—why did it have to be red—convertible—came into view. He snatched hold of the boot and somersaulted into the back seat with a thump. He heard Rilo squeal in surprise.

"Oh my gosh, Hawks!"

He leant over her seat, grinning wildly into her brilliant, aglow eyes. "Hey yo, gorgeous."

"Fuck you, birdie hero." Dabi halted the car at the red light. "Are you trying run me off the road?"

He was in public, he could feel the eyes of other drivers at the lights on them, so he couldn't thrust his middle-finger up at the man. "I'd do a service to society, taking this abomination off the tarmac."

"Listen, you have a wife, I have a car." Dabi peered back at him.

"Those two things aren't even comparable, Dabi." Hawks scoffed.

Dabi glanced over at Rilo, arching an eyebrow at her with a contemplative expression. "Nope, same thing."

Hawks lazily leant over Rilo. "So, if someone scratched this ugly arse thing, you'd hunt them down and slice them into a million little pieces?"

"No, I'd turn them into ash. Much more efficient."

"Do you make sweet love to it?" Hawks quipped.

"No, but then, apparently neither do you at the moment." Dabi shot back.

Rilo tried so hard to hold in her amusement, but it still came out as a cute little giggle, despite her attempt to cover her mouth and curl up in a ball. Hawks leant over her, cocking his head to one side.

"Tattle tale."

Dabi had pulled over, much to Hawks relief. He swung himself out, landing on the sidewalk.

"Did Tsu and the kids get away okay?" Rilo asked.

Hawks nodded, swallowing the uncomfortable sensation in his throat. "All good."

She wrapped a hand around his. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah." He tipped his head. "I'll figure it out."

Her gaze was soft. "Hawks…"

He had no intention of letting her worry, not about something that was so trivial in the long run. He leant into the convertible, pressing up against her. "I won't be back until late."

Dabi reeved the engine. "Guess you're sneaking in through the window again." He flashed a manic grin.

Hawks ignored the jibe; he was pretty sure Dabi was purposely keeping the keys from him just to annoy him. Rilo's plucked at her skirt. He reached for her hand, grasping it. She had to know—she had to feel that he was here—he wasn't leaving.

He'd never let go again.

Everything about her was fidgety and anxious, from the way she was biting her lower lip and her nails dipped into his skin. She'd been this way for days now, and it wasn't getting any better, if anything, she was getting worse.

"Be safe." She whispered breathlessly.

"I'm just going to Musutafu. I won't even be gone for a whole shift. Super-fast trip." Hawks cupped her cheek. A glow tinted his skin as the shade cast by her veil was lit by their physical contact.

"I know…but…you're seeing her."

Ah—

So that was what was worrying her. He tended to avoid thinking about it until he had to actually land in front of the Commission.

Hawks sighed. "It has to be done."

"She's not going to give you a job, is she? You're already so overworked."

"No, babe." Hawks bent forward, ducking beneath the veil, pressing a kiss to her lips. "She just wants to scold me for my reckless behaviour."

The look he received told him that had not been reassuring in the slightest.

"Listen, babe, if it makes you feel better, you can wait up for me." He brushed at her cheek. "And I'll take you for a quick midnight flight, yeah? We'll grab chicken, and head to Fukuoka Tower."

Rilo nodded.

Hawks gave the car a playful drum. "Keep her safe, Dabi."

"Nah, I was thinking of driving off the nearest cliff, cause you know, psychopathic murderer and all that."

Rilo rolled her eyes. "We're going to see Canary. We're getting him lunch. He's dying of boredom, and, from personal experience..." she gave him a glare. "It's never good to leave avian aviators bored. You end up thinking too much about stupid, ridiculous things, making up silly scenarios in your head, about the world being—"

Hawks kicked back into the air, "Run by a conglomerate of quirk-less overlords who have probably been secretly destabilising society for their own sick pleasure?"

"Well, he's not wrong." Dabi offered.

Rilo thumped her head back, groaning.

00000

Medusa had a saying; it was something like 'dressed up in your Sunday best'. Hawks was rather sure it was in reference to some old Before Quirk tradition, particularly local to Medusa's homeland. He'd say it with amusement whenever they were required to dress up for media outings or present themselves officially. It always reminded him that there had been a world before quirks, and that the true human supremacists—this world—it had always been their world until it changed so rapidly, and so jarringly.

Did it justify their actions.

No.

But he could understand the desire to remain stagnated, to assert control, to maintain a status quo that had always been there.

New things—

It took courage to embrace new experiences.

Hawks smiled down at Kai, dressed up in his Sunday best, carrying a small Mirko backpack, with added bunny ears. Yeah—Mirko's kid-merchandise was hilarious. He had no doubt she made it all as purposely cute and adorable as possible just to amuse herself when she saw it all out in public.

"Is that everything?" Hawks asked Jirou.

"It is." Jirou nodded stiffly.

Hawks held out a hand. "Can I have the backpack, Kai."

Kai hesitantly handed it over. He could sympathise with the kid. He'd had very few possessions when being handed over to the Commission, but the few he had treasured, had meant the world to him at the time—some still did. Hawks clipped the backpack to his harness. Despite the lovely setting of the community garden, there was a heaviness to the air. He had to wonder if the weight that seemed to be bearing down upon Jirou's shoulders would be released when he left with Kai.

Jirou crouched down, placing his large hand gently on Kai's head. "You be a good boy for your new family, yes?"

Kai nodded stoutly, almost making it look like a salute.

Hawks hoisted Kai up, clipping him into the harness. Kai touched the straps curiously, looking up at him with a questioning gaze.

"It's a bit of a longer flight to where we're going, so you get strapped in, otherwise my arms get tired."

Kai gave a sage nod of understanding.

"They're good people, right?" Jirou didn't look up from wringing his hands.

"They are." Hawks assured. "I'll probably have frequent contact with them, so, feel assured, Kai won't ever be far from my sight."

"Thank you, Hawks." Jirou managed a shuddering breath.

"Jirou. This is the last time you'll see him. I can't undo this; you know how things in the Underground work."

"I know." Jirou swallowed. "I know. This is for the best…but you'd best go, before I falter."

"Alright." Hawks inclined his head.

"Goodbye, Daddy."

Hawks breathed out. The first words in months from the boy, and those were the words. He glanced back at Jirou, who stood with a weary, teary smile. He held out his old basketball cap, settling it over Kai's head.

"Live a good life." Jirou turned and walked out of the garden.

Hawks looked down at Kai. He picked up the basketball cap, folding it neatly and packing it away into the boy's pack hanging from his harness belts.

"Okay, flight rules." Hawks settled a visor and headset on Kai, making the boy giggle in delight. "If you need to pee, you tell me. Don't hold it. If you need to drink, tell me. If you feel sick, you need to let me know."

Kai nodded.

"Right. Let's go." Hawks looked up at the clear sky. He flung out his wings, bent his knees slightly, and focused on the pool of energy that had begun to grow deeper once more, assuring him that he and Rilo—

They were going to be okay.

That reciprocal flow their quirks both seemed to crave, it was reweaving itself. It was just amusing that, even with a nice wife to curl up next to, he still sucked at the whole sleeping thing.

00000

Hawks landed in the backyard of the Bakugo residence, bouncing several paces before neatly folding his wings.

Katsuki was waiting on the steps of the back porch, and he leapt up.

"Mum! Hawks is here!"

Hawks chuckled, watching as Katsuki dived into the house like a bullet train. It was a positive sign to see the kid doing well after everything that had happened over the Ranking weekend. Katsuki was rough around the edges, but he sure had spunk in him.

Keigo cracked his neck. That had a been a good flight. It'd been nice to stretch his new wings and feel the strength in them—

The strength in himself.

He'd been feeling so out of sorts since the tranquilizer.

Maybe with a whole new set of wings he was finally restabilising, and his body could now adjust beyond just its rapid healing phase.

Kai poked his head through the hole in his thick aviator jacket. His nose was a little pink. It had gotten a bit cold for the kid up in the high altitudes, but he'd managed rather well, considering it was his first ever flight.

"We're here." Hawks smiled down at the boy. He unzipped the jacket and began loosening the harness straps that had kept Kai tightly bound to him. Kai proudly puffed out his chest as he landed on the ground.

"That's right, you did it, kiddo." Hawks removed the small headset and visor, tucking them away in the Mirko backpack that he handed to Kai. "Well done on your first flight. High five."

Kai slapped his gloved hand enthusiastically.

Mitsuki and Masaru emerged from the house, and together approached, with Katsuki coming up behind them. It was extremely amusing to see him looking so reserved.

"Mitsuki, Masaru, Katsuki." Hawks crouched down. "This is Kai." He placed a hand on Kai's head. "Kai, this is the family I found for you. They are safe people."

"Safe?" Kai whispered.

"Yes, safe."

Kai made a stabbing motion.

"That's right, no stabbing."

He could tell that Mitsuki was quite alarmed at the insinuation, but it was Katsuki that reacted a crackling and popping of his quirk. Kai tipped around, staring at Katsuki.

He tugged Hawks' jacket. "Fireworks."

Hawks laughed.

Katsuki immediately stopped, looking momentarily horrified at the thought, before growing thoughtful.

"Katsuki! No." Matsuki pointed to him. "You are not even going to attempt it."

Katsuki rolled his eyes.

Hawks turned back to Kai. He shuffled around in a gym bag for a bit. "Come on, I know I stuffed him in here this morning. Where did he go…oh…there he is…" He gave a tug, and the little plushie popped free. It was still uncanny, seeing a plushie of himself, and he really wondered how other heroes compartmentalised the whole thing.

Kai's white eyes just seemed to sparkle at the sight of it.

Hawks held out the small handmade plushie. "There is only one of these in the whole world right now."

Kai's chest expanded.

"My wife made it, and we thought we'd give it to you. Whenever you feel scared, whenever you feel like everything is too much, hug him tightly, look up at the sky, and know that you're not alone."

He handed it over and Kai hugged it fiercely.

Mitsuki made a motion at Katsuki who quickly moved forward. He held out a hand to Kai.

"Hey, um…Kai, so, um, we set you up in my room. Didn't know what hero you like, so, I picked out a few different bed covers for you to choose from, wanna come pick something with me?"

Kai looked up at Hawks.

Hawks nodded. "It's okay."

Kai took Katsuki's hand with a sudden smile. "Fireworks."

Hawks heard Matsuki slap her face as Katsuki grinned while passing her.

He hoisted himself back onto his feet, turning to the two parents. "So, some of the paperwork is still being finalized." He dusted off his pants. "I've been a bit…busy…"

"Yes, we saw the news. I'm so sorry." Matsuki worried, touching his arm lightly.

Hawks sighed. "So am I. Anyway. Rilo and I are swinging back around here to bring Izuku home at the end of Spring Break. I'll bring the rest of the paperwork then."

"Is it fine to have him before then?" Masaru asked.

"Oh, yeah. I mean, I presume you guys aren't wanting to leave the country, or you're not going to get into any legal battles between now and then, right?"

Matsuki laughed. "Do you want to come in for a coffee stop over." She offered, holding out a hand to the house.

"I'd love to, but unfortunately, I have a meeting with the Commission President that…" Hawks glanced at his watch. "I cannot be late for."

Mitsuki nodded. "Then we won't keep you."

Hawks reset his visor and headset. "Call me, anytime, if you guys have any concerns about Kai—or in general. I'm always available."

"Thank you, Hawks." Matsuki took her husband's hand, heading to the back porch.

Hawks gave a salute as he spread his wings and launched.

0000000

She was late.

Madam did not like being late.

Her meeting with the collective principals of the hero schools from across Japan had run long, and it had made her very late, and when she was late, she became flustered. Madam strolled past her secretary's desk.

"Madam…"

She paused, looking over at her secretary.

Please—hurry up—hurry up—a glass of wine was calling her name.

"Yes, dear?" Madam smiled.

"Ah, Hawks…Hawks is here."

Madam glanced at the black doors of her office.

"I tried to stop him—"

"No one stops Hawks, dear. Never you mind." The question was, how long had he been waiting for her. Madam tapped her chin. How could she turn this to her favour. A smile touched her lips and she leant over her secretary's desk. "Akako, deary, those magazines and articles you've been collecting for me, where are they?"

"The cute ones, about Hawks and All-Might's daughter?" Akako brightened.

"Yes, those."

"I keep them here, Madam." Akako pulled out a box. "My favourite is this one." She held up a magazine cover, with a photo that had circulated after the Ranking, and even she had to admit, it was a beautiful piece of the two sky-dancing. Only Hawks would have released a photograph with such heavy meaning. She felt it like a punch in her gut.

A taunt.

He did so love taunting her with his vile idealism of free will.

"Thank you, dear." Madam collected a handful of them. "Continue your good work."

She headed for the black doors, and they opened for her. Everyone else had to manually open them, she did not. Little things that made all the difference when commanding power and reverence.

Her lips compressed at the sight of Hawks sitting in one of the plush, designer chairs, his muddy boots swung up on her mahogany desk. He had his head tilted back, and if she didn't know better, she'd have presumed him asleep by the way he hung there in such a flax state.

Slowly he raised a hand.

"Hey yo. You're late."

She headed for her wine cabinet, pouring herself a glass. She stared at the bottle, making the momentary decision to bring it with her to her desk.

"I do not need to explain myself to you." She slapped the newspapers and tabloids down in front of him. He didn't remove his boots from her expensive desk. He simply sipped his takeaway coffee and leant back in the chair until it balanced on a single leg.

"Congratulations." Madam sipped her wine. "You've made your wife an Untouchable."

His lips showed the tiniest smirk.

She scoffed. "Oh, don't look so disgustingly happy."

"Aren't you the least bit proud of my efforts?" He mocked. "I did apply all I learnt from you to manipulate a scenario to my favour."

She needed more wine. Would that be too uncouth, going over her daily limit. She needed something to deal with his shenanigans.

"I never taught you to put your own life on the line."

"Oh fuck you." Hawks snapped up. "That is all you ever taught me."

"You are an asset." She slapped a hand down on the desk, causing her wine bottle to shake. "You belong to me, I own you. Your life is mine." Madam strolled directly up to him, staring up into his fierce, pin-prick eyes. His feathers were calcifying, the soft tinkling sound reminding her of wind chimes.

Deadly wind chimes—

All pointed directly at her.

And oh—

Was it such a glorious feeling to be the entire focus of a vicious predator, who was shackled and in pain, incapable of killing its prey.

"Harm to you, is harm to me." She reached for the collar of his costume, giving it a gentle brush as if grooming off dirt. "I was displeased that you took a route that resulted in harm to yourself."

"It was necessary." Hawks thumped back against her desk, crossing his arms. "From the intel I've been gathering, a lot of the quirk-less dissidence movement seems to be leaking out from Tartarus. Just knowing that the incarceration system and the Bureau are linked through a single tranquilizer is enough of a connection for me to dig deeper." He arched an eyebrow at her.

"I mean, I presume you do want to know what the fuck the Bureau has been up too, right? Don't tell me you think they just stopped at breeding generators."

Madam poured herself another glass. "I will admit, I am concerned. Though, not for the same reasons you are."

"Wow, big surprise." Hawks snorted.

Madam walked slowly to the window, gazing out across the city.

"For the Commission to thrive, there must always be heroes, and for there to always be heroes, there must always be villains…" Madam tipped her wine glass back in his direction. "And for there to be villains, there must be unrest and dissidence within society."

His expression didn't change. It remained so stark and frozen. While he sat so casually, slumped against her desk, everything about him was taunt and primed to attack. She was his enemy.

Interesting—

Something in their relationship had shifted.

He was being openly hostile to her. He was not hiding his distain behind a mask as he once had. This would require reprogramming. How delightful. She did so enjoy watching him break. How much longer would he last now, was the question, that he was so invested in his fantastical notion of love and family.

"It has always been the job of the elites to create the havoc which brings us life."

"Proving you're all a bunch of sickos." Hawks tapped his nails against her desk.

She smiled. "I do prefer to be the one to orchestrate the dissidence and unrest." Madam clicked her tongue. "I dislike other departments getting involved in hero and villain affairs. Such things are the Commissions territory."

"So, is that a yes for continuing my investigation."

She sipped her wine.

"Do you have intentions for the President of the Bureau? He is still out there, living his best life as though nothing occurred."

"Ah, he's one of your precious fellow True Humans, right? I'm not entirely sure of protocol."

Madam scoffed. "If he can't figure out how to out play you, than he doesn't deserve existence."

"Brutal."

"Besides, his status matters not to you. You'd kill him, even if he was a nobody. You've been letting him believe he's gotten away with it. I know you, Hawks." Madam waggled a finger. "You are a very patient hunter."

Golden eyes focused down on her. "He assaulted my wife."

"Can a creature be assaulted?" Madam set her wine glass down. She flinched as a calcified feather pieced the glass, shattering it, and her precious vintage spilled out across the floor. Hawks landed on the desk in a plume of air, and a delightful tingle of thrill inched up her spine at the pure, unadulterated hatred that burned in his eyes.

Oh—

She did so love the feeling of standing in front of gods and mocking them.

Madam looked up at him. "You stole an asset. That is all she was, and you ruined her, she was nothing more to him than a sex-doll."

She watched in delight as his wings hackled.

Madam glanced at her ruined wine, then back at the god perched on her desk.

What a waste.

Ruined.

"I do not care how you decide to wrap things up with the President of the Bureau, just do not leave a trail back to the Commission."

"I'd never tarnish this glorious established." Hawks wirily drawled.

Madam tapped her nails against her thigh. "This rebellious behaviour of yours is unbecoming. If you haven't corrected yourself when next I call you in, expect repercussions."

He tipped his head towards her, and she wondered if he was calculating the temptation of slicing off her head with the consequences it would cause.

"I will break free of you someday; you know that right?" He cocked his head to one side.

Madam gave a dismissive laugh. "Don't be so ridiculous. You are basically a honing pigeon. You'll always return to me, your True Human master."

He snorted, standing to his full height on the desk, wings spread. His hands went to his hips as his expression shifted, losing its fierceness, and folding into the kind, warm hero mask he wore for the public. He was mocking her, putting on a display like the show-pony she'd crafted him to be.

"Your True Human Supremacy bullcrap," Hawks tossed a hand about, "that shite only works if you and yours keep your positions of power behind a veil."

Madam frowned.

"You're losing that, Madam." He gave a click of his tongue. "The quirk-less dissidence movement is doing you a disservice, spreading your ideology around all willy-nilly. When it catches fire, and it will catch fire, you won't be able to keep the truth contained."

"Oh, don't you worry…" Madam gave a knowing smile. "You'll see in time."

"Ever the plotter, ever the planner." He tipped back lazily. "With your permission, Madam."

"You are dismissed." She waved.

With barely a disturbance, he was gone, leaving one of her windows open to the evening. Madam took up her bottle of wine, studying it idly, before taking a long swing of the liquid.