5
The next day, Yuri found herself taking a seat at her desk earlier than usual. Her excitement from last night had made it difficult to sleep. The beautiful date and the idea of Hawks remembering something made her heart clench with fear and excitement. Yuri propped herself up on her elbows as she waited for her computer to boot up when a small black box caught her eye. How had she not noticed it? It was sitting innocently in the middle of her desk. It was long but thin and had a glimmering gold ribbon tied into a small bow on top. Yuri delicately undid the bow before popping the lid off. Sitting in a bed of midnight blue velvet, was a thin hairpiece. Yuri gently picked it up with her fingers running them over the white wood. It was carved into a delicate point on one end, and the other branch out like a tree. At the end of the branches were tiny gold flowers that dripped down into gold beads giving the illusion of falling petals. This was the hairpin she had been eyeing at the festival last night. As she held it up to the light a small note fluttered down into her lap.
You looked like you could use a new way of holding your hair up. - Hawks
Yuri couldn't help the blush that spread down her neck as she gave a small smile at the note. How did he know which one she had been looking at? Yuri hummed as she twisted the hairpin into her hair forming a low knot at the base of her skull. Today was looking brighter than most days. Yuri let herself get lost in the sea of neverending reports and requests.
"Mockingbird? I got another report of that fish villain again at the marketplace," Yuri said through her phone.
"I'm on it!" Mockingbird replied.
"Oh and let Jay know that the sand one is at the restaurant again. He's breaking the restraining order for the last time so bring him in," Yuri ordered. With an affirmative sound, Yuri hung up and went about to write up the monthly statistics about crime in the area as well as the efficiency of the agency. The monthly meeting was coming up and Yuri wanted to make sure the president had nothing to complain about. A loud ring jolted Yuri out of her work trance and she couldn't help but slump at the number that was flashing across the screen.
"Thank you for calling Hawks' agency, what can I help you with?" Yuri answered as she balanced the phone between her shoulder and head.
"Ms. Hirano, I will be arriving in 10 minutes. I expect a place for us to speak in private ready," The president's shrill voice ground through the phone's speaker.
"Yes, ma'am," Yuri breathed, "I will have everything prepared. May I ask the reason for this visit?"
"You will find out soon enough." Yuri sat frozen in her seat. This was. Scary? Nerve-racking? Unexpected? Yuri couldn't place what she was feeling, all she knew was that her heart was pounding and there was no stopping it. She took a quick peek into Hawks' office noting the cold emptiness it held before making her way down to the entrance.
"Aiko!" Yuri called out in the bullpen, "I need your help!"
"I am at your service!" The tall woman jumped at Yuri with a large grin, "What do you need?"
"The president of the Hero Commission is on her way in and I need you to take control until Hawks arrives or I get done with this meeting. We'll be using Hawks' office."
"Why does she want to meet with you?" Aiko furrowed her brows.
"My guess is she can't get a hold of Hawks or something. I'll find out soon enough." Yuri shrugged. Aiko seemed to accept the answer and Yuri was left waiting in the entryway for the guests to arrive. Should I warn Hawks that I'm using his office? Yuri pondered to herself, No, if it's anything like the last couple of times he'll be gone all day.
"Ms. Hirano, I trust everything is prepared?" The president hummed as she stepped inside. Two Commission agents followed behind her. Yuri couldn't help but flinch when she recognized who they were.
"Good morning, ma'am. Yes, Hawks is currently out of the office so we will be using his office." Yuri bowed in greeting before leading them upstairs. She lowered her head as she held the door open for the party. Her hands clenched as Crusher smirked at her as he walked in. Receptor beckoned her in before shutting and locking the door behind her and Yuri could feel the room drop a couple of degrees.
"Hawks asked me a very interesting question early this morning," The president started, her gaze piercing through Yuri's body.
"Did he?" Yuri tensed. Was this about last night? He wasn't that stupid, was he?
"He said he ran into someone from high school but had no clue who they were," The president elaborated, "You wouldn't happen to know anything about this, would you secretary?"
"N-no, I had no idea. I haven't seen him since I left work last night," Yuri stuttered out, her heart thudding in her chest. She winced as the two agents put a hand on both her shoulders forcing her to take a seat in the middle of the room. When had they moved a chair there? Her body felt cold as she pushed down.
"You know better than to lie to me, little secretary," The president hummed, crossing her arms as she leaned against Hawks' desk, "A little snake told me all about your little festival date." Yuri stilled as terror racked down her spine.
"I-I wanted to k-keep him happy so I said yes." She trembled at the implications the president was making, "It was nothing more than that!"
"I thought forcing the power outage would've made you turn back but you kept persisting on and on," The president sighed, disappointment coloring her voice, "I thought you would remember your place but I guess we didn't let you have enough time to let the lesson sink in."
"Th-that's not necessary, ma'am. I figured it would be better to say yes so that he could let the issue go." Yuri tried to defend herself, "And look he's been out on his mission all morning. He's focused, I promise."
"I would say it worked in your favor but still," The president seemingly lost in thought, "We can't let a blatant show of disrespect go unpunished."
"Pl-please it was a one time mistake. I let him know it can never happen aga-" Yuri's voice was cut off as a piece of cloth was shoved into her mouth. Saliva dripped down her chin as it balled further in her mouth muffling any noise she could make. Tears leaked out of her eyes as her mouth was forced open past the point of what could be comfortable.
"Mfph!" Yuri's muffled screams echoed through the office. The agents holding her jumped back. An electric collar huh? Yuri thought, Not too shabby. The current racked through her body alighting every nerve. She fell to her knees in agony as the electricity continued to make its way through her body. Drool had started to make its way down her chin as the torture continued. Her neck burned with the intensity and she was sure there would be burn marks there once all was said and done. Minutes felt like an eternity but she was sure no more than 5 minutes had passed. Then it was gone. Yuri slumped forward her forehead hitting the ground hard. Yuri panted trying to keep her body as still as possible lest she cause herself more pain than she was already in.
"Now let me ask again," The president said as Yuri was hauled back into the chair, "Do you know who he ran into?" Yuri's body twitched and she tried to regain a sense of thought but everything was jumbled.
"N-n-no, we di-didn' run inho anyone-anyone ah he feshival," Yuri panted, through the gag. Her eyes rolled back as her body convulsed as once more the collar was activated.
"I expect a better answer, Herja," The president sneered.
"If's the tr-truf," Yuri said, her voice muffled, "We-we kepf mosfly 'o ourselves."
"Alright, I'll take your word for it this time," The president said nonchalantly, beckoning Receptor to remove the gag with her hand, "I will expect more detailed accounts about his whereabouts and doings from now on."
"Yes, ma'am," Yuri agreed, keeping her eyes trained on the floor, "Thank you for letting me atone for my mistakes."
"See you later, little angel," Crusher purred in her ear making Yuri flinch at his close proximity, "Do keep getting yourself in trouble."
"Bye, little angel," Receptor sneered. The trio swept out of the room with as much grace as a well-oiled machine. Neither one beat out of place as they walked out of the agency. Yuri couldn't move. Her eyes were screwed shut as her head throbbed from the punishment she had just received. Yuri's hands remained clenched in her lap as she tried to reign in her erratic heartbeat but no matter how hard she tried her breathing exercises seemed to be doing nothing.
"Yuri? What are you doing here?" Hawks' voice filtered from above her.
"Just needed some peace and quiet," Yuri said as she pushed herself up. Her neck twinged with a burning itchiness but Yuri steeled herself from scratching at it, "You're back quite early."
"Early? Yuri, it's 5 o'clock in the evening." Hawks furrowed his brows at her.
"5 o'clock?" Yuri breathed as she slumped back into the chair. 6 hours. 6 hours had passed. Had that much time really passed?
"Are you okay?" Hawks asked, kneeling down in front of her.
"I'll be fine," Yuri said as she made to get up. Her hands were still shaking from the aftershock. Warm hands on her shoulder kept her in place.
"Aiko called," Hawks said, his face flat, "Said that the president came by for some reason."
"She merely wanted to know where you-"
"And that you've been shut in this office with her and two other agents for hours on end. A simple meeting wouldn't last that long and you know it," Hawks interrupted. Yuri flinched back.
"I'm fine, Hawks. She wanted to know what happened last night is all," Yuri explained, "She was curious since you asked such a strange question."
"Because I asked a question?" Hawks took a step back, his fist clenched, "Did they do what they did last time?"
"No." Yuri shook her head, allowing Hawks to check her for any injuries, "Crusher and Receptor were here with her but I did not get in the brunt of their quirks."
"Somehow, I'm having a hard time believing that," Hawks said as his hands roamed her body making sure to check for any broken bones, any bruising or any semblance of what might have transcribed in their meeting. Yuri shivered as his hands trailed up her arms towards her neck. She grimaced as he gripped her chin forcing her to look up toward the ceiling and while she had no idea what her neck looked like, she had a feeling it wasn't pretty. Electrical burns never are.
"It's not that bad, Hawks," Yuri said, forcing her chin out of his hand, keeping her gaze on the floor.
"Not that bad!?" Hawks asked incredulously, "Not that BAD!? Are you even hearing yourself? You're neck- We need to get you to a doctor."
"You know I can't do that!" Yuri replied, "I'll take care of it back at the apartment."
"Then I'm coming with you!" Hawks crossed his arms as he glared at her. There was no real heat in his eyes but Yuri couldn't help the chill that went down her spine.
"No, you are not!" Yuri stared back definitely, "You are going to let me walk out of here and forget that this ever happened! Just as you should with what happened at the apartment."
"Like hell," Hawks said, hotly, "I am going to help you take care of that, no argument."
"No."
"Stop pushing me away!" Hawks' wings fluffed behind him as his anger rose, "I said I would take responsibility for my actions next time so let me keep my word!"
"This wasn't only about your question!" Yuri snapped, her own anger rising to meet his, "She had someone following us last night! I didn't think she would be keeping that close of an eye on us. It was my mistake."
"At the festival? I would've noticed something like that!"
"Like you noticed Dabi being there?" Yuri snapped, making Hawks' argument die on his lips, "There are those that can cloak themselves in the shadows essentially becoming invisible to those around them. I don't care how good your feathers are, you will not sense them."
"Yuri, cut the bullshit and tell me what is happening?" Hawks asked coldly, "You're sneaking around and lack of answering is not helping."
"I'm still trying to figure that out as well," Yuri murmured as she slumped forward in the chair, "Please, believe me Hawks. She flips on a dime and I can't keep up with her demands sometimes."
"Yuri." Hawks enveloped her in a tight hug. "Don't do this to yourself. Let me help whether it's to get you out of here or to at least lessen the burden."
"Hopefully, it won't be for too much longer." Yuri gave him a soft smile. "Besides, it keeps me here with you right?" Hawks' grip on her tightened.
"Let me take you home?"
"Fine, but just this once and you are not staying!" Yuri yelped as he picked her up, throwing her arms around his neck steadying herself in his arms.