Thankfully for Hawks, things seemed to be going his way for the most part recently.
Mic did have room for a co-host like him during the sports festival, apparently the man was taken aback because usually he was the one asking people to co-host with him.
He wasn't sure why, commentating with Mic sounded like fun and if it was anything like being on Hands Up Radio it then it would be fun.
Though the live commentary for an international audience would probably intimidate most, Hawks had to admit he could understand how most people wouldn't be too keen in that case, he only got used to public speaking with the Commission teaching him how to for years.
Of course, once he got out of the station and 'home' again to the penthouse one of his handlers were waiting for him, for an in person debriefing since that always happened when he went 'dark' on them.
It took him some blustering but he was able to avoid giving away why he agreed so readily to leaving his wings fully behind, and telling them that he asked Mic to co-host the first-years sports festival.
Which made the woman they sent scowl at him, not that she could argue with what he had done.
The publicity would be fantastic, he'd get an up-close look at the new kids of the year and he was doing it to fulfill his mission to get close to Deku-Sensei.
Deku-Sensei would be there at the Festival after all, and it would be a lot easier to talk to the boy then instead of randomly picking up teaching in the middle of nowhere or faking an accident to get close to the boy.
Not that he'd need to do either, but Hawks didn't want to wait until the next time they were supposed to meet either.
Which was what led him to sharing this booth with Mic now.
To be honest Hawks couldn't believe the scale of the festival when he arrived, he hadn't watched it in earnest since he got acquired by the Commission.
He was far too busy training to be a hero himself at the time, and the commission would show him any students or fights of interest so it wasn't like he missed out on anything.
But he supposed it was a long enough time for cognitive dissonance of sorts to build and he was a bit startled by just how hard U.A. was going for this festival.
The stadium they were in was utterly massive in scale, and there were three of them as he learned from Mic, each placed so that they were far enough to not interfere with the other two, which left him gob smacked because that felt like so much for just one day only a year.
Well, it did until Mic explained the noise issue, and when the crowd started cheering Hawks, despite being in a soundproofed booth, had to concede Mic had a very good point that someone with super hearing might have the serious risk of going deaf if the stadium got any louder.
However once he saw Zuri down on stage as the umpire Hawks couldn't help thinking that it would be worth it and had to work very hard to keep his wings from flapping.
He was so wrapped up in seeing Zuri live that he completely spaced out the pin drop silence before Zuri mentioned it.
Hawks wasn't sure if his lack of shock over his 'fellow' heroes actions was a good thing or a bad thing.
At least he stopped himself from showing his anger visibility this time, for the most part, it wasn't like anyone, but Mic could see him nearly crushing the armrests of his chair.
Haku and all the kids down there had earned his favor though during her speech and he had to admit to mentally cheering her on the whole time, shame he wouldn't be able to offer her anything in an internship or he would have that second with the help of Mic.
Though no one could stop him from keeping a watchful eye on her during the rest of the festival, making her way through both rounds without her quirk just as she promised, the second of which was just coming to a close in three, two, one-
"And time! Everyone stop!" Mic called out before hitting a button, causing a loud ringing and the flash of some red lights "That's the end of the game and we'll have to count how many items each team has managed to collect before we see who gets to move on to the last round." Mic announced to the stage.
"Any favorites Hawks?" Mic asked leaning over towards him to bump shoulders.
Hawks couldn't help grinning back, loving the minor but frequent contact Mic gave him each time they worked together, everyone was usually so stuffy, but it was nice to have someone that would do this every once and a while.
"Hm, I'd have to say Haku's team. Those girls did well during both events, especially Gromova. It's pronounced Gromova, right?" Hawks replied and Mic nodded.
"They have been impressive, and I'm hoping Chen and her team also goes forward." Mic said as he brought up the footage of the rose girl with shiny legs, the lion and red-head boy with bulging eyes and weird prongs on his head.
Hawks nodded his head, the team had also got his eye for being 'team shiny'.
Chen's legs aside, the lion kid made light, and the other boy had some nice green glowing going on, and the boy had been the one that really caught his attention too.
The boy, Goldman, might make a good intern from what Mic had told him.
Goldman hadn't used his quirk yet, likely one of the ones swearing off using it for the day, but Mic said the kid had been able to figure out to hover with his quirk and the help of some support gear, so Hawks was already looking forward to sending the boy a request once this was all over.
"They did good too, crossing my wings they both make it through to the finals." Hawks responded.
"You know we're supposed to be impartial as commentators Hawks?" Mic jokingly pointed out and Hawks huffed back bumping the back of Mic's chair with his wing.
"You're their teacher, you have to be. I don't and can have all the favorites I want." Hawks replied sticking his tongue out and Mic made an affronted gasp as he put a hand over his heart.
Hawks knew this kind of playfulness wouldn't normally be allowed but the carefreeness would likely be handwaved away with Mic being a similarly carefree dude, that being said, Hawks knew better than to go over the top with it.
Especially not with the Commission watching.
"Ope, looks like the final numbers are in little listeners, do me a favor and read the results out of everyone watching at home Hawks." Mic encouraged and he nodded taking the little tablet Mic had been reading from a second ago.
"No problem Mic." he said skimming all the way back to the top of the page.
"In 1st place we have team Chen with a grand whopping seventy-eight items on their list in their bag, major props there kiddos." Hawks told the crowd with a wink as the kids, or more like Chen jumped up and began celebrating their win.
"Not that far behind we have team Haku with sixty-seven goods in 2nd, congrats and heading to the finals girls." Hawks praised secretly proud of the three making it that far.
Anyone that defended Zuri was automatically a friend in his book.
"In 3rd we've got a team from the support course, Team Satou has fifty listed items in their bag, not bad kids, not bad." Hawks complemented.
"Then it looks like 4th and 5th placed tied with forty-two each, so both team Fa-Ling from Gen Ed and the three of 1-B will be coming back for the next round folks." Hawks said, almost pursing his lips when he noticed the crowd had finally chosen to start clapping again, no doubt because the latter of the two were from the hero course.
"And for our squeaker candidate, it looks like we'll be taking someone from Team Yokino, need any time to pick or- Okay then looks like they already have someone in mind then." Hawks said, the two boys with the girl from the hero course immediately refusing from what he could tell as they pushed the girl forward towards the other teams that had won.
"So, I'm guessing that the team's namesake Yokino shall continue on." Hawks continued saying, Yokino at least didn't seem upset by her teammates brushing her off, discounting the playful chokehold she put one of the boys into before they got away from her.
"Hm, quite the line up we got there." Mic commented though his body showed disappointment that the man hadn't voiced for some reason.
Hawks quirked an eyebrow at that, most of the hero course had made it to the last round so why was he hung up on the roster?
"Well then, let's see which of the kiddos are going against who before we cut to the commercial break." Mic said before Hawks could really think on the matter and took the tablet back from him to do something with it.
Then a second later hit some buttons and a bracket came up on the screen.
"And there it is folks, get a good long look there. We got to get started on building the games for intermission, which we'll dive right into once you get back from our sponsors Little listeners, see you then." Mic told the audience then cut the feed and dolled out orders to the rest of the staff like he had between the other rounds.
After which he fully muted his headset and leaned back with a boneless oof.
"Well, I don't know about you but I'm feeling peck-ish, want to come down to the break room and get something to eat Kiddo?" Mic offered jabbing a thumb at the door.
Hawks thought about turning down the offer like he usually would in this circumstance, being around meat right now would probably make him drool and the commission would definitely take issue with that.
But on the other hand, he'd be more likely to run into Zuri if he wasn't cooped up in the commenter booth.
And with that prospect in mind Hawks decision was made for him.
"Yeah, could go for a cart of watermelons right about now." Hawks answered pulling the headset down to hang around his neck as he got up from his chair.
Mic blinked and laughed a bit awkwardly "Huh, don't think I've heard that one before, most people say they'd eat a whole cow or something." Mic commented.
Hawks sighed inside his head, he really hated that line and was convinced the commission only came up with it to make him more miserable.
"I am a vegetarian, don't really do the eating animals thing." Hawks pointed out and Mic more or less nodded at his statement, and not really questioning it further as they started walking out and into the halls.
Hawks waited until they got to a restroom and made his excuses to Mic about needing it, promising that he wouldn't get lost, and that Mic didn't have to wait for him and should go on and save him some of the fruit.
Successfully separating himself from Mic, Hawks didn't hesitate to start walking through the halls ears peeked and eyes peeled for any trace of Zuri anywhere through the halls.
Surely Zuri would also need a break and would be around here somewhere, right?
But the stadium was massive and there were no doubt dozens of hallways, maybe he should send out some of his feathers to get a wider search going?
No, that plan was quickly thrown aside as soon as it was made, what would he even say if he got caught doing that?
Sorry Nezu but I got lost?
Yeah right, like the little mammal would buy that, and with how reluctant Nezu was with letting the commission's staff on the grounds Hawks couldn't risk making the mammal suspicious of him.
Hawks paused in a hallway after he moved to a hallway above the inner tunnel system with windows to look out at the field as some of the staff put together some field equipment.
Maybe Zuri was down there? He was the type to help out with things like that after all, but how would he talk his way into helping out down there if Zuri was?
Hearing someone's approaching footsteps around a corner Hawks quickly checked his watch and almost frowned when he saw he'd been gone for long enough for Mic to probably come looking for him and readied himself.
A nice people pleasing lop sided grin on his face and he turned to the person ready to ask for some directions, or apologize for getting lost if it was Mic only to pause as he came face-to-face with Zuri.
Time seemed to freeze as Hawks heart leapt right up into his throat as he finally saw Zuri for the first time since he was sent away for re-training how long ago?
Two weeks? Three? Hawks wasn't sure that was the right amount of time... either way it was far too long in his mind, and he immediately wanted to jump across the distance, then start cuddling Zuri and apologizing for being so stupid, and ghosting him and-
However, the next second Hawks reeled himself in and remembered where he was and what he was doing, giving himself a firm reminder that he wasn't Tweety right now and that Zuri wasn't Zuri either.
He was Hawks, and Zuri was Deku-Sensei, two people who have never met before in any way, shape, or form.
So, Hawks beamed at the kid and let his head fall to the side before he spoke up.
"Oh, heya kid, Midoriya-San right? Mic's told me a lot about you." Hawks said trying to come off as causal as he put his hands in his pockets and walked up to Zuri.
"Not every day you meet someone as well-read and so young at the same time, but where are my manners? I'm sure you probably heard Mic introducing me earlier but that's hardly a real introduction, so let's just start from the beginning. I'm-" Hawks told the boy as he walked up only to stop when Zuri interrupted him.
"Hawks." Zuri plainly said staring up at him, a soft yet mostly natural smile on his face, his tone neither impolite nor overly friendly.
For a second Hawks mind stalled and worry gripped him.
Had he'd been too late? Did Zuri already make up his mind and think that Hawks was done with him?
But before Hawks could spiral more Zuri's smile warmed up considerably and he offered up one of his hands for him to shake.
"I'm Midoriya Izuku, and it's a pleasure to meet you." And despite the lightness of the tone Hawks could feel the real weight of those words as he looked into Zuri's eyes.
'I'm so glad to see you again.' they warmly said somehow.
Hawks' lip trembled but he kept his composure.
Hawks gripped the photo in his pocket then carefully brought it and his hand out of his pocket and took Zuri's hand.
Hawks watched a brief flicker of confusion try and tug on Zuri's face when their hands meet but Zuri schooled his face even faster than Hawks thought a person could do such a thing.
"The pleasure's all mine little buddy." Hawks said back, silently willing his face to somehow convey how he felt the same way Zuri had just moments ago.
'I missed you too.' he hoped the boy heard.
He saw Zuri's eyes soften and almost melt it seemed and Hawks fought to keep his wings from fluttering at the sight because Zuri must have got the message.
Zuri took his hand back along with the picture tucked away behind his back as he held both behind himself, mostly likely clasped together.
"Sorry to cut this short, but there's only a couple more minutes until the games are ready and I need to use the bathroom before then." Zuri politely excused himself.
Hawks waved a hand "Of course Midoriya-San, talk with you next time?" Hawks said and the boy nodded.
"Sure, Hawks-San." Zuri answered throwing him one last blinding smile over his shoulder before leaving Hawks on his own in the hall.
Hawks waved the boy off his hand hanging in the air once the boy was out of sight, a crashing wave of relief soothing the ache that had built in his chest, and for the first time that he could ever recall in his life.
Hawks chest felt lighter than it had in years.
Having completed his goal Hawks turned on his heel and made for the commenter booth, easily finding his way since he'd left a feather there and began to home in on it.