As Tokoyami was preening her wings, Hawks walked over to examine his work. "Interesting. How did you learn to preen her wings like a professional? You've only been doing this for a few months." He asked.
"Memorized a book on preening when I was growing up. It also taught me how to wash and clean them as well" Tokoyami said, concentrating on her wings.
"Well I'll be damned. You were prepared to take care of her." He said as he smiled slyly.
"I'll always take care of her. I may not always be around to protect her, but I want to do everything I can for her when I'm with her." He simply said.
"You sound like you're going somewhere far away." Reika said as she glanced back at him.
"Never without you, Rei." He said as he smiled.
"Well look at that, you even know how to shape up the wings to make them look natural." Hawks said.
"Who helps you with your wings, Hawks?" Reika asked as she looked at him with curious eyes. He looked at her and smiled.
"Sadly I don't have a special someone to work on my wings for me like you do. I've been preening my own wings since I was young. I was never very good at it though." He explained.
"Maybe you can have Fumi try preening them for you. He always preened mine." She said as she looked at him with a smile.
"Every time Fumikage preened her wings, she always fell asleep, it feels that good to her." Dark Shadow said.
"Th-That's not true!" She said as she blushed a little. She jumped as a little squeak escaped her mouth.
"Yes it is. Don't lie." Dark Shadow said slyly.
Hawks laughed. "Oh my god that was adorable!" He said as he calmed down to a chuckle.
"Okay! Which one of you poked my side?" She asked as she glared at the two of them. They pointed at each other.
"He did it." They both said at the same time.
She continued to glare at them in anger as Hawks continued to laugh. "Screw you both." She muttered to herself.
Tokoyami gently pulled her back towards him and whispered in her ear. "Not till our wedding night, love. Though I'm not sure how you could screw an entity of darkness." He whispered before kissing the back of her neck, making her shutter. She turned her head towards him but before she could say anything, he kissed her lips gently.
Hawks looks at them with a surprised look on his face, speechless. When he broke the kiss seconds later, Reika's cheeks became a bright red as she turned around, hiding her face with her hair. He looks at her and smiles lovingly before reaching over to grab a hair brush from the nightstand and starts brushing her hair. After he had Preened her other wing and brushed her hair, they noticed that she was fast asleep. "What I tell ya. Sleeping like a baby." Dark Shadow said.
"I don't think it's because it feels good to her, I think it's because she's comfortable with you touching them. When she was a newborn, she would only let me touch her wings. When mom tried to touch them, she would cry and hold her arms out for me." Hawks explained.
"According to what Shri-...Aunt Serena said to mom and dad, she wouldn't let anyone touch her wings but me until she was about a year old when they needed to be washed. She would always cry and hold her arms out for me or Aunt Serena. Now she only lets me, Shadow, and mom touch them." Tokoyami said as he tied the back of her gown. He gets up and gently sets her down so she could sleep comfortably. He kisses her forehead before walking away.
A couple of weeks later, Reika was finally able to leave the hospital and head home. Tokoyami, Yayorouzu, Koda, and Asui all helped her with her missing assignments. Asui and Koda told Tokoyami about the exercise the girls were all meeting up for, was training for a hostage scenario and how the girls made a unanimous decision for him to not participate due to his PTSD. Everyone passed the exercise with flying colors, but neither the girls nor the teachers knew that their hostage exercise would become a reality for him and Reika and apologized for not being there to help. He told him that Todoroki and Midoriya had already told him before their rescue mission. "Todoroki had also told us that you and him have started dating." Dark Shadow said slyly as he looked at Yayorouzu.
"I-I could say the same about you and Reika." She said as her face turned bright red.
"To tell the truth. We've actually known about her feelings for me since you girls had that meeting. I was just looking for the right opportunity to confess to her, but then she got captured." He explained.
"To be fair he didn't REALLY confess to her. He just started kissing her hand while telling her how she's the light of our lives and the only light that gives me strength. She also heard the song we wrote without our knowledge that she was awake. So it all worked out in the end." Dark Shadow said.
"No wonder he's not just protective of her this time but also lovey dovey." She said as she giggled.
"Since she's still in the cast, he's being gentle and basically won't let her out of his sight." Hawks said.
"And he's making sure that she eats properly to get her normal weight back." Dark Shadow.
"Well that's good to hear that he's taking care of her, but if he does it too much at school…well, more than usual, then it's going to annoy the other students." Yayorouzu said as she smiled but then looked at them with a serious look.
"Don't worry Momo, I'll keep him under control, He's only going to help carry things and walk on my left side so that no one bumps into it. As for my work, Principle Nezu has offered him a summer job at the school to help me but told me to take a paid leave of absence for the rest of the school year. Spick n' Span was supposed to have taken over for me due to…..reasons." Reika said as she walked into the room, holding Rhyley's hand. Once she let go she whispered into Yayorouzu's ear. "But I'm gonna help with the little things whenever I can."
She feels a strong left arm wrap around her shoulders and a right hand gently placed on her forehead. "No you won't. The doctor said not to strain your body. And what's this I'm hearing about you and Tokoyami working over the summer? I already told you numerous times that I will pay for all three of your schooling. You don't need to work at UA anymore." She looks up to see Hawks behind her.
"But Mr. Hawks, she's always worked at UA since she was eight to help herself get through elementary school, then when she found us she worked there to get us into school as well as her. It was the only thing she could do to provide for us." Rhyley said as she looked at him.
"I know, Ley, but now that the three of you are living with me, I'll be the one to provide for all four of us. And I told you kids to call me Keigo when we're home." He said as he released Reika from his grasp and bent down.
"Hey bis sis! Look who I found on our way from the store." They hear Rhyan's voice from the front door. They look to see him and Koda carrying some grocery bags, but behind them are Midoriya and Uraraka.
"Ochaco! Midoriya! It's good to see you two again." Reika said happily.
"We came to see if you guys needed any help in the Twins' rooms." Midoriya asked as he helped set the bags on the kitchen counter.
"Yeah. Todoroki is actually in Rhyan's room putting his bed together if you want to help him." Reika said as she led Midoriya to Rhyan's room.
"What would you like me to do, Tokoyami." Uraraka asked.
"Maybe you and Yayorouzu can help paint Rhyley's room. We already have the paint in there, tape over the outlets, and plastic on the floor. Rei will tell you which color goes onto which wall." Tokoyami said as he looked down in thought.
"What are you going to do?" Yayorouzu asked.
Tokoyami looks towards Rhyan's room, then towards Rhyley's room. When he didn't see Reika in sight he said in a low voice, almost a whisper. "Me and Hawks will be setting up her room. But it's a surprise so don't tell her. If you can, will the four of you keep Reika occupied with checking things over with the twins' rooms while Hawks and I work on hers?" He explained.
"Of course! You can count on us." Uraraka said as she gave him a thumbs up.
"Slowly getting used to the fact that she's going to be living here with her brother, huh." Yayorouzu said as she crossed her arms.
He looks down in sadness. "I was so used to them living with my parents and I, then with us in the dorms. I knew it was going to be temporary but still, I feel like she's moving away from me, and I won't see her again." He said in a saddened tone. He feels a soft arm wrap around his stomach.
"I'm not moving away ya big dummy. I'm just staying with my brother over the summer. We'll still see each other everyday. We'll only be apart at night.". He hears Reika say in a sweet tone from behind.
He turns around and picks her up like a bride, hugging her. "But once the sun peaks through the horizon, your knight shall be patiently waiting for his princess to rise from her slumber as dawn shines through her window." He said as he gently rubbed his face under her chin and neck.
Yayorouzu and Uraraka awed. "That tickles, Fumi." Reika giggled.
"I didn't know you could be a romantic Tokoyami." Uraraka said.
"He's been like this for the past couple of weeks. Said he and Shadow are going to make my eyes sparkle again." She explained.
"I have been noticing that since we rescued you, your eyes have been looking lifeless. If you ever want to talk about what happened, we'll be here to listen." They heard Midoriya say from Rhyan's room.
"Midoriya's right, you can always talk to us." Uraraka said as she smiled at her.
"Thanks guys." She said as she smiled back.
"Okay lovebird, put my sister down and let's head out. Little Foxy, you too." They hear Hawk's voice.
They see Rhyan run out of his room. "Okay!" He said as he ran towards him.
Tokoyami gently puts her down and kisses her forehead. "I shall return soon, my dove." He said as he kissed her hand and turned to leave, following Hawks.
"Where are you two going?" She asked.
"That's a secret, keep an eye on the place sis, You and Yayorouzu are in charge while we're gone. Don't plan for any parties unless you intend to invite me." Hawks said jokingly.
"Remember the plan girls, Todoroki already knows and I'm pretty sure he told Midoriya about it." Tokoyami said.
"Don't worry, you can count on us!" Uraraka and Yayorouzu said at the same time.
"What are you two talking about?" Reika asked.
"It's nothing, Let's go get Rhyley's room set up." Yayorouzu said as she gently pushed Reika into Rhyley's room.
"So where are we going today, Mr. Hawks?" Rhyan asked happily as he held Tokoyami's and Hawks' hands.
"I wasn't able to get her anything for her birthday, so I thought the three of us guys could go to the mall and find some things for her. And it would give me a chance to get to know you better. You and your sister are my little siblings now as well as Reika." He explained.
"What about big brother Tokoyami?" He asked.
"Only if he marries Reika, then he'd be my little brother by marriage." He replied.
Rhyan looks at Tokoyami with sparkles in his eyes. "Are you gonna marry big sissy someday big brother Tokoyami?!" He asks excitedly.
A bright red blush appears on his cheeks as he was taken aback by Rhyan's question. "W-Well I-." He tried to say.
"I think it's a little too early to ask that, little foxy. Ask him that again next year or when he graduates UA." Hawks said as he chuckled.
"Although, I have thought about it over the years. What life would be like being married to her. Thinking about it now makes me feel really happy, but imagining her marrying someone else makes my heart feel like it would shatter into a million pieces, it hurts so much. Makes me wonder if I could go on if she did marry someone else." Tokoyami explained.
"That's the magic of love, pure and true. What you hold in your heart is a true mystery to all of us human beings. If you ever do want to marry her, just let me know before you ask her the big question." Hawks said as he looked at him. He smiled and nodded his head.
"Of course." He said.
"When did the stork bring big sissy to your mommy, Mr. Hawks?" Rhyan asked.
Hawks tried to keep himself from laughing. He cleared his throat. "She was brought to us on an early Monday morning in April, just as the clock struck midnight." He explained.
"The stork brought her as Cinderella's magic carriage turned back into a pumpkin?" He asked. Hawks and Tokoyami chuckled.
"You could say that. It just means that she was brought to them right as Sunday turned into Monday." Tokoyami said.
"Ohhhhhh…What day did the stork bring her?" He asked.
"April 30th." Hawks said.
"That was…ten days before today!" He said as he counted on his fingers that were holding Hawks' hand. They both laughed.
"Not quite Rhyan, it was more like three months ago. She is exactly six months younger than me." Tokoyami said.
"What does that mean?" He asked as he looked at Tokoyami.
"It means that I was brought to my parents in the month of October the year before Rei was brought to Hawks and their parents." He said.
"So that means that you're older than big sissy just like I am with Rhyley." He said with sparkles in his eyes.
"Yes but you are only older than your sister by a few minutes because you two were brought to your parents at the exact same time." He explained.
"We have arrived boys." Hawks said as they entered the mall.
Rhyan looked around in awe. "So THIS is a mall!" He said excitedly.
"What are we looking for here, Hawks?" Tokoyami asked.
"Anything that she likes. Clothes, shoes, jewelry, make-up, anything we can find." He said.
"Sorry to disappoint but big sissy doesn't like wearing make-up. The only things she'll use on her face is soap and water, and maybe some sort of cream that gets rid of those bumps she gets on her face every now and then." Rhyan said.
"Alright so Make-up is out, does she have a specific style she likes when she wears clothes that aren't her uniform?" He asked.
"She only wears jeans and t-shirts as far as I've seen." Tokoyami said as he looked down in thought.
"So maybe we can find her some skirts for a change or maybe a dress. Do you know what size she wears?" Hawks replied.
He nodded his head no. "I don't know the exact size but I think I have some rough ideas." Tokoyami said.
"What sort of jewelry does she like?" Hawks asked.
"Mainly necklaces and bracelets but if she wore skirts and dresses, whatever those are, she might like anklets, which are bracelets for your ankles." Rhyan said.
"Okay so first let's look for skirts and dresses, then some jewelry." He said as he looked down in thought.
"I don't think her favorite colors have changed much over the years, but I remember when we were kids, I gave her one of those plastic heart shaped necklaces that came as a pair that were cut in half." Tokoyami said.
"You mean like this one." Rhyan said as he pulled a thin, faded shoe string from under his shirt. On the shoe string was half of a blue heart that had 'Be Fri' on the half. She found these for me and Rhyley a couple years ago. My string broke sadly. Big sissy has a red one that looks exactly like mine."
"She still has the one I gave her?" He asked with a surprised look on his face.
"Don't you?" He asked as he looked up at him.
"Of course I do. I just haven't worn it in a long time." He said.
"She told me that her string broke a long time ago but she keeps it on an old shoe string just like I do." Rhyan said as he smiled.
"Then that's the first thing we should get her, but something better than cheap, plastic necklaces. What do you think Tokoy-" Hawks began to say. He looked over at Tokoyami, who was staring at a window to a bridal store. Hawks follows his gaze and sees a mannequin wearing a beautiful white strapless wedding dress with black silk tied around the waist and black feathers scattered onto the princess style skirt. The head piece holding the vail in place was gold with red and blue jewels decorating the front. He looks back at Tokoyami as he sees him blush with his beak agap. He takes a picture of him and the gown in the window before he notices Tokoyami coming back to reality. "Found her wedding dress already, Tokoyami?" He asked slyly as he smiled.
Tokoyami clears his throat. "N-no. I was just admiring the color schemes they used for the dress." He said as he looked off to the side, his blush deepening in color.
Rhyan chuckles. "A total lie." He said.
"Uh-huh, anyway as I was saying, we should find her something to replace the cheap necklace with something much better." Hawks said in a suspicious tone.
"What about matching bracelets that say 'His Light' and 'Her Darkness' and maybe we can style them a little with their feathers, that way everyone they come across out in public will know that she has a boyfriend." Rhyan suggested.
"Hey, now you're talking. Good thinking Little Foxy." Hawks said as he smiled.
"I thought we were looking for something that you can give her for her birthday, Hawks?" Tokoyami asked as he crossed his arms.
"That too but the two of you aren't friends anymore, you're lovers which means the two of you need something to prove to others that she belongs to you and no one else." He said, which made Tokoyami blush again.
He took a couple of deep breaths and sighed. "We're here to look for something for YOU to give her, not me…If I find something she'll like I'll get it for her myself." He said as he looked off to the side.
"Did you even give her anything for her birthday?" Rhyan asked.
"Of course I did. I bought her a bouquet of roses and a pair of earrings." He said.
"Are her ears even pierced?" Hawks asked.
"Mom took her and Rhyley shopping for clothes a few days after bringing her home. Both of them got their ears pierced then." He said.
"We didn't exactly arrive here with the freshest of clothes or smell so big brother Tokoyami and papa Tokoyami taught me how to bathe myself. Before that, I always bathed with sissy and big sissy." Rhyan said.
"Yeah, sounds about right. Wait, 'Papa Tokoyami'?" Hawks said as he looked at Rhyan.
"Whoa. What's this?" Rhyan said as he pointed to an outfit on a mannequin in a window of a clothing store. The outfit was a white shirt with a tight leather black short skirt with a black leather jacket with spikes. A spiked black dog choker laid loosely around the neck.
"Yeah that definitely isn't her style." Tokoyami said.
"That would be more Tokoyami's style if he was a girl." Hawks laughed.
"Don't put such thoughts into his head, Hawks." Tokoyami said as he glared at his mentor.
"Wasn't trying to, We're looking for things Reika would like, you said you had a few rough Ideas on what she might light, right? What are they?" He said as he looked back at the bird headed boy.
He looks down in thought as he remembers a time when he was talking to her as she worked, sweeping the halls of the school. She looks on the television as she sees a commercial for perfume. It wasn't the perfume she was interested in, but the dress the model was wearing in the commercial. A long blue dress that flowed in the wind, off the shoulder long sleeves that ended at a point at the middle fingers, and a matching sapphire choker. "It might be out of season now, but I think I know what she likes for a winter type dress. Maybe we can find something in season based on that. I remember her saying that she doesn't like things that are opened back." Tokoyami said as he smiled then looked towards Hawks.
"Not true! She loves to see people with outfits that have opened backs." Rhyan said.
"Maybe, but due to what's happened to her, she might be afraid of wearing open back shirts or dresses herself." Tokoyami said in a sad tone.
"What for?" Rhyan asked.
Tokoyami looked towards Hawks then at Rhyan. "When I preened her wings…I saw burn marks on her back, probably got them when Dabi was interrogating her. That's probably why she's afraid to show her back." He said, trying to stay calm.
Hawks smiled. "Then she will wear an open back dress on your first date." He said.