Chapter 6

Leaning against the wall, Hawks watches as people continue trickling into the living room after being stitched, bandaged, and medicated by Storm and Jean in the medical wing. Hours have passed. Finally, Soto walks in with Jean and Storm following, signaling they had finished. Everyone is glued to the TV spouting off the news.

Hawks' eyes wander around the room. After so long, returning here still feels as warm as his first visit. Though exhausted from the fight, the closeness of his comrades as they lean on one another and still find ways to fill the room with playful banter is welcomed but unfamiliar. Is this what home feels like?

"You're the last one to get treated, Babybird. You can't keep stalling." Jean walks up to Hawks. Her red hair draping over her shoulders makes telling her no impossible. Hawks' eyes follow her hair down to her pale purple shirt and gray shorts. He focuses his attention back to the patch on her forehead and wrappings around her right wrist.

Jean smiles softly, resting her hand on his shoulder. Hawks opens his mouth to protest, but she stops him. "Don't even try, Kei. Your clothes are covered in blood and dirt. Either come with me or we do it right here and now."

.*.*.

The bed creaks under his weight when Hawks sits, tossing his coat and hero shirt to the ground. The dim lights of Jean's room helps ease the dull throb of his headache. Her room, exactly as he visualized it every night when away from her, is just as neat as usual. He looks between the open shades at the field outside her window. As he looks back at Jean, the photo of him and her catches his eye on the dresser. Momentarily he is taken back to that day and can almost feel the sun kissing his arm swung over her shoulder. The goofy grin on his face doesn't hide how much he loves her.

"I'm so glad you're okay." Jean's voice cuts into his head. "I saw one of the worst hits you took out of the corner of my eye when I was fighting someone and my heart stopped." Her hands gingerly move over his battered frame. A light hiss escapes him as she presses a swab to one of his wounds, sending a sharp sting through his body. Turning his head, he catches worry and irritation in her emerald eyes.

"We got the trigger bomb, and -"

"-And you could have gotten even more injured — or worse! —by not having backup. Keigo, I know you're used to doing things on your own, but it's much safer for all of us if you let us help you. I can't imagine life without you."

"Now lay down , and don't try to argue," Jean continues the mini lecture while continuing tending to his wounds. "Tokoyami is not all the help you need, Keigo. Honestly, you put both your lives in more danger than necessary today." She sighs, digging through her medical kit.

Cupping his left cheek, she gently strokes it with her thumb, brushing over the scarred skin. Hawks leans into the touch softly coping. With half-open eyes, he gazes at her with love and affection. Damn this feels so gooood.

"I am glad you guys are staying a few extra days, especially with these wounds. It will be wise to wait to depart."

Hawks kisses her palm, gently holding her hand with his good one, "means extra time with you, why not make the most of it hm?"

The two stare at each other. Her hands run up to his chest. More coos rumble out of him and heat rises to his cheeks. Jean's cheeks brighten with red as well. The two lean towards one another, his feathers ruffle and wings quiver behind him as her warm breath gently touches him.

"I'd like that very much, Kei." She says, smiling as their lips lock together. Her arm wraps around his neck as his arms surround her as he pulls her back into his chest. With a thump, he falls back with her onto the bed below them. Their hands roam around one another as they get lost in the moment.

.*.*.

"I'm borrrred." Toga whines. Kicking her legs onto the coffee table as she plops onto the couch with Twice. In the background, the TV spouts off global news.

The league had hung back after all the chaos transpired to refocus on plans to take down the hero society and recruiting more members.

"You've been saying that for the last hour. Once news settles you can go back out. It won't be safe for us to be seen right now." Shigarki says

Toga's cheeks puff out crosses her arms. She is the youngest of the group at 17 years old, and it shows.

"Don't worry, Toga. We could go out together. It would be fun! No way it would be so lame." Twice says to his friend.

"Really? You'll come with me to look for new blood to add to my collection?!" Her eyes light up looking at her friend excitedly.

A creaking of a door opening and closing makes everyone in the room look up as Dabi enters with his hands shoved into his pockets. The bored or maybe unamused look on his face, as he almost always has, makes him seem grumpy.

"Where have you been?" Shiggaki asks the residence pyromaniac coolly."

"None of you business." The pyro snaps back, glancing at TV. He rolls his eyes at the news reporter covering the event, explaining the heroes have all pulled through and the terrorist group was taken down. Figures.