Chapter Text
Having All-Might watching him teach was unnerving to say the least. It always made Izuku feel jittery, being stared at, but this was something else. The way the heroes eyes tracked his every move as he laid out the lesson agenda reminded Ghost just how observant he could be when it suited him. On top of that, they were going over dealing with corrupt heroes that lesson.
"Any questions?" Ghost asked, looking around the room.
Mirio raised his hand from his seat near the front.
"Ghost-Sensei, who's the guy in the corner?"
"…I meant questions about the lesson, Togata. He is here to observe me, and will not be interacting with any of you. Anything else?" no one spoke aside from Mirio's interested hum, so Ghost began the lesson.
" So, as I said before, we are going over the usual motives of corrupt heroes, and how to deal with them should you come across them. We will revisit this particular lesson a couple of times this year, as it is incredibly important. Who can name a motive a hero may have for working with, or as a villain behind the scenes?" words like greed, money, power and influence were thrown out at him, and Ghost nodded along encouragingly.
"good! Yes all of those and more. Necessity could be one, blackmail, revenge on anyone's part. Can anyone name any past heroes that were known or suspected to be a villain away from the cameras?"
Again, a few names were thrown at him, most he recognised. One caught his attention.
"Stop. Who said Endeavor?" A girl at the back of the room tentatively held up her hand, looking down at her desk.
"Why?" Ghost asked, his voice softer than before. The girl looked up at him slowly, as if waiting to see if he was angry.
"My older brother… used to be friends with Endeavors oldest son. Touya." The rest of the why was left unsaid. They all knew the rumours.
"Hm. Who can tell me what Ito just did? No one?" The class remained silent. "She used her resources. Having worked with him, I am of the firm opinion that Endeavor is not a good hero. Having also met his children, I am certain he is also a terrible man." Ghost turned to the board behind him and wrote 'ENDEAVOR' in large letters.
"He is our example hero. We will discuss his rescue stats, his arrest stats, his property damage records, his press polls, his ranking and what we know about his home life. Then we will discuss what would happen should enough solid evidence that he's no hero be released."
The class went amazing in Ghosts humble opinion. He got to spend nearly two hours professionally slagging off Endeavor while completely ignoring All-might, who's eyes were getting wider and wider as the discussion went on. As the class filed out he called that next time they would discuss organisations, to which one of the louder students shouted "Fuck the commission!" and Ghost pretended not to hear, hiding a smile behind his notebook.
"You really are a problem hero, aren't you?" Shouta said over his coffee later on. The café was quiet, the cats content, and Izuku had just finished recounting his second year analysis lesson to the man between cackles of pure chaotic joy.
"Yeah but you love it. Besides, you hate Endeavor almost as much as I do, and I dated his youngest in high school."
It took all of Shouta's strength not to spit his coffee out at the new information. Izuku had dated Todoroki Shoto? That's… fine. It's fine, Shouta doesn't care. Why would he? Izuku is his friend, and the younger was his student at the time. It shouldn't matter, and Shouta refuses to look too closely at why it might.
"Sure, problem hero." He settled with saying, burying his chin into his capture weapon.
Before either of them could begin another conversation or settle into the silence, a commotion was heard from outside, followed by the screaming of civilians. Eraserhead rolled his eyes and got up, already reaching for his scarf, while Ghost cackled and leapt up, following the older out the door.
Outside, the two heroes found a giant man moving through the street, crushing cars and trying to stomp on civilians. Ghost took a breath to begin shouting his rapidly forming plan when a flash of red and gold caught his eye.
"Eraser, let Hawks distract him, we'll get civilians to a safe distance before engaging!" He shouted before springing forward, grabbing a child that had tripped and loudly directing civilians. Eraser followed suit, herding screaming people in the same direction, veering to the side to relay the plan when the police began arriving.
While establishing a safety barrier, Eraser paid attention to the villains quirk and movements, as he knew Ghost was also doing. The man was able to control his size, growing as big as Mt. Lady, then shrinking just as quickly. he seemed to be able to stop at any size he wanted. Hawks was flying the guy in circles but Eraser could tell the hero was hurt, having been batted into two separate walls. His legs would be a blind spot if he was distracted enough.
As soon as all known of civilians were out of the battle zone, Eraser signalled to Ghost, and the two jumped into the fray in tandem, acting as through they'd fought together a thousand times over.
Eraserhead saw Ghost sign something to Hawks out of the corner of his eye, and then the avian flew straight up as he began wrapping his capture weapon around the villains legs. Ghost bounced around, using his quirk to propel himself, bouncing between the ground, walls and the villain himself. At one point the dumbass landed on top of the villain's head, and Eraser decided with absolute certainty that he would have grey hair by thirty-five because of him.
With the villain's legs tangled in the capture weapon, and the man himself thoroughly distracted by the loud green pinball, Hawks was able to swoop down from high above and deliver a knockout blow to the guys temple. Feathers and the green guy guided the fall so he didn't crush any people or buildings, and just like that, the battle was over.
Eraserhead nodded at the villain’s head, and the green guy hopped in to peel his eyelids open. Once his quirk had been erased and he had shrunk to his rightful size a cop came and slapped some quirk-cancelling cuffs on him so that paramedics could take over.
Hawks was… confused. The green guy, who now looks like a twelve year old dressed up as a pre-quirk soldier, was bouncing on his heels and laughing almost manically, telling Eraserhead how much fun that was, and Eraser was almost smiling! He didn't know the hero knew how to do that. While Hawks was staring, the green guy (child?) Seemed to remember he was there.
"And- shit! Hawks! You okay? You got knocked around a bit up there." He said turning to him.
"Uh, yeah green bean I'm good. Gonna be a little bruised later but nothin' I cant handle." He flashed his signature charming grin, only to be met with twin deadpan stares.
"Right. Sure. Anyway I got a favour to ask. It's seriously confidential though."
Hawks is still confused. Who is this kid?
"Uhh…" he looks at Eraser for help, who rolls his eyes and nudges the kid.
"Aren't you forgetting something Ghost?"
"What? Ohhh! Yeah sorry, Hi I'm The Reborn Hero: Ghost!"
"Reborn?" Eraser asked
"Shh its a work in progress."
"So… You're a hero? How haven't I heard of you? And why do you look twelve?"
"I used to have a different hero name, I'm underground, and an irreversible quirk accident. Would you be alright coming to UA with us for a bit? I gotta let Nedzu know 'bout this and I don't want to ask that favour where just anyone can hear."
Hawks nodded slowly, eyes wide. They all finished giving their statements to the detective once scene, someone else Ghost seemed familiar with, before heading towards the school. Silently, Hawks realises he'd never been to UA before, and was actually rather excited to have a look at the school. He looked up at the building in awe as they walked through the gate, missing the look Eraser and Ghost shared behind him.
"First stop; Recovery Girl!" Ghost announced cheerfully. Leading the other heroes through the halls. Hawks tensed up slightly.
"Did one of you get hurt?" he asked, Hoping he hadn't missed an injury on one of them- Normally he's so good at noticing things like that…
"Nope, but you did. I want you checked over before we talk. It's a heavy subject and I'm not having you collapse on me because you've hidden something that needed treating." Ghosts words were harsh, calculated and as professional as they could be, based on the hero's personality so far. But the way they were said made it seem like Ghost actually cared. Like he didn't want Hawks to be in pain.
He sounded worried, Hawks realised.
In that moment, they reached Recovery Girl's office, and the three filed in. Recovery Girl was sat at her desk in the back of the room, sorting through a few files as they walked in. She looked up at the sound of shuffling, her eyes widening as she took in the trio.
"Good afternoon Recovery Girl!" Ghost greeted. "I have a little birdy here, I was hoping you'd be able to check over for us. He got a little roughed up earlier." The nurse hopped down from her chair and beckoned them towards her, leading the way towards a bed in the corner of the room.
"Of course dearie. I have already seen footage of the fight, actually. Of course, Nedzu would like to speak to you." She said, looking pointedly at Ghost, then Eraserhead. Then she turned her attention to Hawks.
"Take a seat for me dear, I'll take a look at your injuries and see what I can do." Hawks swallowed and took a seat on the edge of the bed. His shoulders were tense, aching wings pressed flat against his back.
I'm not at the commission. I am okay. She won't hurt me.
Hawks repeats the sentences in his mind like a mantra as the old woman's nimble hands run over his shoulders, then chest, then ribs, searching for tender spots. He flinches infinitesimally when her hand grazes over his ribs on the right side. Recovery Girl spots it anyway and lets go to note something down, before continuing her search. Next she moves to his wings, murmuring a warning before gently peeling one wing away from his back, looking closely for blood before running fingers over bones once again. Hawk's wings hurt. They ached as if they were bruised beyond recognition, and Keigo couldn't keep his face from scrunching up just a little, because he hurt and Recovery Girl was being so gentle and a part of him just couldn't understand why. He was used to being told to suck it up usually. And on the rare occasion he was given medical attention, he was manhandled by rough, unforgiving hands and sharp words telling him to "Shut up and be grateful you're getting anything.". It was a far cry from the gentle hands, soft requests or explanations, and the kind hand that now held his, rubbing a comforting thumb over his rough, scabbed knuckles.
"You're doing so well, Keigo. Almost finished, you're being so good." A kind voice whispered.
Soon enough, Recovery Girl finished her search and stepped back.
"Well, I can say for almost certain that you have cracked a couple of ribs, young man. I don't believe you've broken anything in your wings, and your spine seems okay, but I would like to get some X-RAYS just to be sure. As you may know, I choose what my quirk focuses on healing to an extent, I want to be sure the focus is going to the areas that need it the most. If you could just lie flat for me, Ghost will grab a couple of tables for you to rest your wings on."
Ghost did as instructed, leaving Hawks to find the X-RAY tables in the next room. While on his way, Hawks watched Eraserhead stop the other and whisper something before the taller hero left the room completely. Recovery Girl gave Hawks a nudge that reminded him he was supposed to be laying down. The young hero did as he was told, just as Ghost was coming back with the first table. It was propped under one of his wings, and a moment later his other wing also had a surface to rest on. As Recovery Girl dragged what he could only assume was the X-RAY machine over, Ghost lent down to whisper into his ear.
"I have to step back now. You won't be able to see me, but I'm still here, I'm not leaving. Okay?" A little of the tension in the avian's shoulders released at the reassurance, and he nodded, not sure he'd be able to form any actual words.
Have I ever had an X-RAY before? I don't remember…
After what felt like an eternity, the pictures were taken, and the moment Hawks began to sit up again Ghost was there, one hand on his shoulder and the other covering his own again.
"Wait a minute birdy, let RG check them before you sit up, just in case. Especially if you've broken ribs." Hawks understood the logic. Of course he did, but he still whined grumbled as he slumped back down, shuffling so that he was at least slightly propped up on the pillow.
"I'm fine, Ghost, just a little achy. If somethin' was actually wrong I'd tell someone." Ghost hummed and raised an eyebrow at him before poking him gently in the side. Hawks let out a surprised gasp and held his breath for a moment, letting the sharp pain that ran through his side dissipate before allowing himself to slowly exhale, the breath shaky.
"You're going to lie there and wait for recovery Girl to get back, Hawks. No arguments. I don't want you going back out there hurt when we can do something to help you right here. Just because you've been alone up 'til now, doesn't mean you have to keep being alone." Keigo felt his eyes begin to water as he listened, searching Ghost's face for any hint of a lie. He found nothing but genuine concern, and had to look away. He refused to cry.
Eventually, Recovery Girl came back with the news that Hawks had in fact broken three ribs, though thankfully no other bones. She gave him a quirked kiss on the cheek and then handed him a small pack of gummies.
"There we are dearie. Eat those, then you can be on your way. Now remember, my quirk takes your energy to expedite healing, not mine. So make sure you go home, eat a nice warm meal and rest, alright? I'll get you a copy of your X-RAYS to give to your doctor, you should get a check-up in a couple of days to ensure you are healing well." Recovery Girl didn't wait for a response from the winged hero before tootling off towards her desk.
Hawks was just finishing the last of the gummies when Eraserhead slunk back into the room. Hawks had the file to give to his doctor (though he would likely just burn it or hide it in his apartment) and was ready to get out of the nurses office. The uncomfortable, on edge, almost claustrophobic feeling having stayed present and noticeable since arriving.
"Nedzu's been debriefed. He's happy with how we dealt with the attack and there's a surprising lack of video evidence. He's going to scrub what he can find though. He also wanted to ask you something about a project you've been working on together?"
"Amazing, thanks for sorting that Eraser. And yeah I'll fill you in on that soon, but It's not really a priority yet." He turned to Hawks "You ready to go pretty bird?" Hawks swallowed the last gummy and nodded, probably a little too eagerly. Then he got up and the three of them made their way out of the door, Ghost throwing another call of thanks over his shoulder to Recovery Girl, who smiled up at them with a gleam in her eyes that showed she knew more about something than she let on. What though?
Ghost led them to a small conference room and gestured to the table. Hawks took a seat, subconsciously making sure he had a clear path to the door and the window. Eraser shut the door behind them and sat down himself, and finally Ghost sat.
"Everything we talk about in this room is to stay in this room. More than one life depends on it. If you have any bugs on you, remove or disable them now." Hawks had nothing on him as far as he knew, and told the hero as much.
"Perfect. The Shie hassaikai has my daughter. She has a very powerful and uncontrolled quirk. Chisaki Kai, Overhaul, is using her to create a weapon that could end a lot of careers and lives. I need help getting her back, and taking Overhaul down before he can cause any more problems. I am putting together a small raid team to go in, grab them both and get out, and I want you to lead the group that will go after Overhaul, while we get Eri." Ghost said, cutting right to the chase. He has a kid?
"Why do you want me?" there had to be a reason beyond 'Hawks is a competent hero' right?
"Because you are skilled in both close and long-range combat, you can fly, and your quirk is primarily a mutation type, with only emitter aspects which means quirk-erasing weapons should not affect you as much as they would myself or Eraserhead, nor would Overhaul be able to easily use his quirk on you. Besides that, you have proven to be a skilled leader and we will have a much higher chance of taking down the bastard that took my child with you there."
Hawks was stunned. As far as he was aware, he'd never met this hero before, yet here he was, being asked to help lead a top secret rescue mission. How does something like that happen? He knows he's a decent hero, he'd only been tortured training for it since he was six. But being called a skilled leader? Being trusted to lead in a mission as high stakes as this? By a (probably) veteran hero no less. It was… unbelievable. Especially when he'd only just been active for two years now.
"I trust you, Hawks. And I wouldn't ask you to do this if I didn't think we needed you. You can say no but… " Ghost trailed off. He seemed tired, looking far older than he had earlier.
"But we hope you don't. Eri doesn't deserve the kind of abuse she is currently enduring." Eraser finished for Ghost. Hawks sat back in his chair, and thought about his own childhood. His training, that felt more like torture. He always said he would never let another child go through what he did if he could do something to stop it. He could do something here.
"I'll do it. I'll help." He said finally, voice filled with determination. Ghost visibly relaxes at the agreement, relief flooding every part of him, and in the corner of Hawks' vision he sees Eraserhead do the same. Ghost beams up at the older hero and suddenly a few things click into place for the avian. Eri was theirs. It made sense really, why they didn't say it out loud. The realisation somehow fortified his resolve. Hawks would be the best goddamn team leader in Japan if it meant that little girl got returned to her parents.
Hawks and Ghost exchanged information, and Ghost said he would contact Hawks when the first mission briefing was ready to be had. Then, the two teachers walked him back down to the gate, and sent him off with a reminder of recovery girl's instructions.
"Remember, you need to eat and rest. I find out you've gone and put in overtime after being explicitly told by a doctor to finish up and go home, I will come and put you to bed myself. Clear?" The threat would have been hilarious if it wasn't said with such a serious face. Hawks wasn't one hundred percent sure that it was even a threat. Maybe it was a promise? The avian hero wasn't sure which he preferred.
"Yes Ghost-San. My patrol ends in an hour, I'll debrief with my handler at the commission, and then get home. Maybe two more hours." Ghost nodded in approval and Hawks felt something like a weight lift off of his chest. They shared goodbyes and then Hawks took off, speeding back towards the temporary patrol route he was given to follow while in the city.
Back at UA, Aizawa turned to Midoriya, an amused glint in his eye.
"So… a son as well? We're going to have our hands full." Midoriya dropped his head into his hands and groaned before laughing.
"I picked up more than just teaching habits from you, y'know. Seriously between my class, Eri and all the other strays, you had like thirty-something kids by the time I graduated. The kid we were always going to have and one I always knew needed someone is nothing compared to that hoard of children." The comment sounded light hearted, but Aizawa could hear the firmness behind the words. Light-hearted yes, but by no means a joke. "But yes I will be forcefully adopting him, if I have to tear down the Hero Commission brick by brick to do it." And Aizawa believed him.
"Hm. Speaking of adoption… I have all the paperwork we need for me to get immediate custody of Eri once we have her. Including a letter from Nedzu, stating I would be a good fit as a placement and why. If you still wanted me to take her of course… I-" Izuku threw himself at Shouta, wrapping his arms around the man. Shouta was quick to return the hug, burying one hand in his hair and placing the other firmly on the younger's back, rubbing comforting circled there as the hero tried his best not to cry.
"Thank you, Shouta. I know you weren't ready to be a parent when you took her in the first time so I'm sure you feel even more unready now… it really means so much…"
"I don't feel unready, Izuku. Perhaps I did the first time, but I didn't have you then, did I? I know you're going to be there every step, because you want to be, and I know you're going to force me to rely on 'Zashi and Nem too, right?"
"Damn right I will." Izuku said wetly.
"Exactly. I probably felt pretty alone the first time. I this time, I know that I'm not. So stop worrying, okay?" Izuku nodded into Shouta's chest and took a deep breath. It's all going to be okay. They were getting their daughter and everything will be fine.
"Okay. I'm good. Lets get back before Hizashi sends out a search party or something." Aizawa laughed, knowing the loud blond absolutely would do that.
Everything will be fine.
Hawks was nearly home before he realised that Ghost had used his name… Not even he uses his own name… The young hero felt something tighten in his chest, and he wondered distantly weather Ghost would hug him if he asked, before squashing the thought entirely. That would be coddling, and coddling led to weakness.
He flew another lap around his route before finally going home.