Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

In an office with the studied air of being simultaneously painstakingly clean and artfully messy, Hawks looks down at the dossier he's been given. There's next to nothing in it.

The first years at UA just took their provisional licensing exams, which means they are now able to do work studies. He was planning on sending Tokoyami an offer again, since the Commission wanted him to take an intern for publicity purposes and Tokoyami had been fun to be around.

The Commission has other plans.

Midoriya Izuku, otherwise known as Akatani Mikumo, hero name: 81. He won the UA sports festival without using a quirk. Officially, he's quirkless, even has the medical tests to prove it. However, he has another quirk registered under his alternate identity: Eldritch Horror.

During his internship under Gran Torino - the same Gran Torino who organized the All for One raid headed by Night Owl, the vigilante who's been a thorn in the Commission's side for months - after the sports festival, he was involved in an incident with the Hero Killer. He's been mixed up in all kinds of things.The kid has connections that's for sure, and in high places, too, if the amount of information that's being hidden about him is anything to go by.

The file on Night Owl, yet another target for Hawks to investigate, is similarly thin.

The Commission wants answers, and of course it's up to Hawks to provide those answers. Some way. Somehow. It doesn't matter that he's up to his ears in work these days as the new number two hero. It doesn't matter that he already sleeps at his agency more often than his apartment. Anytime he might have for himself is snatched away for interviews and photo shoots until Hawks can't think anymore and he's left running on instinct.

He's so goddamn tired.

Ever since the charges were brought against Endeavour, his world has been falling around him, and the weight is going to crush him.

What's the point of it all when his idol is a criminal and a group of vigilantes have been doing a better job taking down heroes than the heroes themselves?

He knows he's driving the few sidekicks he has insane with worry. At least, those not in the Commission's pocket. They're only permitted to do so much to help him, because a top hero has to be able to work solo. He's the man too fast for his own good. He can handle this.

Who is he kidding? Hawks leans back in his chair, stretching his wings out behind him, and gives a bitter, cynical laugh. The Commission has been playing him like a fiddle his whole life. He doesn't have a choice but to handle it or be thrown out like a worn out toy. The Commission has sunk its claws too deep for him to get away.

It had taken a while for Hawks to realize that not all heroes were like him. They got off the job, had lives, families. They didn't have handlers breathing down their necks at all times. He'd been purposefully isolated, misinformed, manipulated to be the perfect pawn.

He hopes that the interest the Commission has in Midoriya doesn't lead him to a similar fate under the Commission's thumb. He prays he doesn't get an elimination order.

A sharp knock on his office door startles Hawks from his reverie. He hunches over his desk to look busy and calls, "What is it?"

The door opens a crack, and Suzuki Hideki, Hawks's personal secretary, a mild-mannered man with perpetually messy hair and warm brown eyes, sticks his head into the room. "The paperwork for the workstudies is due tonight. I was wondering if you had finished with it, Hawks-san."

Hawks gives him his signature smile and a thumbs up. "I'll have it ready for you in a jiffy."

Suzuki nods. "Dont forget, you have a briefing on the vigilante outbreak later this evening. The President wanted to speak to you specifically about it." Then, he leaves, and Hawks leans back in his chair again. His secretary is a good man, has three kids whose pictures he keeps on his desk, and does his best to keep Hawks out of hot water. He doesn't know the real truth about the hold the Commission has on Hawks, but he knows the young number two is shouldering a lot of responsibilities and does his best to help. He's one of the rare staff members that aren't Commission plants. Hawks can't be mad at him for bringing him more work, not when it isn't coming from him.

It's because of people like him that Hawks is able to stay sane. It's also because of people like him that Hawks has to stay vigilant. Having a few non-Commission employees in the agency wasn't a lapse of judgment on the Commission's part. They were ensuring they would have hostages, leverage to use against Hawks if he ever turned on them.

He's caught in a snare with no way out. He's kept hooded so he doesn't know enough to be a threat, and his handlers always have a backup plan for if their bird decides to turn on them.

There's a chance Midoriya doesn't take the offer and he won't have to go through with the investigation into him. It's unlikely. Hawks is the number two hero, and All Might doesn't take interns. No one would turn down an opportunity like this.

*

Izuku's studying is interrupted by a knock at his door. "Who is it?"

"Tokoyami and Dark Shadow."

Izuku pushes his chair back and walks over the the door of his dorm room. He opens it to see his bird-headed classmate standing outside. "What can I help you with?"

"Do you mind if we speak privately?" Tokoyami asks. "I have something to say to you that may be somewhat sensitive in nature."

"Of course." Izuku ushers Tokoyami into the room and closes the door behind them. Tokoyami takes a seat on his beanbag, something Yoichi had insisted on. The influence of the vestiges is evident in his room, from posters of En's favorite bands, to Yoichi's comic books, to Daigoro's framed oil paintings. Surprisingly, it all comes together to make the space very cozy. "Tea?" he asks.

"Yes, thank you," Tokoyami says.

Izuku sets the tea, a blend Nana recommended, to steep and pulls his chair out from his desk to sit opposite Tokoyami. Dark Shadow comes out and curls around the other boy. "Is the light fine?" Izuku checks. He doesn't have the main lights on, just his desk lamp. The sun has set, so it's the only source of light in the room.

"It's fine," Dark Shadow says. "How is everyone?"

"We're good," En says. "Did you want to talk?"

"I'm afraid that's not why we're here," Tokoyami says. "It's about our work studies."

Izuku is no stranger to giving his classmates advice on where to go. They've all ended up happy with their choices. "You interned with Hawks before. It went well, right? Did he not give you another offer?"

"He did, and I'm planning to accept it. I actually came to talk about your internship."

Izuku interrupts the conversation to finish preparing their tea. He hands one mug to Tokoyami, and Dark Shadow curls around it as well.

"Sorry, you were saying," he says as he takes his seat again.

"You also got an offer from Hawks. We were hoping you would accept it."

Izuku had gotten quite a few offers, most of them the same heroes who had given him offers after the sports festival. There were some new ones, seeing that he had been involved with the Hero Killer. The offer from Hawks had been flattering, but he isn't sure it's the best fit. "Why's that?" He asks.

Tokoyami shifts in his seat, fingers wrapping and unwrapping around the mug of tea. "Well, it's because of Hawks. You have a great deal of experience with things like this, and we do not. We noticed some things that concern us during the internship."

"Hawks-san barely got any sleep!" Dark Shadow exclaims. "And he was always reporting to his manager."

"I don't know how to aptly describe it," Tokoyami continues, petting Dark Shadow soothingly, "but he was always unnaturally on edge and tense. We are worried for him, is what I am trying to say, and we'd like you to look into it. We liked him, so if something is bothering him, we'd like to know."

Something sounds off, Kudo agrees. I think it would be good to check it out.

"Have you brought this to Nedzu's attention?" Izuku wonders.

Tokoyami shakes his head. "We don't have anything concrete. It is simply our observations, so I felt unsure about sharing this with anyone else. But if you could see it for yourself..."

"Do you mind if I tell him? Nedzu has more resources to look into this kind of thing. He'd be able to do it secretly."

"If you judge it a sound decision, we are in agreement," Tokoyami says. 

Heck yeah! Banjo yells. What do you bet he busts out that sweet new robot again?

Izuku shivers, thinking of the the final exams. He'd rather not have to face that monstrosity again. However, seeing it leveled against someone else might be amusing.

"We'll do it," En says.

Tokoyami inclines his head. "Thank you. We were unsure what to do about this. We were relieved to hear you might be able to do your work study with us."

"Anytime," Izuku says. 

"Then we shall take our leave."

After the door closes behind Tokoyami, Izuku stays seated in his chair, an empty mug still clutched in his hands. "What do you think of it?" He asks the vestiges.

"Something certainly seems to be amiss," Daigoro says.

"My bet's on the government trying to pull a fast one." Bruce scowls with Izuku's face. "It would be just like the government. You can't trust it."

"Why do you think Hawks sent me the offer?" Izuku wonders.

"Publicity?" Banjo offers.

Izuku shakes his head. "Hawks is popular enough already, and I'm not like Tokoyami, similar enough to fit his brand. I don't have an avian quirk. I don't think he's ever have had an opportunity to see my quirk."

"You did fight Stain," Nana reminds him. "Beating All for One may be the more impressive fight, but you did that, too."

"Maybe."

"He was one of the heroes who answered Gran Torino's call," Kudo remembers.

"You don't think he made the connection between you and Night Owl?" Yoichi asks anxiously. "What if he figured it out?"

"He'd have turned us in if he had proof," Daigoro says. "He must be looking for evidence. We'll just have to be careful."

"No vigilante work then...but he'll get suspicious if Night Owl doesn't appear while we're at the work study." Izuku taps his mug thoughtfully. "We'll definitely have to be careful. Maybe we can get a clone from Twice."

"That's if he and Toga check themselves out of the psych ward by then," Bruce grumbles.

"In any case, you guys will need to be more careful about when you come out," Izuku warns. "You haven't had to worry about that for a while, since everyone here knows."

"We made it through the provisional license exam," Yoichi protests.

"That was only because the HUC member was old enough to actually get your references and thought you were funny!" Izuku says, exasperated. "At least no one accidentally used their quirk there. We won't be able to use any of our quirks out in public during the work study."

"I don't see what wrong with using a quirk occasionally," Nana says. "You'll hardly be able to avoid it in your hero career. I'd just be selective. Make it seem like something else."

Izuku groans. "This was so much easier when I had a quirk."

"Don't worry. We'll use our quirks whenever it's necessary," Banjo assures him.

"Sorry, I meant when I wasn't legally quirkless," Izuku clarifies. "I can't explain how I got you guys, and I'm genetically quirkless, so...it's difficult keeping it hidden again."

"It'll be fine, kiddo," Nana says.

*

After plenty of time taken off to heal from his surgeries, Dabi is ready to get back to work. He's enjoyed the time spent with his family, but, well, some scars don't heal as well as others. He still feels an incessant need to be doing something, pushing himself, that hasn't gone away even after the tragedy of Sekoto hill.

So, as soon as he's cleared to be moving around again, Dabi goes back to work at the cafe. His boss is actually quite happy to have him back.

"You were so good at taking care of the tough customers," she tells him. She's a petite lady with wrinkles in her face from lots of smiling. "And you know, some of them thought you were quite handsome," she confides. "I must say, you are looking much better."

Dabi is feeling much better, too. The crunchy dead skin has been replaced by healthier skin. Though the scars might never fully go away, the pain, he's been told, should fade with time. And isn't that life?

It's almost pleasant to go back to taking orders and making drinks, knowing that his family is safe, that he has a home. He settles into a routine again. People stare at him less, he notices, and smile at him more.

Aizawa knows where he works for some reason, and he's expecting a visit from Eri that weekend during one of his shifts. He knows this isn't enough, though, to burn away the itch that lies underneath his skin.

After helping close up the cafe, he doesn't go back home. Not quite yet. Instead, he pulls a mask over his face and directs his steps to one of the shadier parts of town. Years spent on the streets made navigating this kind of place second nature.

He'd have to bring it up to Midoriya, Night Owl, some time. He knows the vigilante and his brother try to hit up areas that don't see a lot of hero activity, but there are some things you don't learn until you've lived life on the other side of the law, like where the truly lawless places are.

In the meantime, however, Dabi has energy to burn and a support device to test out.

Ever since he can remember, using Cremation has been second nature to Dabi. Blue flames dance over his fingertips, lighting his way through the dark alley. Already, he can feel the long dark coat Tech Support had made for him beginning to cool, counteracting the fire in his veins.

He feels alive when he uses his quirk. Shoto has said some things about fire being the energy of life, and maybe he's not so wrong. With the cooling suit, it feels right in a way that Dabi hasn't experienced since he was young, before his quirk started searing its mark into his body. He's always felt his best when he's using his quirk.

He feels whole. No more of his skin bursting at the seams. No more stifling his flames. No more losing battles.

The muffled sounds of a fight echoes from an alleyway ahead of him, and Dabi grins. Time for a test run.

Chapter Text

"Has everyone figured out where they're going for work studies?" Kirishima asks as he sets his lunch tray down at the class table.

"I received permission to intern under my brother," Iida says. "He can teach me the administrative side of things, and my parents can help with patrols. I am very much looking forward to it."

"Nice man! Fatgum is taking me and Yaomomo. I'm so pumped!" Kirishima exclaims. "What about you, Midobro? You were saying you weren't sure the other day."

Izuku swallows the bite he had been chewing. "I'm gonna accept Hawks's offer. I can learn a lot from him."

"Midoriya and I are going together as well," Tokoyami says from the other side of the table.

Next to Izuku, Shoto puts down his chopsticks. "You're going with Hawks. I don't think I got an offer from him. I'll have to ask."

"What do you mean ask?" Mina wonders.

In answer, Shoto pulls out his phone. He types in a number, then switches to speakerphone so everyone can hear the dial tone.

"Hello, Hawks here," The pro hero answers.

The class gasps audibly. "Holy shit he picked up!" Mina whispers.

"Hawks, this is Shoto."

"Oh, hey. Can I do something for you? I'm a little busy at the moment, but as soon as I'm free-"

"I'd like to intern with you."

Hawks makes a little squawking sound. "I thought you weren't interested."

"I am now."

"The deadline to put in offers was days ago," Hawks says. "I can't give you one anymore."

"You wanted Midoriya to intern with you, right?" Shoto asks.

"Uh, I sent him an offer."

"Well, he's going to accept that offer, but only if I get to go with him. Tell him we're a packaged deal, Izuku." Shoto holds the phone out to Izuku.

"Um, we're a packaged deal?" Izuku says uncertainly. He doesn't know if this is allowed, but he would like to do his work study with Shoto.

Shoto takes back his phone. "You heard it," he tells the pro. "If he goes, I go."

Hawks sighs, long and loud. "Okay, I'll get you an offer."

He hangs up after that. As Shoto puts his phone away, the class is staring at him.

"Shotobro," Kirishima days at last. "How do you have Hawks's number?"

Shoto shrugs. "He called me once to apologize for what happened with Endeavour. He said to call him I ever needed something."

"Bro..."

Kaminari looks a little shocked. "I didn't realize you could just call a hero to get an offer."

"I think that's just a Shoto thing," Sero says. "Main character privilege and all."

"I don't know what you extras are talking about," Kacchan says. "How are you supposed to get what you want if you don't go out and get it yourself?"

"Bakugo, don't tell me you..." Jiro begins.

"Is that how you got the offer from Miruko?" Mina asks at the same time.

Kacchan looks at his food. "I didn't have her number," he says sullenly.

"Oh my god, you stalked her!" Kudo says, and breaks down cackling.

Kacchan turns beet red. "I wasn't fudging stalking her!"

"Nah, you were totally stalking her," Yoichi says.

"Wait, but how'd you get an offer? I thought Miruko works alone. Did you just ask?" Uraraka wonders.

Kacchan looks away.

"He totally tried to fight her," Nana says. "It's written all over his face. I bet he totally got his ass handed to him."

"Is that why you were all bruised up in training the other day?" Izuku asks, remembering how Kacchan had showed up to one of their evening sparring sessions with fresh bruises littering his shoulders.

"She agreed to give me an offer," Kacchan gets out from between gritted teeth.

The vestiges' mirth overwhelms him, and Izuku can barely breathe from how hard he's laughing.

"That's so manly of you, Bakubro!" Kirishima exclaims. "Miruko's a super manly hero, too."

"Tch, whatever," Kacchan says. "We'll see who's laughing when I come back and kick your ass into next year."

"You can try, squirt," Nana says. "You can certainly try."

"I'll throw you across campus any day," Kudo tells him, grinning wildly.

"You wanna go?" Kacchan slams his hands down on the table.

"Guys!" Izuku complains. "Can we wait for class at least? I'm trying to eat."

Yoichi sighs. "Fine, I guess I won't beat him up in the cafeteria. You get off easy for now."

Kacchan scoffs. "As if I couldn't beat your anemic ass any day of the week."

"You wanna say that again?" Kudo asks, leaning across the table to get in Kacchan's face. "Don't you ever-"

"Fine, I won't disrespect your boyfriend." Kacchan huffs. "I can't believe Izuku has to deal with the two of you all the time. You're insufferable."

"You weren't even around for valentine's day," Nana says. "It's gonna be so bad next year when they're actually able to do stuff."

"Don't make me think about it," Izuku groans.

"I could always just brainwash you into a coma," Shinso offers.

"I might just take you up on that."

*

While out on his regularly scheduled patrol, Hawks catches sight of Rumi sprinting through the streets.

Since she mostly does her own thing, finding Rumi while out on patrol is hit or miss. Hawks finds he enjoys patrolling with her much more than patrolling alone.

He dives down, leveling out before he hits the ground so that he's gliding beside her.

Rumi looks over, mid-leap. "Hey, Birdie!" She greets him, "Whatcha been up to?"

Hawks grimaces, remembering the phone call he'd gotten during his very short lunch break the day before. "I'm taking on three interns this time around."

It's probably the worst idea he's ever had, but he can't say no to the young Todoroki, especially not when he needs Midoriya as his intern. And he can't just rescind Tokoyami's offer. He doesn't want to do that to the kid. That leaves him with three whole kids he's going to have to keep an eye on.

Rumi barks a loud laugh. "Geez, what the fuck are you trying to do, start a daycare?"

"Things just escalated," Hawks complains.

"Left up here," Rumi says, nodding to the upcoming intersection. "I'd make fun of you for taking interns at all, but I've got one this time around."

"Oh?" That's certainly news. Rumi is a lone wolf, to the point that she doesn't even have a proper agency or staff, something Hawks wishes he could emulate at times. He's so used to being watched, it makes him paranoid. If he had a choice, he probably wouldn't have any staff either. All this to say, Rumi working with someone is a once in a blue moon occurrence. "I thought you didn't send in any offers."

Rumi grunts, something like a laugh. "I didn't, but then I met a brat with a bit of a spine. He showed up to my apartment and asked to fight. Said if he won he wanted an offer."

"He showed up to your apartment?"

Rumi laughs loudly this time. "Don't sound so scandalized! I kicked his ass of course, but he seemed like he'd be fun to have around."

"I don't think that's why you're supposed to getting an intern." Hawks sighs, pushing his bangs out of his face. "You're supposed to be teaching them." He's one to talk, but he doesn't have another choice. Hypocrisy is a way of life for him.

"Aw, come on. It'll be fun. I'll bring my kiddo over. We can have playdates."

"They're not toddlers, Rumi." He’s grateful for the offer all the same. His experience with Tokoyami had been good, but he didn’t think it would apply equally to the other kids. He’d wanted to teach Tokoyami how to fly, and Tokoyami was a quiet kid, overly serious and easy to tease. He isn’t sure what he can teach Midoriya or if their quirks will be similar enough for him to have worthwhile insights. The young Todoroki has a phenomenal quirk, and Hawks can think of a few techniques to teach him, but they aren’t the best fit either.

“So, where are we headed?” he asks. He’d come down to talk to Rumi, but if there’s crime scene, he’s down for that, too.

“Just a patrol run,” Rumi says. She grins. “I sure hope someone tries something.”

Hawks notes the side of town that they’re entering, one of the lower-income sectors that has less of a hero presence. “You might get your wish.”

“So, who’d you scout, anyways? You got the little birdie last time. Are there more of them now?”

“Nope, I got an order to recruit the kid who won the sports festival.” Rumi knows about the Commission and their hold on him, at least to some extent. Hawks hasn’t been able to bring himself to tell her everything, the missions given under the table, the things he regrets more than anything else, but she does know that the Commission has him in a stranglehold.

“Oh, shit! The one who fought Stain?”

“The very one. They’re…interested.”

“Bastards,” Rumi spits. “That kid kicked ass in the festival. He ought to be fun. Maybe I’ll introduce my kid to him.”

“You’re not starting an underground fight club for minors,” Hawks says. “Especially not with our interns.”

“I didn’t even ask to fight him myself!” Rumi protests. “Whatever, what about the other kid? You said you had three.”

“The Todoroki kid, from the final of the sports festival.”

“Another Stain fighter.” Rumi nods. “The Commission looking into him as well?”

“No, he just blackmailed his way in.” Hawks’s headache gets worse just thinking about it. “Called me up and said Midoriya wasn’t coming if he wasn’t. Midoriya was in on it, too.”

Rumi cackles as she launches herself into the air, climbing the side of a derelict building in just a few jumps. “He got you good! Sounds just like my kid. We’re gonna have so much fun!” She skids to a halt on top of the building and looks out over the streets.

“Again, I don’t think you’re taking this seriously enough,” Hawks says as he lands beside her.

“And I think you’re taking this too seriously,” Rumi counters. “What’s the worst that could happen. You traumatize them a little bit? They’ll get stronger from it.”

No, Hawks thinks, the worst that could happen is one of them ends up dead with his blood on my hands. But he doesn’t say that. “I suppose you’re right,” he forces his customary lightness into his tone, “what’s the worst that could happen?”

Rumi turns to look at him, an usual sharpness in her gaze as she looks him over. “You’re really worried about this, aren’t you?” she says at last.

Hawks shifts. It’s uncomfortable, being around someone who can read him so well. At the same time, it’s freeing. Rumi can get past his compulsive need to hide and divert and straight to the heart of the matter.

“Don’t worry. If something goes wrong, I’ll be right there. We fucking got this, Birdie.”

“Yeah. We got this.”

With all the control taken from his hands, though, Hawks is pretty sure he doesn’t got this. At the end of the day, if he gets the order, what can he do?

After a dramatic few seconds, Rumi huffs. “This is depressing. I don’t know why I’m friends with you.”

Hawks grins despite himself. “Because there’s a long list of people you’d feel justified beating up on my behalf.”

The Rabbit Heroine snaps her fingers. “Right. And I’m gonna do it one day, too. It’s gonna feel so good.” She stretches then checks the time on a small wrist attachment. “Come on. I got places to be.”

“Where are we going?” Hawks wonders, unfurling his wings. Technically, he’s supposed to be on patrol right now over the city, and he is. If Rum is planning a stop, he’ll just use one of his thirty minute breaks that are required by law but the Commission never allowed him to take.

“How do you feel about coffee?” Rumi asks with a wide grin.

*

Dabi looks up from the counter he’s wiping when the bell above the door signals the entrance of new customers.

“Hey there, Touya!” The Rabbit Heroine Miruko calls, waving at him enthusiastically.

“Hey,” he says back without much enthusiasm. He’s still not much of a hero fan, though there are some he’s willing to admit are okay. Miruko is pending approval at the moment. She has a take no shit attitude that he appreciates. On the flip side, she’s been coming in here in her full hero costume regularly to hit on Fuyumi when she drops by for her morning coffee before heading to school.

The worst part is that Fuyumi seems to be enjoying the company. Dabi has to admit that using, “I heard your dad’s a bitch. Give me his jail cell number and I’ll drop by to beat his ass,” was a pretty good pick-up line, he just didn’t think it would work as well as it did.

“The usual?” he asks, already readying the cup for her monstrosity of an illegal number of shots of espresso paired with caffeine packets and whipped cream on top.

“You know me,” the hero grins. “And whip up something for my friend as well.”

For the first time, Dabi notices the man behind her. It’s the current number two hero, Hawks. It almost looks like he’s trying to hide behind Miruko, and god that’s hilarious. He cocks an eyebrow. “Lemme guess, iced skinny caramel macchiato, extra caramel, hold the whip.”

Hawks’s face changes just a shade, getting closer to the color of his wings. “Um, sure, that sounds good.”

Miruko laughs and slaps Hawks in the back. “Go make friends or something. I got things to do.” She stalks over to where Fuyumi is sitting at a small table, waving to her.

Hawks watches her leave with something like despair dawning in his eyes. Oh, he’s her adopted introvert and she just left him. Dabi grins. This should be good. The abandoned pro takes a seat on one of the barstools, perched like a lonely little bird.

Dabi finishes up the drinks, dropping off Miruko’s first, then Hawks’s. He crosses his arms on the counter, and leans in conversationally. Business is slow at the moment, so he can afford to take some time teasing the number two hero. When will get another chance like this?

“First time coming somewhere like this?” he asks.

It’s honestly alarming how quickly the hero’s face morphs, from something nervous and unsure to poised and conversational in a heartbeat. “Yeah, I don’t get out much,” he admits with a laugh, ruffling his tawny blond hair with his free hand. He takes a sip of his drink. “Not bad. Really sweet though.”

Dabi smirks. “It’s one of our most popular. I don’t care for it myself, though.”

“Hm, what would you recommend?”

Dabi shrugs. “I’m more of an energy drink kind of person.” Strawberry, is on the tip of his tongue, but he holds back. This isn’t one of those conversations. It’s small talk, and he hates small talk. But, for some reason, he finds himself intrigued by the way Hawks makes small talk. Usually, it’s a sign of inanity, empty-headed fools trying to strike up a shallow connection. Hawks wields it like a weapon. It’s careful, calculated, a mask.

They end up talking in this vein for almost half an hour, only interrupted by a few customers. Dabi doesn’t learn anything about Hawks, at least nothing that he didn’t already know. It’s amazing really how he manages to keep the conversation engaging while talking about absolutely nothing. Then Fuyumi has to leave, so Miruko comes to pick up Hawks.

“We’ll be back,” she says. “Don’t worry. I won’t let your budding coffee addiction die. We’ll turn you into a normal person yet.”

Hawks waves apologetically as Miruko leads him away. “The coffee was delicious,” he calls as he’s tugged out the door.

By himself again in the café, Dabi can’t suppress a smile. He kind of hopes the hero drops in again, if only so he can figure out what’s hiding behind that mask. He might be willing to add another name to the “heroes who don’t  totally suck” list.

Chapter Text

A week later, the decisions about work studies are released.

Hawks stares at the email informing him of his three interns. He knew it was coming, but getting the email feels final. He's really going to have to do this.

He could have just said no when Todoroki called him, called Midoriya on his bluff. But he hadn't.

He'd had a mission to recruit Midoriya, and he had, despite his feelings. He hates his dedication. He hates how he's been trained like a dog to put aside everything else to follow an order. It's sickening, like he isn't even in control of his actions.

He's a weapon with a role and years of training to make sure he plays that role. He doesn't know anything else. Going against the mission, acting outside of orders, he can barely comprehend that. It's easier with Rumi, but she doesn't know about this. This isn't stopping for coffee during patrol or cheating on his diet.

Breaking the order of his life like that feels like something that would destroy him. What would he even do? Without something to work for, derailed from his purpose?

He probably wouldn't get to choose. The Commission has put out kill orders for less. He knows. He's carried them out.

His phone rings, Rumi's picture appearing on the screen to grin at him. He feels drained when he answers.

"Birdie! I got my intern! Did yours come through?"

Hawks doesn't have the energy to match her, not with the sinking feeling in his gut. And yet, he can speak in his usual tone. It's fake. So fake. He hates it. He can't help it.

"All three of them," he drawls like he's bragging.

"They're gonna have no idea what hit them!" Rumi cackles.

No shit, Hawks thinks. "Don't be too hard on your intern," he tells Rumi.

"Tough love, Hawks, tough love. The brat's gotta get stronger somehow. It's not like he's actually gonna be in danger. I'll be there the whole time."

Rumi being there is half the danger.

"I'll see you later for patrol. Have fun!" She says and hangs up.

Hawks leans back in his chair. He doesn't know what he's doing.

He's a little new to the identity crisis scene. For years, he had acted without question, done whatever the Commission asked of him. He wanted to be a hero. They told him what he had to do to be one. He never questioned it. Not until he met Rumi and saw how she was different, until he learned Endeavour's true colors. The questions had come after that.

A few years ago, if he had gotten the orders to investigate or eliminate a UA student, Hawks wouldn't have hesitated. The Commission knew better than he did. It had to be the right thing.

But now...

He still wants to be a hero, and he can't be one like this. Heroes don't do what he does. This isn't what he wanted, but he doesn't have a choice. He'd never really had one. The Commission controls everything about his life. Even if he were to somehow escape or get out of doing the mission, the Commission would just send someone else after the kid.

At least if it's him, he has a chance to stay involved, to do something. It may be that the only way to be a hero is to protect, whatever it takes.

He turns his attention to other matters. The Commission has recently been paying more attention to the vigilante population, particularly the Musutafu vigilantes that have been popping up and gaining popularity. There are whispers of an organization, the league of Vigilantes, which would explain why the vigilantes have spread out so efficiently to do the heroes' jobs. Naturally, the Commission is les than pleased. They don't generally care that much about vigilantes. Too many of them die or are seriously injured on the job for it to be a popular profession, and most vigilantes try to stay out of the spotlight to avoid capture. These new vigilantes, however...

At the top of the list he's supposed to be investigating - with what time, he doesn't know - are Night Owl and the Blue Spirit. The Commission is beyond annoyed with them. They've been active for months, Night Owl even longer than the Blue Spirit.

Hawks's impression from the raid he'd been invited to, yet another thing that had driven the Commission mad, was that they were more than competent. Their skill and power rivalled some pro heroes. The other members of the League of Vigilantes that he'd seen on the raid weren't as powerful, except perhaps for the other fire-user, but the fact that they were organized more than made up for that.

Night Owl is obviously the leader. Hawks is pretty sure he was injured during that raid, but it must not have been too bad, because he's back on the streets. He still has no idea what the vigilante's quirk is. The internet thinks it's some kind of book-summoning quirk or a speech-based one, which makes no sense to Hawks. Night Owl's quirk is obviously a powerful one, even if he's managed to keep it under wraps. The real threat regarding him, however, is his social media presence. His Herogram has hundreds of thousands of followers. People are taking a more favorable view of vigilantes because of him. They're questioning the way the Commission is running things, if ordinary citizens have to take it into their own hands to pick up the slack for the pro heroes.

The Blue Spirit is always by Night Owl's side. He has an obvious fire quirk which he wields with considerable skill. His quirk might be some kind of general elemental one, though, based on what Hawks saw at the raid. He and Night Owl share the Herogram account, and he has a dedicated fan base.

Of the rest of the members of the League that Hawks knows about, the biggest threat would be the other fire-user who introduced himself as Dabi. The Commission also flagged a new vigilante calling themselves Stain. Hawks isn't sure if he's in the League or not, yet. The old Stain was solidly against heroes, but the League has shown themselves willing to work alongside heroes. It's unknown if the new Stain has the same convictions. There are more members, spread out all over the city. The reports he's been given don't provide all that much information about how many he should expect, or what their capabilities are.

Despite the lack of information about the nature of the League, where it meets, or where to find its members, the Commission wants him to infiltrate. It's probably the stupidest thing they've asked Hawks to do. He's the number two hero, for crying out loud! If the rumors of All Might's retirement are true, he'll soon be number one. He has no chance of hiding his identity. The best he'll be able to manage is playing at being a sympathetic hero, like Gran Torino, who has apparently gone senile and can't provide any information about the League. Being a sympathizer won't grant him the same access as being one of the vigilantes would, but it's something to go off.

First, though, he has to make contact with a member of the League. Night Owl and the Blue Spirit, while keeping up a social media presence, have disappeared from the more populated areas. There are still reports, but they're all coming from areas with high crime rates where people are less likely to report a vigilante for saving their life. The people in those areas are generally pretty protective of their vigilantes, not that Hawks can blame them.

There's not much of a pattern to the other sightings, although Dabi is often spotted in one of the downtown areas near where Hawks has daytime patrols with Rumi. It's not far from one of the big hospitals, and the crime rate isn't too bad, but it has its share of petty crime. Dabi spends most of his time in worse areas, but every so often there's a report that he stopped a mugging or interrupted a robbery in the downtown. It's his only consistency.

Hawks resigns himself to spending his nights on stakeouts. Orders are orders. He has nothing against the vigilantes. Hopefully, if Hawks is on the job, some of the heat will dissipate.

His feelings on the matter are a difficult mess to sort through. Hawks is watching himself fall deeper as he realizes more and more just how much he disagrees with the Commission. He wants a world where heroes aren't needed. The vigilantes are contributing to that. He doesn't want to contribute to the fall of a group whose greatest crime is making the Commission look bad.

*

"Do you think that Dabi is stealing my brand?" Shoto asks.

He and Izuku are running across the rooftops, checking out one of the areas that Dabi had put on their map. After resuming his vigilante activities, Izuku has been trying his best not to rely on the vestiges' quirks, and also dealing with more petty crime in areas on the fringes of patrols. It's good practice in hand-to-hand combat.

Izuku gives it a moment of thought. "His fire is a different color than yours, so I don't think people will mistake the two of you."

"That's the problem." Shoto sighs. "He has blue fire, and I'm the Blue Spirit. Blue was my color."

Bruh, Yoichi says, he cannot be worried about this.

It's a valid concern, Nana says. people started calling me Superwoman after I got super strength on top of Float. Do you know how annoying that was?

"Well, the original Blue Spirit didn't have blue flames either," Izuku points out.

"Right. He had swords," Shoto says gravely.

"That's not what I'm saying." Izuku can see where this is going. It's like the sports festival all over - Shoto deciding that he has to match Izuku. There's no need for that. Shoto can do more good if he uses his quirk.

"But you're fighting quirkless," Shoto objects. Yep, there it is.

"I'm different. We still don't know the limits of my abilities. If I'm ever in a situation where I can't access the vestiges, I can't be relying on them and not be able to defend myself." Izuku has been training and trying to find the limits of his quirk. So far, he's discovered that a single vestige can't stay in control for more than a few minutes. Additionally, if he spends too much time possessed, it leaves him drained. "I don't want to be beaten because i run out of time."

No danger of that, kid, Kudo snorts. We trained you well.

"I could lose my quirk as well," Shoto argues. "There are all kinds of suppressants out there. It would be nice to have a second option."

"You...have a point." The quirk-eraser that Overhaul was working never made it onto the market, but law enforcement especially likes to carry around suppressing cuffs, and those same suppressant cuffs have been known to make it onto the black market.

Shoto stays silent for a bit before he suggests, "You could take up the boomerang."

Izuku stops and stares him down. "No. Just no."

I don't know, it could come in handy, Yoichi says. Sharpen the edges...

"We think weapons are a great idea," Hikage takes over, "but boomerangs are not for us. Thank you for the suggestion, though. I have long been of the opinion that Izuku needs something more than a gun."

"What's wrong with a gun?" Kudo argues. "All for One got beaten by a gun. Everyone else is small fry."

"As a vigilante, Izuku doesn't have a license," Hikage replies. "It's illegal for him."

"Vigilantism is illegal!"

"I just think a different and more difficult to trace weapon would be a good investment," Hikage says.

"They're right, you know," Shoto says.

"I'll think about it," Izuku promises. "I'll just have to find something that fits." He'd never really thought much about using weapons. With the new support gear he's getting though, it might be a good idea to request a weapon of some kind. He'll have to talk it over with Hatsume. She always has the best ideas.

*

When Hawks walks into the cafe fifteen minutes before closing, Dabi has to exercise considerable self control not to set something one fire. The pro hero has been hanging around all week, although he hasn't come into the cafe without Miruko, and it's getting on Dabi's nerves. He's always hanging out on the rooftops when Dabi gets off work, which is disrupting his vigilante routine considerably. He's no longer able to do a thorough sweep of the area before he moves out, something he's gotten in the habit of doing ever since he caught some punks vandalizing the cafe. Maybe it isn't necessary with Hawks hanging around, but it's the principle of the thing.

This late, Hawks is the only customer. Dabi's coworker is in the back, which means he'll have to deal with the hero.

"What can I get you?" he asks.

Hawks shifts nervously and scans the menu. "I'm gonna have a late night, so something to help me stay awake." The pro hero chuckles a little sheepishly.

Dabi looks at him more closely. There are bags under the hero's eyes that weren't there before. The goggles probably hide them well enough during the day, but Hawks has them pushed back on his head. His whole aura lacks its usual energy.

He's been outside every night for who knows how long, and Dabi still sees him in the mornings when Miruko drops by with him. How late is he staying out? Is he sleeping at all?

He doesn't ask that, though, just gives Hawks four shots of espresso and his condolences.

After the cafe closes, Dabi manages to slip away without catching Hawks's attention. He dons his vigilante coat and mask, pulling his hood up to cover his distinctive hair. Since moving back with his family, he's gone back to his natural white. It's nice, looking like he's related to his siblings. With his distinctive scars gone, he's adopted a mask to cover the lower half of his face. it also helps with smoke inhalation.

If there hadn't been any criminals out, he might have gotten away. Unfortunately, Dabi can't just walk by the drug deal going down. He does not want to have to deal with thugs hopped up on Trigger anywhere near his workspace. It doesn't take long, but the noise attracts Hawks. The hero soars into the alleyway, crimson feathers pinning the last few thugs to the wall.

Dabi gets ready to run. There are lots of heroes willing to turn a blind eye to vigilantes like him, but he can't take a chance that Hawks will be the same and let his guard down around him. If worst comes to worst and they have to fight, Dabi should have a bit of an advantage because Hawks's feathers are flammable.

Unexpectedly, Hawks nods to him. "Good work."

Dabi doesn't know what to say, so he just silently nods back and continues on his way, leaving Hawks to take care of the criminals.

He doesn't catch sight of the hero the rest of the night, which is a good thing, but the next night, Hawks is patrolling the area again. This time, when he catches sight of Dabi, he waves.

What the fuck is going on?

Chapter Text

Now, Hawks isn't a parent and thus far has no plans to be one, but he's heard a fair amount of the horror stories about new parents. They get no sleep because they have to stay up and check on the baby at all hours of the night. As soon as they fall asleep, the baby starts crying.

Right now, the Commission is acting suspiciously like a baby, completely irrational, keeping Hawks up all night, and giving him new assignments before he has time to rest. 

A hero patrol and being on call is already a fulltime job. The Midoriya case is more than enough to keep him busy. The vigilante case on top of that is too much.

So far, he's gotten exactly nowhere with both of them. Work studies start this week, which gives him the opportunity to look into Midoriya. As for the vigilantes, he's seen Dabi, the fire-user, a few times. The vigilante is distrustful and hesitant toward him. Building up enough trust to be admitted into the League will take time. In the meantime, Hawks is living off of coffee. Conveniently, Rumi's cafe with the scarred, white-haired barista is in the area. Hawks is pretty sure he's what's considered a regular at this point.

He's waiting in his office, using his down time between morning and afternoon patrols to look through the latest reports of vigilante sightings. The mug of cheap coffee from his agency's coffee maker has gone cold. Hawks can't bring himself to finish it. It just isn't as good at whatever it is that he gets at the cafe. He's never been much of a coffee drinker, preferring energy drinks when he can sneak one from Rumi or else those caffeinated protein shakes, but the coffee from the cafe is something else.

The phone on his desk beeps and the intercom turns on. "Hawks, the interns are here," his secretary, a Commission plant informs him.

He presses the button to turn his mic on. "I'll be right down."

Leaving behind the boring police reports that don't have anywhere near enough details to either be interesting or of use, Hawks springs out of his chair and stretches his wings. He takes the balcony rather than waiting for an elevator. Tokoyami will probably be expecting him to come down this way, anyways. Speaking of Tokoyami, he's missed his dark chick. It'll be nice to have the kid around again.

He touches down outside his agency and folds his wings in. The automatic doors slide open for him, and he strides in, a confident smile on his face. He needs to make a good first impression on his new chicks. They're expecting the smooth, suave almost number one hero, and he needs to deliver.

The three students stand directly inside, just to the right of the information desk.

Todoroki is easily recognized. His distinct hair sets him apart immediately. His cool glance falls on Hawks, and Hawks feels like he's being appraised. Then his eyes return to Midoriya who's standing beside him.

The green-haired boy mutters to himself and scribbles furiously in a notebook he has balanced on one knee. He looks a little different than Hawks remembers seeing him in the sports festival. The face is the same, but the hair color is a big change. There are still subtle streaks of white in it that catch the light and Hawks's attention. A shadow of a scar crosses the bridge of his nose in an X shape. Looking at him is like looking at a kaleidoscope, like pieces of many different people melding into a mosaic of a person to create someone new and old all at the same time.

Then, Todoroki nudges the boy, and Midoriya looks up. His eyes lock onto Hawks, boring into him. Hawks feels a shiver go down his spine as Midoriya's face shifts. His expression ripples into into a blank, bored expression with tired eyes. The green eyes, glowing subtly under the bright office lights, rake over him. Midoriya nods curtly, and then he's back to normal.

"Hawks!" he exclaims.

Hawks puts on his trademark smile and waves. "Hey, chickadees! So glad you all could make it."

Tokoyami rolls his eyes, but nonetheless looks pleased.

"Tokoyami here can show you where to put your things," Hawks says, strolling forward with his hands in his pockets. "Get changed and we'll head out to do some training and get to know each other before our first patrol."

He'd figured that this was the best way to get to know them, especially Midoriya. If he's going to get the Commission off the kid's back, he'll need a convincing lie, and the most convincing lies are the ones that are closest to the truth. Since unlike the internships, he only gets the kids after school and on weekends, instead of having them for a whole week uninterrupted, he'll have to use his time wisely.

*

Hawks looks over his interns with a critical eye once they reach the training field they'll be using for the next hour or so. Todoroki, or Vulpix as he supposes he should be calling him, has simple white jumpsuit with red accents. A half cape hangs around his shoulders, stylish but not in the way. The mask that covers the top half of his face is delicate, reminiscent of a masquerade mask. He's got the "ice prince" vibe going, and it seems to work for him, so Hawks has nothing to critique. Tokoyami is looking emo as always, although it seems that he's made a few alterations. Underneath the cloak, he's wearing what looks like a sleeveless martial arts uniform in his customary black. The uniform might be sleeveless, but Tokoyami is wearing a long-sleeved armored shirt underneath, so he's showing minimal skin and is very protected.

Midoriya, also known as 81 - and there's a name Hawks can't begin to understand - has perhaps the most interesting costume out of all of them, but that's probably because Hawks doesn't know what his quirk is. The sleeveless green bodysuit shows off his powerful biceps, but his forearms are covered in armored gauntlets. He has these weird fingerless gloves that have a cutout on the back of the hand and built-in brass knuckles. He has what looks like a gun strapped to one thigh, right above the battered kneepads. His boots are steel-toed and probably pack a mean kick. Hawks doesn't know what the goggles are for, or why Midoriya has a loose cowl of fabric that could easily be grabbed around his neck, but he'll wait to cast judgment until he knows what Midoriya's quirk is.

"You all look great!" he says, fluttering his wings ever so slightly for emphasis. "Real heroes in the making. But, enough of that. Since we're going to be working together, we should get to know each other a little, don't you think? I know Tsukoyomi here, but not you two. So, what made you pick my agency for your internship."

"Midoriya was coming, so I came with him," Todoroki says bluntly.

So, they're close. Hawks could have guessed as much from the way Todoroki had insisted on getting an offer, but this confirms it. Todoroki may know something, or Midoriya might feel comfortable enough around him to let something slip. This could work to Hawks's advantage.

"Well, nothing wrong with being around friend." Hawks chuckles. "What about you 81?" He genuinely is curious about this. He is the number two, probably soon number one hero, which is a good reason to accept his offer on its own, but Midoriya doesn't seem to be the type of person to just pick the highest ranked option. The way he's been manipulating his identity and hiding his information from even the Commission...Hawks knows he's smart. There has to be something else.

"You're an experienced pro hero, and one of the youngest to make it so high in the rankings consistently, ever since your debut. You had one of the most successful debuts of any pro hero." Midoriya's eyes glint with suspicion. "I think there's a lot I could learn from you."

A generic answer, with a hint of what might be flattery or what could be a warning that Midoriya knows more than he's letting on. Great. The mind games are already starting.

"Well, then. What are you all hoping to learn on this internship? I can teach you all about paperwork, but something tells me that's not actually what you're here for. I'm sure you're all familiar with my quirk." He spreads his wings. "Fierce Wings allows me to fly, of course, but I can do a lot more with it."

Midoriya nods sagely. "You can control every individual feather, and sense things through them. It's a useful quirk, with many applications, both in capture and rescue work, especially search and rescue. It could also be used with great success in infiltrations or espionage." The dangerous glint is back. "Like, you could scout out a villain hideout without setting foot anywhere near it. You can also use your feathers as weapons, like darts and such, but you've also been known to use larger primaries as swords."

Todoroki seemed to perk up a little bit at that.

"You sure know your stuff. I can do all that. Now the question is, what can you do, and what do you want to learn to do?"

Tokoyami goes first. "Dark Shadow and I would like to continue to improve the applications of our quirk. We're getting better at flying, but we think we can do much more."

Hawks snaps his fingers. "You're doing great already. I can't wait to see how you'll improve."

Todoroki looks thoughtful. "I can create ice," he says, "but I don't think I need to work on that for this internship." That's good, because Hawks has no expertise in elemental quirks. "I'd like to learn more about weapon, and how to create them with my quirk. Since you do the same thing, maybe you could teach me how to use swords."

That's not a bad idea. Todoroki's quirk is powerful and versatile, but it's strengths lie in the ranged department. learning to use a weapon would make him a much more formidable opponent, especially being able to conjure a weapon out of thin air. That was certainly something Hawks could teach him.

"I'd also like to work with weapons, and also mobility," Midoriya says. "I've been in an adjustment period recently. I should be getting some new support gear to help with it soon, but in the meantime, I'd like to do what I can."

Adjustment period, huh?

"That all sounds great," Hawks says aloud. "Before we really get to work, I'd like to give you all a little test so I can get a good handle on your abilities. We'll be playing a game for the next hour or so. Tag. You're it, and all of you are after me. If anyone manages to catch me, they get to pick dinner."

"And if we can't?" Tokoyami asks, clearly seeing where this is going.

Hawks grins. "Then, tomorrow will be special training to whip you into shape."

Todoroki tilts his head to the side. "So, we just have to catch you?"

"Yep," Hawks says, popping in the "p." It's a good thing he's light on his feet, because Todoroki wastes no time in sending out a wave of ice that threatens to freeze his feet in place. "Too slow," he taunts. He isn't called the man too fast for his own good or nothing,

Dark Shadow is already lifting Tokoyami off the ground. Hawks flaps his wings and climbs higher in the air. He's not too worried about his chick catching up to him. Tokoyami is still slow in the air. He's more curious to see how the others will deal with this.

Midoriya draws his weapon form its holster, and Hawks brain bluescreens. Midoriya's not actually planning on shooting him, is he? What the fuck?

Then, Midoriya sets it to the side, clearly showing that he won't be using it, and Hawks's heartbeat slows from the frantic pace it had jumped to. He's not quite sure why his brain jumped to that conclusion immediately. Maybe it's the result of being a pro hero and always being in dangerous situations. Maybe it's because his own training was equally lethal when he was even younger than his interns. Maybe it's because his instincts are telling him that something about Midoriya isn't right. Something about him is dangerous. He's dangerous.

And yet, he put the gun aside. Midoriya is dangerous, but whether or not Hawks is on the receiving end of the danger is still up in the air.

The training ground they're using is mostly an open space, good for flying. It has several large obstacles, meant for practice in maneuvering. Tokoyami is just weaving around one of them when Midoriya and Todoroki make their move.

Todoroki takes off running toward Midoriya who waits for him with his legs slightly bent and his hands interlocked in front of him. He makes a step for Todoroki, who fearlessly puts himself in Midoriya's hands. The technique is one that's obviously been practiced and perfected. Just what are they learning at UA? It's impressive how much of a boost Todoroki gets. He latches onto the side of the rock-like structure, creating ice holds for his hands and feet. Midoriya follows him, scaling the surface like a spider. They reach the top scarily fast.

Still, Hawks has the advantage in the air.

At least, he does until Todoroki starts making ice bridges between all the obstacles, effectively making more obstacles. All of a sudden, evading his interns is going to be much more difficult. Tokoyami  keeps him on the move, while Todoroki makes it difficult to move. And Midoriya...well. Hawks doesn't know why, but he feels like Midoriya is going to make this even worse.

With the ice bridges, Midoriya is able to run about freely in the air, armed with - are those balls of ice? Holy shit!

He dodges easily but considers that his evaluation of how lethal Midoriya is willing to be needs updating. Todoroki keeps putting up new pillars and bridges, and Tokoyami is right on his heels. It's a good thing Hawks is proficient in multitasking. Keeping track over his three interns isn't the most difficult task he's faced, not be a long shot. He weaves around the obstacles, still  maddeningly out of reach. Honestly, this is kind of fun. Teaching Tokoyami to fly had been fun, but this feels like he's just playing a game.

Hawks can't keep the smile off his face as Todoroki misses him with a pillar of ice and Tokoyami has to swerve to avoid it. There should be an ice ball coming at his head right about now.

It doesn't.

All of Hawks's feathers stiffen. when he sees the green blur slipping off the edge of a ice bridge. Midoriya is falling, diving toward the ground, flailing uselessly.

Hawks zips toward him before he can take a breath. He snatches his intern out of the air. Midoriya clings to him desperately. Hawks flutters his wings mid-air. God, that had scared him. It wasn't how he had wanted this first exercise together to go at all. He's a hero, so close calls are  something he's grown accustomed to, but this feels personal. Midoriya is his intern, one of his chicks, and he looks so scared. Hawks is responsible for him. No matter what the Commission wants out of this internship, Hawks is supposed to be protecting these kids.

He really isn't be able to do anything to hurt them, will he? He just can't. He won't. These kids won't be hurt on his watch.

And then Midoriya grins. "Got you."

Chapter Text

Izuku grins at Hawks from his position in the hero's arms.

The strategy had been a risky one, especially for a game, but it isn't like he was in any real danger. And, he'd wanted to check something about Hawks.

All Might had said something once during class, something that Aizawa had immediately refuted on the basis that they were already impulsive idiots as they were and they didn't need encouraging. All Might had amended his statement, but it still stuck with Izuku, partially because it was one of the few teachings from All Might that all the vestiges whole-heartedly agreed with.

Heroes work to save, and the best heroes have an instinct in them to save that cannot be denied. Some day you may find that your body moves on its own in moments of danger. That is the hero's instinct.

Hawks, it appears, has that instinct. He'd saved Izuku as a matter of reflex without stopping to think.

In the meantime, Hawks is staring at Izuku with a mixture of confusion and disbelief on his face. "You did that on purpose?"

Izuku nods cheerfully.

"You could have died," Hawks says seriously, his carefree hero persona gone in the breeze, leaving only wide pupils that could be from focus or from fear. "If I hadn't caught you..."

"You did, though," Izuku points out.

I could have done it, too, Nana offers.

Yeah, like we'd let you fall, Banjo scoffs.

Hawks looks over Izuku's face, scrutinizing it like there's an answer hidden there, but he doesn't seem to find anything. He shakes himself. "Well, I guess I lost then. Game over."

He sinks to the ground and sets Izuku down. Tokoyami glides in, and Shoto creates an ice ramp to slide down.

"81, you get to pick where we go for dinner. You all still have to train tomorrow, but we can do conditioning some other day." Hawks shoves his hands in his pockets in an attempt to look nonchalant.

But, having just been pressed up very close to him, Izuku knows it's to hide the fact that his hands are shaking. He hadn't meant to scare the hero quite that much. Nedzu had given him some very cryptic advice before he left for the internship, to "See what kind of hero Hawks was." So far, Hawks is proving to be a good hero. He isn't quite sure what Nedzu meant by that yet.

One thing's for sure, something is going on.

*

Izuku ends up picking a buffet style restaurant for their evening meal. It's as much for himself and the seven ghosts who all have different tastes as it is for the others.

The rest of the late afternoon is spent going over the agency, their territory, and any active cases that they're working on. Tokoyami is already familiar with this and only needs a briefing on the new cases, but Izuku and Shoto, whose internships were cut short and unusual, soak up the new information.

"And that's everything," Hawks says, as he plops the case file he was holding down on his desk.

The hero could have delegated the task of explaining everything to his sidekicks, but instead he did it himself. Izuku gets the feeling he's trying to spend as much time as possible with the students, which would be ideal, if he wasn't the acting number one hero who's up to his ears in obligations.

Next to Izuku, Shoto nods sagely. "It must be a lot of work running an agency like this so soon after your debut."

Hawks laughs and rubs the back of his head. "What can I say, I like to stay busy."

Eying the stacks of case files that Hawks had sped them through, Izuku can believe it. He spies an untouched stack on one corner of the desk and leans toward them to get a closer look. He only manages to read the word Musutafu on one of the tabs before Hawks notices him and sends a feather to drop a sheet of paper on top of them.

"Those are confidential," he says with an apologetic look.

Oh, he's definitely hiding something, Kudo says.

Izuku has to agree. While it isn't strange for there to be cases that are above his clearance level in the agency, Musutafu isn't even Hawks's area of operation. The agency is in Fukuoka. There are any number of explanations for that - teamups, raids, undercover missions - but it piques his curiosity all the same.

"Today was just to get you settled. We'll start the regular schedule tomorrow. You'll be shadowing some of my sidekicks in the morning to get the hang of the paperwork, and in the afternoon, we'll go on a patrol. I've put aside time to do special training with all of you as well, so have something in mind that you want to work on. I can't guarantee that I know everything, but I do know a lot. Even if you're not birds like Tsukoyomi here, I figure I can teach you something." Hawks stands and stretches. "Now, I'm starving. Let's go eat. Make sure you enjoy it, since it's the last time I'm paying for all of you."

*

At the restaurant, they find a booth and settle in. Hawks with his wings draped over the seat behind them. He looks relaxed and comfortable, but Izuku knows better. Beneath his languid facade, Hawks is prepared for action at a moment's notice, tight as a violin string. His wings are angled so that he'll be able to deploy a substantial fraction of his feathers immediately in case of a threat. Izuku even spotted a few feathers drifting to inconspicuous spots around the entrance of the restaurant on their way in. Hawks has set up a perimeter.

Izuku would call it paranoia, but Hawks is completely justified. He's not the most popular hero in Japan after All Might for nothing.

They've all changed out of their hero costumes, but Hawks's wings are too recognizable.

Going to a buffet was a good call, judging by the variety of foods on everyone's plates. Shoto has a giant bowl of cold soba in front of him, a plate of chocolate-dipped strawberries, a strawberry milkshake, and french fries? Tokoyami opted for a bowl of mixed grains that looks suspiciously like high quality cooked birdseed. Dark Shadow is snacking on a bowl of mixed berries, which leads to the intriguing question of can Dark Shadow eat for Tokoyami? Definitely worth looking into. Hawks had made a beeline for the section of the buffet dedicated to wings. Izuku counts at least fifteen different types of fried chicken on his plate. One the side, he has an very rare steak.

The pro hero winks at them. "I won't tell my dietician if you don't."

Something about that doesn't sit well with Izuku, but it makes sense for pro heroes to have personal trainers and dieticians looking after them, so he brushes it off.

For his own part, Izuku has several plates sitting in front of him. He's discovered that his new not-quirk burns through a lot of calories, even more than One for All did. He's also discovered that the best way to get adequate protein is to hand control over to Nana and let her chug protein shakes to her hearts content.

I still can't wait until you're old enough to legally drink, Kudo grumbles. I want to get wasted again.

If you get wasted we all get wasted, Yoichi argues. Besides, you'd end up with whatever Izuku's tolerance for alcohol is.

Bruce snorts. Who knows, it might be an improvement for the boss.

Hey, ask Shoto for some of his fries, Nana interrupts.

Izuku ignores the voices in his head in favor of inhaling sushi.

Once Hawks is finished with his chicken, he wipes his fingers on a napkin and looks at the three of them. "I feel like we should get to know each other a little bit, since we're going to work together. I've seen you all fight, so I have a good idea of your capabilities, but I don't really know anything else about you. I won't bore you with stuff you already know about me, so tell me about yourselves? Hobbies, favorite shows, hopes and dreams, all that stuff." He put his elbows on the table and propped his face in his hands. "I'm all ears."

He already asked you guys to do introductions. Izuku can feel Kudo rolling his eyes. Seriously, why's he trying to be so buddy-buddy with all of you?

Tokoyami did warn us that he was like this, Izuku reminds him, although I didn't think he'd be quite this...pushy? clingy?

He's faking it, En says quietly.

A wave of agreement from the other vestiges washes over Izuku. Part of his hero persona? he suggests.

In the meantime, he makes a subtle sign to Tokoyami that he should go first. While his classmate starts talking about some new book he's been reading, one's of En's recommendations as a matter of fact, Izuku studies Hawks.

He wants something, he decides. Probably from me. It can't be Shoto that he's interested in, since Shoto didn't get an offer, and Tokoyami...well, he clearly has some kind of attachment to him, but he's not trying to get information out of him. Hawks is obviously paying rapt attention to Tokoyami's literary analysis of the symbolism of darkness in Shakespeare. The hero seems to be more interested in mentoring him than anything else.

Well, you are an interesting specimen, Kudo says. Your file is a hot mess.

But why would he care about that? Izuku wonders. They'd considered that Hawks may have made the connection between him and Night Owl, but he's been careful. Hawks shouldn't have much of a reason to think he and the vigilante are the same person.

Curiosity, Banjo suggests.

500 points say it has something to do with the files in his office that he wouldn't show you, Kudo says.

He can't have connected the dots just yet, Yoichi reassures him. We'll just have to throw him off his rhythm.

*

"So," Tokoyami turns to look at him as they walk out of the restaurant. Hawks had gotten a call and had to leave, so they were walking back to the agency by themselves. "What do you think?"

Dark Shadow peeks over his shoulder. "Something isn't right, you feel it, too?"

Izuku feels a little guilty. He'd almost forgotten his original objective, which was to figure out what was going on with Hawks. Before he says anything, though, he nods to his companions. Check for feathers, he mimes to them.

They each quickly check their clothes. Izuku discovers a small red feather lodged in the hood of his hoodie, and Shoto finds one tucked under his collar.

"Oh, did Hawks give you any of his feathers? I have one that he gave me to break in case of emergencies," Tokoyami says. His tone is contrived, but Tokoyami has never been much of a liar.

"That's so cool!" Izuku says with false enthusiasm. "It's super thoughtful of him." He moves into talk about training and Fukuoka, to keep the conversation natural.

They veer off the sidewalk and into a park. Izuku collects the feathers and sets them under a rock near where some kids are playing an shouting, the perfect filler noise, then pulls the others out of earshot.

"I'm not sure, yet, but something is off about him," Izuku answers Tokoyami's initial question in a hushed tone.

Tokoyami nods sagely, and Dark Shadow mimics him. "It's probably too early to tell, but I am grateful that you're going to help."

With any luck, Nedzu will have some info for them soon. Izuku had asked for the principal's assistance, and the rat had easily agreed. So far, the only info he's gotten is that Hawks has closer than usual ties with the Commission, but given his meteoric rise to fame, that doesn't exactly come as a surprise.

They trade observations for a few minutes before going back to get the feathers. They don't want Hawks to get suspicious just yet.

Later, once they've settled into their dormitories for the night, Izuku rouses Shoto and they slip out the window. En releases a slight smokescreen, and Nana floats them down without issue.

On the ground, Shoto asks, "Are we going back to Musutafu tonight?"

Izuku grins. "Maybe some other night." He and Shoto had already made plans for how to ensure they kept up their presence while they were in Fukuoka so that no one would connect their absences with the weekends they spent at their work studies. "We're going to break into Hawks's office."

Actually getting into their mentor's office is a little more difficult than anticipated. The security in Hawks's agency is nothing if not thorough. There are cameras everywhere, and the night shift is on call for emergencies. They end up squeezing into the vents. It's tight and less than dignified, but it works. Due to the confidentiality of the cases he works, there aren't any cameras inside Hawks's office, just outside, so they're able to breathe easy once they're inside. Just in case there are feathers, though, they have to watch their step and keep the noise to a minimum.

Shoto takes the  filing cabinet, skimming through the tabs for anything that looks interesting while Izuku rifles through the files on the desk. He quickly locates the stack of files he had noticed earlier that day. There's a red confidential stamp on the front of it and the ones beneath it. One of them is marked Hosu and another Musutafu.

Izuku opens the Musutafu file first. The opening pages are just copies of police reports mentioning vigilante activity, which immediately sets of the alarms in Izuku's head. He and Shoto are on the list, and so is Dabi, along with Spinner and several other vigilantes he's become acquainted with. The information isn't anything damning or identifying, but knowing that Hawks has it sets Izuku's heart beating faster.

He flips through the pages. There are charts and graphs showing an increase in vigilante activity over the past year. It's when he reaches the end of the general information section that Izuku's voice really hitches in his throat.

The League of Vigilantes. The words might as well have leapt off the page and tackled him.

That's what the file is really about. A list of known members follows, accompanied by grainy images of them captured by phones or security cameras. Izuku turns the page eagerly and reads through the reports on all of them. They don't have much on his quirk, thankfully, and Shoto's page is similarly lacking in information other than that he has a fire quirk and is adept at using it. Dabi's page worries him more. Hawks has several pages of notes, tracking Dabi's activity and the best places to catch him. Izuku will have to warn him before he gets taken off guard.

So far, there's been nothing to indicate that Hawks suspects him of being Night Owl, which is a relief. That was what he was really afraid of. It's just a report on the local vigilantes, which is to be expected. The heroes have to stay on top of the vigilantes that are active.

He turns the past page, and that's when he sees the mission briefing, which probably should have been at the front, but is instead shoved into the back. The paper is creased, like it was balled up and smoothed out again.

Classification: Infiltration

Agent: Hawks

Oh shit, Yoichi exclaims.

Izuku snaps the file shut with more force than intended. His heart is beating loudly, too loudly. Can Hawks's feathers pick up on heartbeats?

Once he gets his breathing under control, he signals to Shoto that he's ready to leave, and they squeeze through the vents, dropping out in the bathroom that they entered from. They have to leave the agency before Izuku can explain what he found to Shoto, which leads to an emergency phone call to Gran Torino who informs them that this could have been an email and hangs up.

"We have to tell my brother," Shoto says grimly. "He's the one in the most danger."

Izuku nods in agreement, although he and Shoto aren't in a terribly great place either. At least Hawks isn't tracking their movements quite so thoroughly. He selects Dabi's contact and waits while the phone rings. He's not expecting anything to have happened to Dabi, but it's still a relief when he picks up.

"Hey!" a familiar cheery voice says over the line, and Izuku's blood runs cold. "Night Owl, right? Um, Dabi can't come to the phone right now. Can I take a message?"

Chapter Text

Dabi's day had been normal. Emphasis on the had been.

After his shift at the cafe, he'd changed into his vigilante garb and tried his best to avoid the stupid pro hero that insisted on watching him, well, like a hawk. He had business in that area of town. There had been reports of a quirk supremacist group trying to put down roots, and Dabi had thoughts on quirk supremacists, and also a vendetta against his quirk supremacist father that resulted in a lot of pent up rage.

Being unwilling to go to therapy for his violent tendencies, Dabi found his vigilante work very therapeutic.

Things had been going well, until he stumbled on what looked like a secret meeting that definitely wasn't supposed to have witnesses.

He'd walked into the alleyway and was met with the sight of a low-ranked hero taking a wad full of cash from a group of thugs. It looked like a scene out of a very bad hero movie. Dabi cringed just from being present.

He also had the genre awareness to realize that he was in a very precarious situation. Flames licked at his hands instinctively, and, well, it had only gone down hill from there.

One of the thugs had some kind of gas quirk, and the gas was flammable, which Dabi found out the hard way. Honestly, seven on one weren't great odds to begin with, but Dabi had a strong quirk. If he hadn't toasted himself midway through the fight, he might have stood a chance.

But now he's writhing on the ground, throat burning from inhaling a cloud of burning gas. His mask was no protection against it. The fabric was flame resistant but only to a certain degree, and the burst of heat from the gas left it peppered with charred holes. The only upside is that when he ignited the gas, he wasn't the only one caught in it. Judging by the screams, his opponents are wrapped in the same fiery vortex.

Dabi can feel his coat kick into overdrive trying to keep him cool. It's been damaged, so it isn't as effective as it usually is. He wheezes and pushes himself to his feet. The skin he can see is raw and red. But pain is an old friend. He's lived most of his life in a state of debilitating pain, so sucking it up one more time to get out of the flames isn't too much to ask.

The fire roars with a new burst of heat. Dabi stumbles forward, wincing when he crashes into the rough wall of the alley. He can't breathe. The overwhelming heat is all too familiar. It seeps into his skin until he feels like the scars are still there tugging at his skin. It's Sekoto hill all over again.

He'll be damned if he lets it end the same way.

As it turns out, it isn't like Sekoto hill, because Dabi had been alone on Sekoto. No one saved him, a bitter fact that had rankled in his soul, further cementing the idea that he was unloved and no one cared whether he lived or died.

Through the burning pain comes the phantom brush of feathers against his skin, and then he's flying through the air.

Dabi knows he's out of the inferno when his lungs take in cool, clear air. He hangs there suspended for a few moments, hoping that his coat doesn't tear and send him tumbling to the ground several feet below. That would be embarrassing, and painful.

Before that can happen, someone picks him up neatly out of the air, bridal style. Dabi would have protested at the indignity of it all if he wasn't too busy hacking up a lung. Hawks has an arm around his shoulders and another supporting his legs while they sped away from the scene.

The second Hawks set him down on a rooftop several blocks away from the burning alleyway, Dabi backs away from him, fire flickering along his arms. All he wants is to get away so he can lick his wounds, but Hawks has him cornered. Whatever the hero wants, whatever his reason for following Dabi all this time, Dabi isn't in a good position to refuse.

Hawks raises his hands in front of him in a gesture of surrender. Knowing that Hawks can telekinetically control his feathers and could easily skewer him with just a thought, Dabi doesn't feel terribly reassured.

"What do you want?" he growls out, or tries to growl out. The only thing that comes out of his throat is a gurgle. He coughs again, and the taste of iron fills his mouth.

"Throat injury?" Hawks guesses, and Dabi nods. "Hm, that might make this difficult. You probably already know me. I'm kind of recognizable. I've actually been following you for a while."

Dabi makes a go ahead gesture.

"I'm not trying to arrest you," Hawks says, and that gets Dabi's attention. "I was there, at the raid that Night Owl organized. I had some...revelations because of it. You guys aren't villains, and you're different from other vigilantes. I'd like to be able to work with you. I think that we'll be able to protect people more efficiently that way."

Dabi holds up his hand to stop Hawks right there. His mind is racing. Hawks, pretty much the number one hero at this point, wants to work with the League of Vigilantes. He fishes his phone out of his pocket and opens the notes app to type out his message which he then shows to the pro hero.

"Why should I trust you?" Hawks reads. He cocks his head to the side and his eyes lock onto Dabi. It's unnerving and intimidating all at once, the fixed gaze of a predator. "Well, I haven't arrested you yet, have I? And I have no plans to."

Dabi took his phone back to type a new message.

"How do I know you're not playing the long game?" Hawks chuckles a little but quickly reins himself back in. "You'll just have to trust me on that. I'm a highly ranked hero. I don't have much to gain from this team up that I couldn't get from teaming up with other heroes. But, I really do believe in what your group is doing. I have a dream of creating a world where heroes don't have to work and put their lives on the line every day. For that to become a reality, we need more people who are willing to take an active role in stopping crime."

It makes sense, to some extent.

"You're not afraid of people taking the law into their own hands?"

"When you get to be a hero, you learn that at the end of the day, laws don't really hold all that much weight." Hawks's voice has a bitter edge to it. He's young, Dabi's age, and one of the most beloved heroes in Japan. He shouldn't sound like that, like he's lived under the weight of unjust laws and discrimination. "Laws are just a tool meant to create order. People break laws all the time. When they don't have a lot of power, we call them villains. When they have power, we look the other way. What really matters is protecting people. Who the fuck cares about the law when you're saving people?"

Dabi has to take another break as a fit of coughing overtakes him. He spits a glob of blood out, and it leaves a bad taste in his mouth.

"You don't have to give me an answer tonight," Hawks says. "I just wanted to let you know I'm interested. I'll be around if you want to talk to me. I should probably get going. I reported that fight you got into. Police should be there by now. They'll want a statement. I'd offer to get you medical assistance, but something tells me your not interested in that."

Dabi types something and hands his phone over to the hero.

Hawks frowns at the screen. "A dirty hero, huh? Thanks for letting me know." He gives a mock salute as he holds out Dabi's phone. That's of course when the damn thing starts ringing.

Dabi can tell the moment Hawks reads the caller ID because his eyes go huge, way bigger than they should be able to. Dabi has never been more thankful that none of his contacts have their proper names, because that's Night Owl calling him. He could have blown both of their covers right there.

Hawks snatches the phone back and answers it before Dabi can stop him. "Hey! Night Owl, right? Um, Dabi can't come to the phone right now. Can I take a message?"

Dabi curses, and it comes out as a wet rasp. Hawks keeps him away easily with one arm. Dabi is tempted to torch him right then and there.

On the other end of the line, Night Owl says something, and Hawks grins.

"He's not in jail, if that's what you were wondering. He got caught in a bad situation helping me out against some villains."

Dabi rolls his eyes at the lie. That had been his fight through and through. Hawks had only come in at the end.

"He's injured, so you might want to send one of your people for him, if you do that kind of thing. I have to leave him. He can't talk because of injuries to his throat. If you don't believe me, text him or something." A pause. "Yeah, I can put you on speaker."

"Dabi?" Night Owl's voice crackles over the speaker. He's using a voice change so there's no risk of Hawks recognizing his voice. "I'm sending someone to your location. Hang tight. Hawks, if you would return his phone so he can text me."

"Right." Hawks laughs sheepishly and hands the phone over.

Dabi snatches it from his gloved hand and immediately opens his text conversation with Night Owl. 

Dabi: I'm fine, just injured.

Dabi: Hawks pulled me out of the fight.

How do I know this is the real Dabi? :Night Owl

Dabi: Blue Spirit dislocated his shoulder trying to do Azula's move from the Boiling Rock. I have video proof.

Really? He wouldn't tell me: Night Owl

Kurogiri is sending Stain to your location: Night Owl

Dabi: Could you send literally anyone else?

Shiggy's babysitting tonight, Magne has night classes, Compress has a show tonight, and everyone else is in a psych ward: Night Owl

Dabi: Mustard?

No. You're lucky I'm not leaving you to die on that roof, giving me a heart attack like that: Night Owl

Dabi: You wouldn't

Yeah, Blue would kill me: Night Owl

Dabi: besides, I have a big strong hero here with me. I wouldn't die.

Should I leave you with him?: Night Owl

Dabi: I was kidding.

Dabi: pls don't leave me with him

Dabi: he's been fucking stalking me for weeks

Stain will be there in a few: Night Owl

Dabi: k thx

Dabi exits the conversation. Spinner is all right, despite the fact that he is definitely trying to take advantage of the Stain cult by taking over the man's identity. And it's fucking working, which pisses Dabi off. At this point, he's pretty sure that he's the only member of the League without a social media following. Even Toga has one with Twice because she smuggled a phone into the hospital somehow. At least his other family, his siblings, with the exception of Shoto, are normal.

He opens his notes app again. "I've got someone coming."

"Oh, good," Hawks says. He stands hesitantly on the edge of the roof. "I should probably be going then. Y'know, so I don't have to arrest your friend."

Hawks spreads his wings, and Dabi feels a hole open in the pit of his stomach. He can't be alone again. Not like Sekoto. He's not going to be alone and burned and dying and...

"Wait!" he tries to say, but it comes out as a wheeze, and he tastes copper in the back of his throat.

Hawks stops. His wings fold on his back, and he comes back to where Dabi is sitting against the edge of the roof.

"Sorry." Dabi types frantically. This is such a stupid fucking idea, but he wants Hawks to stay, just until Spinner gets there. Anything to not be left alone. "Can you stay, just for a minute?"

"Sure," Hawks says, his voice oddly soothing, the way he probably talks to injured civilians.

Dabi cringes a little inwardly. He's being pathetic. Weak. He's better than this.

Hawks sits down next to him.

"Sorry," Dabi types again.

"It's fine. You wouldn't have gotten injured if I had done my job properly."

That's not true, but Dabi stays silent. Hawks's shoulder, covered in his thick jacket, is very soft where it's pressed up against the ruined sleeve of Dabi's own coat.

Several long seconds of quiet pass. The wind whistles on the roof. It's good. The way Dabi just overheated, he needs all the cooling he can get. It cuts through the holes of his coat and brushes against his skin.

"So, how'd you all meet? The League of Vigilantes, I mean?" Hawks asks. The way he say it, it sounds like small talk, but Dabi knows a dig for information when he hears one.

"Mutual enemy," he offers.

"Not a bad way to get a friend group."

"I hate all of them."

Hawks laughs at that, a full laugh unlike his earlier nervous chuckles. It sounds a little like a screech, but Dabi isn't particularly bothered. It's kind of special. He can't imagine the ultra photogenic Hawks making such an undignified sound in front of the press. Maybe he can get a recording of it.

"Sorry," Hawks says, holding back his laughter. "Sounds like they're fun to be around." There's an edge of wistfulness that Dabi recognizes.

"Only occasionally."

"You know, if you wanted to--"

A black could swirls into existence on the roof. His ride is here. Dabi has his phone in his hand for a final message to Hawks, but the pro is already on his feet. With a quiet rustle of his feathers, Hawks has spread his wings. A second later, he's in the air soaring away from the roof. Dabi watches him go. For some reason, he wants to see him in the morning.

Spinner steps out of the portal in al his Stain cosplay glory. "Dabi, your ambulance is here."

The vigilante walks over and gives Dabi a hand up. "Someone did a number on you," he observes.

"I found you a target, one of those false heroes you  like to go on about," Dabi types out.

"It would be my pleasure." Spinner grins. "Now, we need to get you out of here before that hero comes back with reinforcements."

Dabi nods and allows Spinner to help him through the portal.

*

Hawks buries his face in his hands as he flies. He's an idiot. A goddamn idiot. He'd been about to ask Dabi for his fucking number when the other vigilante arrived. He could have screwed up his entire mission, blown his cover wide open. He's so stupid.

But in that moment, he hadn't been thinking about the mission. He'd been thinking about the aura of warmth that surrounded Dabi. The man was a fire user, so that was probably normal for him. Hawks, thanks to his avian genetics, is perpetually cold, and being in Dabi's vicinity was like having his own personal space heater. His hero costume was made to keep his body heat in, but it could only do so much when he was flying and it was windy. He'd gotten too comfortable.

He isn't ready to think about the panic that shot through his system when he'd tracked the vigilante to that alley and seen him wreathed in flame. He'd been so tempted to call an ambulance on the spot. Only the knowledge that doing so would irrevocably wreck his relations with Dabi prevented him. If he screws this up, the Commission will put someone else on the case, and he doesn't want that. He's confident that, even if he has to turn the League in eventually, he can minimize the damage. Other operatives don't feel the same.

But, Dabi has the League to back him up. Hawks can go give his report, sure that someone is taking care of his injuries, happy that Dabi wanted him to stay, if only for a moment.

Chapter Text

The second day of their internship dawns, and Tokoyami is the only one of them who is actually well-rested. Ironic, since he’s the one most inclined to be nocturnal due to his quirk. The boy has admitted before that he prefers the night but has adjusted his sleep schedule to be awake during the day.

Shoto and Izuku are good at hiding their tiredness, of course, and so is Hawks, but Izuku can still tell. The three empty coffee mugs on his desk are a dead giveaway.

Still, Hawks’s usual energy doesn’t flag. He outlines their day—personal training in the morning and patrols with the sidekicks in the afternoon. There’s no mention of the late night mission he was on, and it seems that they’re not privy to that information.

Hawks meets them later at the training grounds, hands in his pockets with his signature lackadaisical air. “Well, little chicks,” he greets them. “I’m not much of a teacher, so you can just tell me what you want to work on, and we’ll work on that. Sound good?”

Tokoyami nods. “I intend to work on my flying, but I would also like to experiment with Dark Shadow and see if Dark Shadow and I can create more detailed shapes.”

Hawks gives him a thumbs up. “I look forward to seeing what you can do with that, chick.”

Shoto seems serious. He stares at Hawks wings intently. “I have decided that I want to learn to use swords, dual swords,” he announces. “Just like how you use your feathers, I could make ice weapons. It will be good to augment my close combat capabilities, since my ranged abilities are already strong enough.”

“I would also like to learn to use a sword, although I’d be content with a single blade,” Izuku says. It seems that he and Shoto have a similar idea. He would put good money on both of them bringing weapons into their vigilante arsenals, especially Shoto. He’s been insecure about his Blue Spirit image. This is one way to fix it.

I still think using a gun is a perfectly viable option, Kudo pouts.

Well, I think swords are cool, Yoichi says. Also, tell Shoto I love him.

I’m not telling him that, Izuku hisses mentally.

Don’t pay attention to him. Nana sounds like she’s holding back her laughter. He needs to get his drama from somewhere. He’s just bored since you haven’t let us out in a while.

Look, we can all agree that we don’t want to get busted. It’s just one more day. If he’s being honest, Izuku is feeling antsy after not being able to let the vestiges out. He’s so used to sharing his body that their absence makes him uncomfortable. It’s the rush of power and being able to use a quirk and just…everything. Ever since he got the vestiges back, they’ve routinely swapped to take control all the time. He can talk to them out loud if he wants to, hear their voices in reality instead of just in his head, and he misses that.

And we appreciate it, Banjo booms. We would rather not get you in trouble, but I am looking forward to being able to train again.

Me too, Izuku sighs internally.

Still, while he’s not training with the vestiges, he should make the most of his time. Hawks is a good instructor, even if he’s a bit flighty. He gets Shoto and Izuku set up with training weapons, demonstrates the proper form, and then gets them to work on beginner exercises. After that, he flies off after Tokoyami to check up on his practice.

It’s not long after that Izuku and Shoto decide that basic drills are not fun enough. They have already honed their bodies with excessive training, and they have the reflexes to fight properly. Throwing weapons into the mix is the next logical step.

They start slow, but the pace of their spar steadily grows, until their blades are clashing furiously. Shoto makes wide sweeping strokes with his dual swords, glancing blows that curve gracefully around him. And Izuku, his sword in a firm two-handed grip, jabs and parries with firm and measured strokes. The katana that Hawks gave him feels natural in his grip, like an extension of his body.

He wonders if he can combine the vestige’s quirks with his sword strokes. Some are more applicable than others. Kudo’s quirk might work, and Banjo’s. He’ll have to practice with the vestiges outside of his internship to ensure that they’re all proficient with the sword and can switch out seamlessly.

They almost don’t notice when Hawks returns because he doesn’t say anything, just watches them from the air, but Shoto and Izuku would have been arrested as vigilantes long ago if their situational awareness wasn’t good enough to pick up on the presence of someone who’s not really making an effort to hide. They break apart, panting.

Once they stop, Hawks lands with a flurry of feathers. “You’re improving quickly,” he notes. “I don’t think you even need me.”

Izuku wipes the sweat from his forehead. “I don’t think so.  You’d probably beat both of us easily. It only looks impressive because Shoto and I are at a similar level.”

“I concur,” Shoto says. He looks down at his blades. “If possible, I’d like to spar with you.”

“Sounds like a good idea,” Hawks says. He pulls a primary feather from his back, and it sharpens in his hand. As if it’s an afterthought. He runs a gloved hand over the blade, and it dulls itself. “You can take turns. It’ll give me a good idea of where your strengths lie and where you need to improve.”

Shoto goes first, and Izuku takes the opportunity to observe Hawks. The hero has perfect form, but it’s not textbook. It’s fluid, in a way that says he was trained but also that he’s used to putting his lessons into practice, as one would expect from a pro hero. His style is especially vicious, and it’s all Shoto can do to defend. Hawks easily drives him back with wickedly powerful strikes.

Ruthless. That’s the best way to describe how Hawks fights, and it shouldn’t be an adjective that’s out of place describing a pro hero, but when the hero is as young as Hawks, only a few years out from his debut…well, Izuku has to wonder where he gained that ruthlessness that he hides so easily with a friendly smile.

He’s like us, Bruce weighs in grimly.

That isn’t a compliment. The early vestiges lived in a time of war, fighting from a young age. Their combat skills were honed from fighting for their lives. They had no choice but to become strong, to become ruthless, because a single second of hesitation meant they would be exterminated. They couldn’t expect mercy, and thus they couldn’t dish it out.

He’s been trained, is Nana’s contribution.

Well, that should be obvious, given that he is a pro hero, but Izuku is sure that Nana has a point to make. What do you mean?

I mean he’s been trained, not just to fight, but to have a certain mindset. I don’t like the way kids these days have to learn to fight, but at least they don’t try to change the way you think. It takes a lot of training, and a lot of suffering, to get rid of the human instinct to be kind. Damn, that sounds sappy, but when you get to be my age, you learn that people hesitate. Even trained pros will hesitate. It’s human nature. I’m not saying Hawks doesn’t care about other people, but he’s definitely been trained not to.

I have no idea where you’re getting all of this from, Izuku admits.

Kid, all we’ve been able to do for decades is people watch. You get good at it when you have a lot of practice, Kudo says. Besides, you should be able to see it. Shoto’s not so different. You know how he is. He doesn’t hesitate, and yeah, he’s capable of caring for people, and he does, but fighting and injuring people doesn’t faze him the way it does others.

So, someone trained Hawks like Endeavour trained Shoto, Izuku concludes.

Maybe, Yoichi says.

The question is who, Izuku thinks. Hawks isn’t affiliated with any hero programs, and if he was a legacy, wouldn’t that be advertised. Besides, I can’t think of any heroes with a similar quirk…Izuku takes a shuddering breath, because thinking of heroes makes him think of the villains they’ve fought. Izuku definitely wasn’t old enough to remember at the time, but Endeavour had apprehended a villain once, a notorious villain. He knew it from reviewing cases that got a lot of media coverage. And while the resemblance isn’t striking, it’s there.

This calls for research, and may have to wait, but it’s something. Ties to a villain aren’t damning, by any means, but it could explain Hawks’s training, and the hold that the Commission has on him. If they’re blackmailing him, it would explain why they’re able to work him to the bone without him complaining.

Several meters away, Hawks knocks one of Shoto’s blades from his grasp. The other one soon follows, and Shoto raises his hands in defeat. Hawks levels his own sword at Shoto’s throat, but quickly removes it with a flourish.

“You’re not bad,” Hawks say jovially. “For just starting, you’re actually quite good, but you need to think of the swords in a more unified way. They need to move as one.”

“Like Zuko,” Shoto mumbles.

“Hm, like who?”

Shoto frowns at him. “Zuko.”

“Don’t know him. Anyways, work on synchronizing your movements. 81, you’re up next.”

Izuku takes Shoto’s place in the open space and draws his katana.

Hawks is on him in a flash, and Izuku can suddenly appreciate just why Shoto was struggling, but he has a little more experience in close combat, and he meets Hawks with equally powerful blows.

“Where did you learn to fight like this?” he asks between strikes.

Hawks narrows his golden eyes. “I had a teacher,” he says vaguely.

“A pro hero?” Izuku digs. He grunts with the effort of blocking a sweeping blow aimed at his head.

“No.”

“Were they well known?” Izuku chooses to dodge the next strike that comes from above, spinning to the side and then lashing out with his own blade.

“I doubt it,” Hawks says, and it isn’t fair how easily he’s still breathing. This isn’t anywhere near an evenly matched fight. If he wanted to, Hawks could skewer Izuku with his feather telekinetically without all the bother of actually fighting him.

In all fairness, both Izuku and Shoto have been holding back as well. Shoto could have burnt Hawks feather sword to a crisp at the start of the fight or frozen him to the ground if he chose to. Were they going all out, Izuku could match Hawks aerial abilities, if to a lesser extent, and use Gearshift to stop his feathers in their tracks.

They might still lose, but it’s an interesting scenario.

Ask about his motives, Kudo suggests.

Izuku grits his teeth and parries a blow. The force makes his shoulder ache, but he pushes through. “So, what made you want to become a hero?” he asks. He follows the question with a jab that Hawks easily redirects.

“Well,” Hawks drawls lazily despite being in the middle of a fight, “when I was just a little fledgling, I was saved by a hero, and I just wanted to be like him, and to be able to help him some day.”

Izuku files that information away. If he was saved by a hero at a young age, and if Izuku’s memory is correct, then perhaps Hawks is speaking of his father or relative’s arrest. That rules out being trained by a villain, although it’s entirely possible that Hawks received some training even at such a young age. Shoto and Dabi had certainly been training well before they should have.

“What about you?” Hawks asks. “Is there a story behind you? The first to make it into the hero course quirkless?”

Izuku tightens his grip on his katana as he fends off a blow. “Nothing as dramatic as your backstory. I just always wanted to be a hero. A lot of people told me I couldn’t.” He grunts as he parries again. “But I got lucky, and I met some people who believed in me, even when I didn’t. I figured that if my body was going to pull me into trouble on its own, I might as well be prepared.”

In an unexpected move, Hawks uses the flat of his blade to sweep Izuku’s legs out from under him. He lands on the ground, hard, and tastes dust. He goes cross-eyed looking at the dulled point of the feather between his eyes.

“Quite impressive,” Hawks says. He removes his sword and extends a hand to Izuku to help him to his feet.

Izuku takes the hand and rises. He dusts off his suit and picks up his katana to return it to its sheath.

Hawks looks at him critically, like he’s evaluating him the way Izuku had been doing himself not a few minutes ago.

“Have you been trained?” he asks with a tilt of his head.

Izuku raises an eyebrow. “In the sword, no.”

Hawks runs a gloved finger along the edge of his feather. “Maybe I’m wrong then. I kind of expected it from Vulpix, with his family and all, but I didn’t expect you to pick it up so quickly.”

“What can I say, I pay attention in school.”

Smooth. Very smooth, Kudo says mockingly.

Hawks chuckles. “I hope Tokoyami pays attention half as well as you do then. He could use a little more work in close combat.” The hero returns his feather to his wings after that and takes to the skies.

He didn’t say it outright, but Izuku got Hawks’s message loud and clear. The hero doesn’t buy his lie. He suspects something. Is he making a connection between Izuku and Night Owl? Or is it something else?

One thing’s for sure, Bruce says grimly, we sure as hell did not teach you to lie, because you are shit at it.

Izuku scowls to himself. That’s hurtful. I’m actually a very good liar.

No, he’s right, Kudo says. You’re like a compulsive truthteller. What you do is misleading, not lying.

Mm, he totally suspects you of…something, Yoichi chimes in.

Well then, I suppose we’ll have to do some misleading, won’t we, Izuku says. He feels a grin creep over his face, a manifestation of the vestiges’ glee.

I’ve been getting bored being around people who know what’s going on, Kudo says, a smirk evident in his tone. So how are we going to fuck with him?

Izuku thinks for a moment, thinks about the file on Hawks’s desk and his inexplicable interest in both the League of Vigilantes and a supposedly unrelated hero student.

We give him what he wants, he decides. The League of Vigilantes could use a new member anyways.

Chapter Text

Dabi, expectedly, groans when Izuku tells him the plan.

The former villain turned vigilante is sitting in Gran Torino's living room swathed in bandages while the group comes up with a game plan. After the eventful weekend they had at their internship, the League had called a meeting to compare notes.

Izuku doesn't blame Dabi. He's still injured and vulnerable, so purposefully showing himself to a hero probably isn't on his to-do list. But, Hawks has shown interest in Dabi and didn't turn him in when he had a chance. If they're going to convince Hawks to accept the offer, to join the League of Vigilantes, it's more realistic for the offer to come from him.

"I'm not fucking doing it," Dabi growls, voice even harsher than usual. "I'm not rewarding his bad stalker behavior. Besides, we don't know if we can trust him."

And that is the problem, isn't it? They don't trust Hawks, not really, don't know fully where his loyalties lie. Izuku is sure that Hawks is a hero, and a good one, but he's also been given orders to infiltrate.

Dabi...well, Dabi had been visibly upset when he heard about the files Izuku and Shoto had found. He'd seemed okay with Hawks before that. Now...

Well, if Izuku hadn't known there wasn't anything between them, he'd be tempted to say that Dabi was betrayed. But, there was nothing to betray, and Dabi is paranoid on the best of days, so there's no use pushing.

"It's okay," Shoto says. "We can bring him to our side." He looks at Izuku with obvious confidence.

"He's not wrong," Yoichi murmurs.

"We've talked enough people into joining us, what's one more?" Kudo says with a heavy sigh.

"Sounds good then." Gran Torino belches and stifles a yawn. "Don't you all have school in the morning? I need a nap."

"It's not good!" Dabi slams a fist on the table. "I never agreed to anything."

"Oh, lighten up," Tenko snorts. "No one's asking you to actually trust him. Just give him the goddamn invite so he can join our party. We'll be able to figure out his stats and affiliations from there. It'll be in and out. Nothing will happen."

The reformed villain has taken to wearing his gray-blue hair tied back in a low ponytail, kind of like Aizawa on the rare days he decides to do something with his hair. He'd look grumpily if it weren't for the red ribbon tying his hair back and the smooth red nail polish. It's to stop him from biting his nails or scratching, Izuku knows, and he thinks it's kind of cute. Tenko looks better, so it must be working.

"I'm not doing it. Look, I get that we need to do the "keep your friends close and your enemies closer" crap, but I'm not going to be the one to goddamn do it."

"Perhaps, I could do it," Spinner offers. He's sitting in the shadows of the room, still in full Stain cosplay, sharpening one of his swords. Personally, Izuku thinks his brand of method acting is overkill, but it's not his life.

"It would be believable, since you were the one to get Dabi, and the bust was a corrupt hero," Izuku considers.

 “Personally, I think it would be more meaningful,” Spinner says. “I am the arbiter of this group. I have morals and objectives that are more firm than personal feelings. Hawks can be sure that he falls within my purview, while if we are speaking of someone like Dabi, his favor is reliant on his subjective feelings and mood, which we all know changes on a daily basis.”

“Fuck you,” Dabi rasps out. “You sound like you ate a dictionary. Just because you took over for Stain doesn’t mean you have to talk like the asshole. I bet you don’t even know what half those words mean.”

“Bold words for someone who didn’t even graduate middle school,” Spinner shoots back, which is completely hypocritical of him because he didn’t graduate middle school either, and neither did Tenko for that matter.

“Let’s do that, then,” Izuku cuts in, before the argument can derail them entirely. “Spinner, you’re in charge of recruitment. We’ll test the waters, see what we can learn from him, see what Nedzu digs up, and if we have to, we’ll bring him over to our side for real. Any objections?”

Dabi grumbles, but he doesn’t say anything, so Izuku counts that as a win.

*

The call came in the middle of the night, just as Hawks was preparing to go out on his usual surveillance. Dabi probably wouldn't show if he was still injured, but it didn't feel right to abandon his post.

But the Commission likes to remind him that his time is not his own. He's at their beck and call, and if they call him in the middle of the night, he's bound to respond no matter what.

That's why he finds himself in the President's office a half hour past midnight, staring out the window at the city skyline, wondering if Dabi really will show up that night.

The President regards him with her typical stony gaze. Her suit is immaculately pressed, her iron gray hair pulled away from her face so tightly it makes Hawks's head hurt. She's pragmatic to the core, Hawks knows, not particularly malicious, but then again, none of the Commission agents are.

It makes him wonder if he's doing the right thing, sometimes, withholding information like this.

"So, Midoriya Izuku," the President prompts. "This weekend was the first of his work study. What have you observed?"

Hawks plunges his hands into his pockets, his posture a careful mix of relaxed and attentive, not disrespectful but not stiff either. Right now, he needs to be the agent with nothing to hide who's comfortable in his superior's presence but not arrogant.

"He's a good kid, sharp-witted, intelligent, and from what I've seen completely quirkless. It's as we saw during the UA sports festival, he is highly proficient in hand to hand combat and has a good head for tactics. If he was indeed lying about the quirk on his record, I have yet to discover why. He seems to have excellent relations with his classmates, which would suggest that whatever the explanation for the confusion surrounding his quirk it did not damage his relationships with his peers."

The President taps her pen on her desk thoughtfully. “He sounds like exactly the type of person that we need,” she says.

The words send ice down Hawks’s spine, because this is exactly what he’s been afraid of.

The President frowns. “Still, I don’t like not knowing. This all reeks of a conspiracy, and we can’t have that. It undermines everything we have built, for someone to go against the structure like this. Have you learned anything about his relationship with his old mentor?”

“Nothing of note,” Hawks replies. “He didn’t credit him with any of his techniques or make any mention of learning from him. If anything, I wonder if Gran Torino taught him at all. He seemed to know very little about how hero agencies operate, like he hadn’t had that experience during his internship.”

“Good,” the President murmurs. She isn’t looking at Hawks anymore, her eyes fixed on her desk like she’s in the planning stages of something. “I was rather worried about the influence the old man might have had on him. It could have been detrimental. He’s too old to understand properly. He thinks it’s like the old days when we have already moved on. Vigilantes threaten the power of heroes that protect society. If people start to rebel against heroes, if they think they have a right to use their power at their own discretion, society will crumble.”

Hawks recognizes the speech and knows to nod along like he understands and agrees, because it’s what he’s learned to do through years of living like this.

“Do you have any orders for out next meeting?” Hawks asks. He wants nothing more than to be out of the office. It’s maddening to be so high up in the sky but restrained like this. Somehow, the President has managed to strangle entirely the freedom that a skyscraper office should elicit, whether intentionally or not, he doesn’t know.

The President looks up, appraisal in her eyes, thinking no doubt what Hawks can do for her to land this new pawn in her lap. “Continue to establish yourself. You said it didn’t seem that Gran Torino was much of a mentor. Take advantage of that. Make sure he relies on you, that he can come to you and confide in you. You can send a report about whatever you learn at the end of the week.”

Hawks recognizes that as the dismissal that it is and gratefully leaves the office.

He isn’t entirely sure why, but he flies off toward the café where he normally waits for the Dabi, even though it’s long past the hour when the vigilante normally drops by. Maybe he needs to reminder that he’s doing something right still, even though he can already feel that this mission is going to turn to shit.

And just when did he stop caring so completely for the greater good? When did he start caring more about a single person than about the rest of the world? It isn’t a personal connection. Really, the farthest thing from it. He doesn’t know Dabi, doesn’t really know Midoriya, but he sees them now.

Heroics has never been a numbers game, as much as he’s been forced to treat it like it is. You can’t trade a life for anything, not even more lives. The only life you have a right to trade is your own, and anyone who says otherwise is a tyrant.

He can’t look at these missions that are going to destroy good people and say that he’s okay with them, even if they are supposed to be protecting the foundations of their society. Maybe a society resting on foundations so faulty that good people doing good things will throw it into disarray is due for a change anyways.

There’s a dark figure on the rood of the café when Hawks flies over it, and it takes him a moment to place the bandages and the fluttering red scarf.

It isn’t Stain. He knows that. Stain is locked in Tartarus. But it is the new Stain, the one allied with Dabi and the rest of the League of Villains. He’s been spotted a number of times and has a Herogram where he frequently posts about the corruption in the hero industry. Unlike the original Stain, he’s been known to use less violent methods to make his point.

So, Hawks isn’t too worried when he lands. He has a feeling that Stain isn’t here to attack him, and even if he were, Hawks is at the top of the rankings for a reason.

There’s the steely hiss of a katana being unsheathed. On instinct, Hawks draws one of his feathers and sharpens it.

They stand there for a few long breaths, each with the point of their weapon levelled at the other’s eyes, but there’s no malice behind either sword.

Stain moves his weapon first, returning it to the sheath on his back. Hawks mirrors the movement, wary of the vigilante even if he isn’t particularly threatened.

“You saved my comrade,” Stain says at last. “I wish to thank you for that.”

And this is what Hawks has been waiting for, the connection to the League that he needs to keep the Commission satisfied with his progress. There’s a faint twinge of guilt from a conscience that is supposed to be long dead.

This is his mission.

He smooths his feathers, settles into his persona as easily as putting on a mask. He’s never needed a mask in his hero costume because he’s always wearing one. He’s all mask, and nothing underneath, not yet, maybe not ever.

“Well,” he drawls, “it was the least I could do, seeing as how he got mixed up with a dirty hero.”

“You consider a fellow hero to be 'dirty'?” Stain sounds amused.

Hawks shrugs nonchalantly. “I like to call it what it is,” he says. “There are plenty of heroes out there who don’t deserve to be heroes and don’t live up to the name. If I had done my job right,” Hawks leaves the door open for interpretation, “our mutual friend wouldn’t have ended up in that situation.”

Stain nods. “Unfortunately, the work is too great to lay on a single individual’s shoulders,” he says gravely. “It is foolish to think that one can enact change alone.”

It sounds…well, it sounds like an invitation, or the predecessor to one.

“I will be watching you, hero,” Stain promises. “This society that we live in needs those who can recognize the rot where it has sprung up, and those of us who fight it must band together if we ever hope to stop it.”

With that dramatic speech out of the way, Stain spins in a whirl of fabric and leaps away. A moment later, a portal swallows him up, and Hawks is left behind to wonder what exactly happened.

*

What started as Tokoyami’s idea for rehabilitating his mentor quickly turned into something chaotic and uncontrollable.

Shoto is on his fifteenth friendship bracelet and shows no sign of stopping anywhere in the near future.

Not that Izuku is in any place to judge. His arms are decorated with seven different bracelets, each a different color for the vestige they represent. They even have unique charms on them. Nana’s is a miniature switchblade that actually works at her insistence.

That isn’t really the problem, though.

Tokoyami had just wanted to make something to create cohesion between their group at the agency. Friendship bracelets had seemed like a good idea, so they’d gotten Midnight to give them supplies during one of their lunch periods so they could make Hawks something so he’d know he was appreciated.

But then, the rest of the class heard about it.

Thankfully, Momo had been there to take charge. Unfortunately, Momo is the one most capable of efficiently creating friendship bracelets.

So, while Izuku, Todoroki and Izuku make theirs in the traditional way, the rest of the class is in council designing their class bracelet. They have Hatsume Mei consulting. Izuku had heard mention of tazer beads, lasers, tracking software, and a modification so that they can use the bracelet to strangle someone if they ever have the need to.

By the end of the day, Izuku has a new heavy weight around his wrist along with the smaller bracelets.

The bracelet itself is a mix of colors, the different threads representing his classmates. There’s a button on it, for emergencies only. A way to call for help, and to know that help is coming no matter what. Izuku will never have to be alone again.

None of them will.

Chapter Text

Hawks is facedown on his desk when someone knocks at his office door and startles him out of his doze.

He’d managed to convince the Commission to let him publicly take down some corrupt heroes following Stain’s visit. It had felt good. What hadn’t felt good was the Commission’s obvious reluctance to let him do it. In the end, they had agreed to the arrests because the League was a bigger threat, not because they thought that heroes who took bribes and looked the other way needed to be punished.

It's tiring. All of it.

And his little interns are coming back tomorrow.

They’re great. Hawks has nothing against them. It’s kind of nice to hang out with them, even if everything Midoriya says is a riddle, and he can’t understand half of what Todoroki says, can’t even figure out if he’s being serious or joking. And Tokoyami had left him a bag of sunflower seeds last week, which is still confusing. Tokoyami’s been confusing him a lot, actually.

No more than Midoriya, though. Legally, quirkless, with an alter ego that supposedly had a quirk that he had yet to see evidence of, Hawks can’t quite figure him out. He’d reported to the Commission that Midoriya appeared to be quirkless, because that was what he had seen during their time together. He still entertains the possibility that Midoriya is just hiding his quirk.

His secretary, Suzuki, an angel among mortals who bought him a coffee maker for his office and is one of the few employees Hawks can actually trust, enters the room with an apologetic expression on his face. He generally looks like that whenever he has to disturb one of Hawks’s rare naps.

“Hawks, you have patrol,” he says. “You said to remind you.”

Yeah, Hawks had, because the number of alarms he has set is frankly unhealthy, and he’s taken to falling asleep all the time, any time he can put his head down in relative safety. The Commission is going to kill him from sleep deprivation one of these days.

Who is he kidding. They’ll just give him the bare minimum time to recover once he inevitably collapses, and then he’ll be back on the grindstone.

“Coffee?” he groans hopefully.

“You’re patrolling with Miruko. You’re going to get coffee anyways, and you don’t need any more caffeine,” Suzuki says, a light scolding in his tone.

That perks Hawks up, though, because patrol is always better with Rumi.

*

“You’re free this time next week,” Rumi says once they’ve met up.

It’s not a question, Hawks notices.

“No,” he says. He still has the vigilante case to work on. Even if Dabi hasn’t shown up for a week, Hawks still has to be there the moment he does. He can’t miss the opportunity. He can’t predict when the vigilante will reappear, so his schedule needs to stay open.

“Well, you can do your government-mandated stalking some other day. You’re going bowling with me.”

Hawks squawks in outrage, because it isn’t stalking it’s a stakeout and he is a professional, and also bowling? “What’s the occasion? And why do I need to be there?”

Rumi waves. “Fuyumi’s family is going, and she invited me. I’m not doing this fucking alone. You’re going to distract the family for me.”

“I’m not going to ditch my duties so I can third-wheel for you,” Hawks protests.

“It’s not third-wheeling, Birdie, it’s called being a wingman,” Rumi snaps back.

“Little Todoroki will be there.”

Rumi smiles at him. “I’m counting on you to distract him.”

Hawks will admit that the offer does sound a little tempting. He doesn’t really go out or do anything outside of hero work except the occasional thing that Rumi drags him to. At the same time…it’s going to be fucking awkward.

“If you do, I’ll help you train your interns,” Rumi says in a sing-song voice. “I’ll bring my kid over, and we’ll make a day of it.”

Hawks considers it. He’s good at hand-to-hand combat, but there’s only one of him, and three kids who all want to learn and spar with him. Rumi is even better than he is. Brute force is her calling card where control and finesse are Hawks’s signature. And, she has her own intern for the kids to work with.

“Okay,” he says. “I’ll be there!”

“Damn right you will! I’ll bring my kid over tomorrow when you get your kids. They can have like sleepovers and shit.”

Hawks rolls his eyes. “You’re just taking advantage of my agency. I know you don’t have any place to put your intern.”

“A girl can have multiple motivations,” Rumi says.

“You’re buying me coffee,” Hawks demands.

“It’s so cute how addicted you are,” Rumi coos at him instead of taking offence at the demand. “I’m such a bad influence on you.”

Hawks could argue that it wasn’t really her, but more the Commission that drove him to drown his fatigue in coffee. She probably knows that, but she also knows that giving him something he actually enjoys to keep him going, a little way of rebelling, is about all she can do for him at the moment.

They wrap up their patrol at the coffee shop as usual. While Rumi abandons him to flirt with her schoolteacher crush, Hawks settles down on the barstool that’s come to be his spot. It’s a good vantage point. His back is toward Rumi so he doesn’t have to watch her flirt, and he trusts her to have his back. The rest of the room is in his view easily. And, he and Touya his barista can talk whenever it isn’t too busy.

Hawks gets the feeling that Touya is annoyed at him about fifty percent of the time, but if anything it’s refreshing. He makes what he calls abominations and Hawks calls the ideal cup of coffee, and they talk. Touya’s biting sarcasm and cynicism are a nice contrast to the usual fangirling and hero worship he gets.

His barista is wearing a turtleneck today, and his voice is hoarse from a cold, even though the cold weather hasn’t really showed just yet, so they don’t talk much. Hawks just drinks his pumpkin spice caramel Frappuccino with four shots of espresso, extra whip, and a shot of almond extract topped with maple pecans. Touya says it’s disgusting as he hands it to Hawks, but he’s the one who keeps coming up with new drinks to surprise Hawks. The hero kind of wonders if he’s just trying to see how far he can go before Hawks declares one of his drinks undrinkable.

So far, even the matcha KitKat mocha, with real KitKats blended into it, failed to disgust Hawks.

*

It‘s the end of a long week, right before Izuku leaves for his work study that Nedzu calls him into his office.

The office has changed a little from the first time that Izuku entered it as Akatani, a subtle nod to the way that all parties involved have evolved from their previous selves. Nedzu now favors wax candles as décor. The carpet is bloodred with an intricate black pattern that Izuku recognizes as ward disguised in its swirling leaves and vines. There’s also an exit to a saferoom where Nedzu goes when he’s controlling his giant robot. The Commission still has no idea where the thing came from, and Izuku knows that Nedzu finds this hilarious.

Izuku has been expecting the summons for some time, but he's still anxious about what he'll learn. He likes Hawks. He’s young, driven, and something in Izuku flares in recognition to the spark in Hawks that says, “I’m going to be a hero, no matter what. I’m going to save.”

But regardless of Izuku’s feelings on the matter, if Hawks has nefarious intentions, he and his friends will need to be careful. And if he needs saving…well, Izuku has always been a bit of a heroic idiot. It comes with the territory of One for All.

Nedzu doesn’t waste much time beating around the bush. He throws several papers down on the surface of his desk and pulls up several more files on the monitor that he turns toward Izuku.

“It's just as you found,” Nedzu confirms. “Hawks came out of nowhere. He never attended a hero school, has no civilian identity, legally he doesn't exist. I found a possible relation, but nothing that I can definitively prove.”

Izuku looks over the information Nedzu has gathered, more in quantity than what he managed, but still, none of it is personal. It’s all hero-related, career information, information about Hawks. None of it is about the man that Hawks is beneath the mask.

Well, damn, Banjo exhales slowly.

“Either he’s really good at hiding, or he just flat out doesn’t have a civilian identity, which is about six shades of fucked up,” Kudo says. He crosses Izuku’s arms over his chest and stares down at the information. “Makes me think of the Shimura kid.”

That wasn’t the first connection Izuku made, but he can see it. Shimura as Shigaraki had been a villain, and that was it. Then again, it was a bit different for villains than for heroes. Heroes were public figures, and heroics was a job. Villains often had much more personal motivations and were more wrapped up in their work. Hero’s personalities bled into their personas. The best of them had personal motivations, but it still wasn’t the same as the desperation, necessity, rage, or hatred that drove people to villainy. That kind of feeling was so deeply ingrained in both the person and the villain that it meshed them together, until in the worst villains it destroyed the person altogether and left only the villain.

So, Izuku hadn’t exactly thought of Shimura first.

He had thought of himself and Shoto.

Whatever is driving Hawks is a noble ambition. His reason for being a hero is worthy, Izuku is sure. They are the same in that.

What Izuku doesn’t know is what drove him to be the way he is. Shoto was raised to be a hero and nothing else, but he rebelled against that and found himself. For Izuku, it was the opposite, the disconnect between being quirkless and inheriting one of the most powerful quirks of all time, complete with a legacy and a burden that could have broken anyone had swallowed him whole.

But, Hawks has a quirk, and probably has always had it. He wouldn’t have experienced that same earth-shattering divide. Even if he only sees himself as a hero, a personality piloting his powerful quirk, it’s more likely that his situation is like Shoto’s—trained from birth.

Then there are Tokoyami’s observations to take into consideration—the ways Hawks is always on edge and overworked. It was his concern that had led Izuku and Shoto to choose his agency for their work studies. That was a little overshadowed by the discovery that Hawks was after the League. There’s also the curious coincidence of him wanting Izuku to intern under him. Izuku can’t rule out the possibility that Hawks has connected his vigilante and hero personas.

Izuku’s own observations about Hawks training, coupled with the vestiges’ opinions, only make him more suspicious about his origins. He’s been trained into his role, but by who? And how did he end up with the Commission? Free choice? Blackmail? His past is a complete blank without clues as to why he was trained the way he was.

More troubling is the close relationship he has with the Hero Commission, which Nedzu has informed Izuku is absolutely and completely corrupt.

“Of course,” Kudo had snorted when he heard. “Trust the government to fuck up the meaning of being a hero.”

Somewhere in the mess of intrigue and suspicion, the truth is hidden. Izuku will just have to unravel it all and follow every strand to its source. Hawks may let something slip when he’s with the League, if they can successfully recruit him without alerting him that they know his true intentions. And Izuku and Shoto are on the inside in his agency. They’ll have more opportunities to snoop and observe. Sooner or later, Hawks will give them something to work with. And then, they’ll save him.

Because if there’s one thing Izuku can trust in, it’s his hero instincts.

Hawks needs saving. From what, Izuku doesn’t know. Himself. Someone else. Whatever it is, Izuku will save him. Has to save him.

Being a hero is so deeply ingrained in his personality at this point that he thinks maybe, like One for All had been, it’s in his DNA. He’s moved past the manic obsession of his revenge/justice quest, learned to see himself as more than a tool to be used to save, but the instinct is never going to go away. He’s always going to be the kind of person to throw himself in front of a bullet to shield someone else, to delve into the fire to save the person trapped in it.

Saving Hawks is undeniably a dangerous undertaking. There’s no guarantee he’s going to make it easy to save him. He might not even want it, even though he needs it. He might fight it. If Izuku and the League aren’t careful, it could mean the end of everything.

Nedzu’s voice cuts into his thoughts. “I did find something interesting though. Heroes with ties to the Commission aren’t hard to find, but those with a profile like Hawks are rare.” He slides a new file to Izuku.

Izuku opens it. He’s met with a cold face, framed by purple hair with magenta highlights. He recognizes her, a former pro hero turned villain who assassinated the President of the HPSC. The case was sensational and made headlines for weeks.

“She’s got a name, and convenient backstory,” Nedzu says, but her ties to the Commission are just as strong as Hawks. And, when she was a hero, her personal life was just as difficult to figure out. I have my suspicions.”

With Nedzu, his suspicions are almost as good as fact.

Izuku swallows. He was young during the trial, too young to follow the proceedings properly, so he doesn’t really remember much of it. What he knows is based on the trial being referenced and talked about years after the fact. He could ask his mother later, but for now…

“What do you suspect?”

“The Commission is hiding something,” Nedzu says, and his voice is only a few pitches above a growl, different from his usual cheery tone. “The trial was rushed. They were trying to silence her. She wasn’t allowed to testify, or to speak at all. It was more like a sentencing than a proper trial. After all, everyone knew she had done it. What else was there to hear?”

“Why she did it,” Izuku breathes in realization.

If Lady Nagant had worked closely with the Commission, she must have known more of it’s dirty secrets than anyone. If she had too much, if she cracked under the pressure, decided she wanted out…if she wanted revenge…or justice.

“She isn’t allowed visitors,” Nedzu continues. “I wasn’t able to get ahold of her before she was sentenced to Tartarus. Now, Izuku, before you get any ideas, I’m not suggesting anything. Certainly not anything that could be considered illegal.” Nedzu’s eyes have taken on a manic gleam. “I just thought you should know about this. It’s good for trivia games.” His lips curl back in a fanged smile.

It’s Yoichi who answers, a matching smile stretching across Izuku’s face, “Good thing we’re having game night with friends soon.”

Chapter Text

When the three interns arrive, Hawks is waiting for them outside. 

"Hey, chicks!" He calls and flutters toward them. "Good to see you all again. I've got some great things planned for this weekend."

Izuku exchanges pointed glances with Tokoyami and Shoto, unwilling to trust their mentor's idea of a good time.

"Drop your things off inside, suit up, and get ready to head out," Hawks tells them. "We have places to be. Chop chop, as the kids say."

"The kids do not say that," Shoto mutters as they trek inside.

"Indeed," Tokoyami agrees. "I don't not think he has been around other kids, even when he himself was a kid."

Izuku hums thoughtfully. If his suspicions are correct, and Hawks was trained from a young age, then that would make a lot of sense.

"What do you think we're doing?" Izuku asks.

"Training?" Shoto suggests. "We are supposed to suit up."

"Perhaps a patrol," Tokoyami says.

The change is made quickly. They leave their bags in the dormitory and head back to the entrance where Hawks is waiting, along with...

"Hello, little chickadees!" The Rabbit Hero Miruko yells. She bares her teeth in a grin. "How's Hawks been treating ya?"

"Hawks is an excellent mentor," Tokoyami says loyally.

"Yeah, yeah, you can tell me the truth," Miruko gives a conspiratorial smile while Hawks covers his face. "The big bird and I go way back."

Shoto turns to Hawks, and serious look in his eyes. "You have a friend?" He asks coolly.

Miruko doubles over cackling, and Hawks face is nearly the same shade of red as his feathers.

"Um, yes," Hawks says in a strangled voice.

Maybe it's not as bad as we thought, Nana says. At least he's not totally isolated.

Still, if they met as coworkers, it still means he could have been isolated as a child, Yoichi notes.

"Yeah, well this is all very cute," a familiar voice growls, and Izuku realizes that Kacchan is there as well, scowling. He's in his hero costume, but he's left his gauntlets behind. His new ones are more streamlined than the initial version, but still heavy to be wearing when he doesn't need them. "Can we actually fudging get started?"

Miruko cuffs him on the back of the head. "Behave, brat!"

Kacchan scowls but shuts up.

Hawks looks over to his internship. "Surprise!" He says with jazz hands. "I asked Miruko to bring her intern over for some joint training. We'll be sparring to give you some variety in your training."

Well, this should be fun, Kudo says drily. He does realize that you’re all classmates, right?

Kacchan‘s been training, Izuku replies. He’s probably picked up some new tricks.

Whatever you say, kid.

They go to one of the outdoor training grounds that Hawks likes, mostly because they give him and Tokoyami ample room to fly.

“All right, so first up, you’ll all fight Miruko!” Hawks announces. “You can use your quirks or any weapons, just not sharpened ones.”

Miruko pounds a fist against her palm. “Come at me, brats!”

They all know better than to argue, and surprisingly Kacchan doesn’t say anything either, just starts stretching, so everyone else follows his lead.

Shoto scoots closer to him while he stretches his hamstring. “So, what’s her fighting style?” he asks in a low voice.

Kacchan grunts. “She beats your ass, Half’n’half, that’s what she does.”

Izuku rolls his eyes. “Miruko is a physical type. She mostly uses kicks because the strength of her legs is enhanced by her rabbit-like mutations. There’s not need to worry about any type of special attack, but from what I’ve seen of her fights, her physical strength is no joke. Dodge at all costs.”

“Coward,” Kacchan says. “If you can’t take at least one hit from her, you’re not fit for the field.”

“I like my ribs the way they are, Kacchan,” Izuku retorts. “I’m not going to get myself injured just to prove I can take a hit.”

“We all know you can take a hit,” Shoto says consolingly. “Like that time you got stabbed, and didn’t go to the hospital.”

“Sshh!” Izuku exclaims. He looks around to see if Hawks sent any feathers their way, but the air seems clear. “Don’t bring that up.”

Tokoyami tilts his head in confusion, but Kacchan looks unimpressed. “Way to keep a secret. Whatever, here’s the plan. I go in and fight her. You guys just watch.”

“No,” Izuku hisses. “We need to fight her together. I know you can’t take her on alone.”

“I don’t want you taking her out before I get a chance to do anything,” Kacchan says. “You and your stupid, overpowered, double chocolate chunk demonic possession freak show.”

Izuku slaps a hand over Kacchan’s mouth. “Shut up!” he hisses.

Kacchan’s eyes widen. “You’re not using your quirk,” he realizes. “You haven’t told Hawks you have a quirk.”

Izuku nods. “I’m legally and genetically quirkless,” he says quietly. “I can’t explain about One for All, and I’d rather not let them know about the rest of it. I did the sports festival quirkless, so it’s easy to pretend that’s all there is.”

“You’re an idiot. Whatever, fight her quirkless then, I don’t care.”

Izuku nods. He and Shoto grab their training weapons, and they ready themselves for the fight to come.

“Ready or not, brats, here I come!” Miruko calls.

She’s across the field like a shot, one super-powered leap enough to cover the ground. Dark Shadow curls protectively around Tokoyami and lifts him into the air a split second before Miruko’s heel buries itself in the packed earth where he was standing.

“You’re a fast little birdie, aren’t you?” She grins. “Just like your mentor.”

Kacchan throws himself at her. He’s modified his style a little bit since Izuku last had a good opportunity to observe his style. It’s more brutal, more concise. The explosions he uses to propel his blows are smaller but more perfectly calculated to give him the exact amount of force he wants.

Explosion enhanced blows or not, though, Kacchan isn’t a match for Miruko, so Izuku and Shoto join the fight as well. They’ve practiced together outside of their internship to enhance their teamwork, and they move together like a well-oiled machine.

Izuku strikes first, a downward strike with his katana that Miruko leaps away from. He crouches down, following the motion of the strike, and Shoto uses his back as a springboard to descend on their opponent in a whirl of blades.

Whenever he can, Tokoyami swoops down to take advantage of Miruko’s focus on the other three. All the same, it’s questionable if they’re a match for her.

After Kacchan creates a smoke cloud for cover, Izuku dives in. His goggles allow him to track Miruko’s movements, but even so, he can’t land a blow. Then, a firm hand catches hold of his katana.

The steel snaps in Miruko’s grasp like a dry twig.

Izuku drops the useless hilt and puts up his arms to block the blow he knows is coming. The kick to his gut is like a ton of bricks, and he flies out of the cloud and across the field. He skids a few feet before he’s able to roll out of his fall.

Shoto notices his absent weapon and draws a new one made of ice out of thin air. “Here!” he yells as he tosses it over.

Izuku catches it, just in time to face Miruko who’s barreling at him like freight train. She looks a little surprised to see him holding a weapon again, but she doesn’t hesitate at all. She swats Kacchan away and goes after Izuku again.

The ice weapon isn’t quite as study as a steel one, but it serves its purpose, and when it breaks, Shoto has another one ready for him. Until Miruko kicks him across the field like he’s no heavier than a football.

She grins fiercely at Izuku as she breaks his katana yet again.

It’s an opportunity. Her guard is down. Izuku punches her in the gut.

It’s not enough, not nearly enough, but the smile on Miruko’s face twitches.

“You pack quite the punch there, brat,” she says, and then she puts him in a headlock. Even holding him like that, she’s able to take Kacchan on.

This joint training isn’t going so badly after all.

*

Hawks stares at his interns, specifically Todoroki and Midoriya.

Since when did they get so good. They’d only started weapons the week before, and they had progressed quickly, but now the two of them are moving like they have months of training under their belts. They’re practically breathing in sync, pulling off combination moves without thought.

Miruko’s intern is impressive as well, and he’s working well with them, but it’s nothing like the teamwork the two of them have.

It’s almost like…

But no, if Hawks figures anything out, he’ll have to report it, and he really doesn’t want to have to report his chicks to the HPSC. He’s not going to. He doesn’t know anything. There’s no proof.

So, instead, he just watched. Todoroki’s proficiency in making weapons shows marked improvement. He’s able to help Midoriya seamlessly. He takes a blow from Miruko and gets back up to pull his teammate away from her. Even when Miruko rips his own swords out of his hands, he adapts quickly to start using his ice instead. It’s a good strategy, and an effective one. He creates cover to immobilize Miruko and hide his teammates while Bakugo creates a smoke screen and he and Midoriya engage in close quarters.

It’s a little odd. Hawks knows that Todoroki had ranged attacks, but he’s choosing to tunnel the fight into a close combat one as well.

Maybe, just maybe, his kids aren’t going all out. Which begs the questions, have they ever gone all out? Have they…been holding back this whole time and he never noticed? How much more powerful are they really?

He’s not mad about it. it actually makes his job easier. If Midoriya makes himself seem weaker than he really is, than that keeps the Commission’s interest lower than it would be otherwise. Todoroki is also an item of interest to the Commission, although he’s too high profile to really be at risk, so if he’s downplaying his strengths as well, Hawks has no argument to make.

The only question is, how is Hawks supposed to help them when they don’t need his help?

*

As expected, the spar ends with all of them getting their faces pounded into the dirt.

“Don’t worry, kiddos,” Miruko tells them. “I’ll be here all weekend. There’s plenty more where that came from.”

“You’re staying?” Izuku asks.

Kacchan spits some rocks out of his mouth. “Yeah, sleepover or some shit. It’s a training weekend. Now, where are the showers?”

Izuku’s bones are aching, but a hot shower does wonders. Hawks and Miruko leave them to their own devices and Shoto proposes monopoly as a bonding experience, so they do that.

It’s quiet at first, and then out of nowhere Kacchan asks. “So, what’s the deal with the bird?”

The three interns share a look.

Right, I forgot he wasn’t an idiot, Kudo says.

It’s probably safe to tell him, En suggests. Miruko seems to be close to Hawks. She might know something.

“We’re…investigating Hawks,” Izuku says cautiously.

“Why?” Kacchan demands.

It’s Tokoyami’s turn to speak. “My mentor is…overworked. There are things about him that made me concerned.”

“Yeah, the Commission works him like a dog. Miruko complains about it all the time,” Kacchan says. “But why in the butterscotch toffee is that something you needed to drag this freak,” he jerks a thumb in Izuku’s direction, “into?”

“I was unsure how to go about it, and it seemed like a delicate situation,” Tokoyami says. He lands on the “Go directly to jail” space and moves his piece with a sigh.

“And what about you? Why are you hiding your freak show?” Kacchan demands.

Izuku licks his lips. This is delicate information, and he doesn’t want to involve Kacchan, but considering the last time he was kept in the dark…

“He’s been digging around,” Izuku admits, and by the way Kacchan’s eyes widen, he knows that the blond gets what he means. “It’s probably on behalf of the Commission, but whatever it is, I need to take care of it. And if I can help Hawks at the same time…well, that’s what I’ll try to do.”

Kacchan buys a railroad and leans back to consider his properties. “You should talk to Miruko. She’d love to get on board with that.”

“There’s more,” Izuku says. He hasn’t told Tokoyami what he and Nedzu managed to find yet, but it seems like a good time. “Hawks isn’t just some kind of agent, and I don’t think he’s in their pocket. There’s something else, and I’m going to find out what it is.”

It’s a cliché statement to make, but Izuku doesn’t have the information to make a better one. Something is going on with Hawks, something to put a good hero under the control of a corrupt system.

Tokoyami rolls doubles and makes it out of jail. Izuku watches him move his piece outside the jail thoughtfully.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Nana says.

We’re going to jail, baby!” First yells, and Izuku has to hold back a grimace.

Not like that, he groans.

True, they’d put you in juvie, not Tartarus, not unless you did something truly horrendous like, I don’t know, eating mayonnaise plain.

That’s oddly specific, Izuku says.

It was one time! Bruce sobs. One time.

One time too many, Kudo scoffs.

Kacchan looks at Izuku with narrowed eyes. “You’re inviting me to your next little get together,” he says, and it’s not a request. “Either that or I get your mom to put parental controls on your phone so I can track your location.”

The scary thing is that Izuku knows it would work.

“Fine,” he says. He looks at the space Kacchan just landed on. “You owe me rent.”

Kacchan throws a flurry of money at him.

*

Hawks exhales as he makes it out of the building. He hadn’t anticipated that it would be so difficult to shake Miruko for his nightly activities, but she had insisted that if he was going to sleep in his office, she was unrolling her own sleeping back in there as well. He’d had to wait until she was sound asleep to sneak out.

He does a loop around the building just to settle himself, and then lands on a nearby building to make sure he grabbed everything he needs. He’d had to be extra careful getting out without waking Miruko so he hadn’t been able to do his usual check over of his gear.

There’s a whoosh of air and a hand on his shoulder.

“So, birdie,” Miruko says as she crouches down next to him, “is there a reason you’re not sleeping like you’re supposed to be?” Her grip tightens on his shoulder. “Maybe something you haven’t told me about?”

Chapter Text

Hawks gulps.

Rumi's grip on his shoulder tightens. "Someone told me you've been up all day. Shouldn't you be asleep right now?"

Hawks whimpers. There's no way in hell he's getting out of this, and he can't afford to fall behind on his work. If he isn't getting results, the Commission won't be happy with him, and he needs them to trust him so that they don't go after Midoriya themselves.

"It's an emergency?" He tries.

"Try again. Your lovely little secretary told me all about your schedule."

Damn Suzuki, the little traitor. Hawks had trusted him.

Rumi sweeps his feet out from under him, and Hawks makes an ungraceful squeaking sound. She picks him up, bridal style, and Hawks has never been more furious at his lack of height. 

"Put me down!" He hisses, fluttering his wings helplessly.

"Nope," Rumi says. "I'm getting my damn sleep over, whether you like it or not."

"Rumi," Hawks lets his voice slip into seriousness rather than the usual playful banter between him and Rumi, "I have to go."

Rumi stops halfway through a step. "Goddammit, Hawks," she exhales through her nose. "You're gonna fucking kill yourself if you keep going like this."

Hawks shrugs as Rumi reluctantly sets him down. "I'm a hero. It's what we do."

Rumi shakes her head. "No, it's not. If we die, it's because there was no other choice. But there's no arguing with you. Where are we heading?"

It's funny she should say that, because there's also no arguing with her. Case in point.

"You can't come," Hawks tells her. "You'll blow my cover."

Rumi huffs. "Then I'll watch from the shadows. You won't even know I'm there. And while we're on the way, you'll tell me all about this little mess you've gotten yourself into."

They set off across town, and Hawks gives the best explanation he can while leaving out as much of the important stuff as possible.

"So, let me get this straight. The  Commission wants to recruit Midoriya, and they think you're sweet-talking him into it, and also spying on him to figure out if he has a quirk when he literally has the genetic testing on file to prove he doesn’t. And, they also expect you to keep up with your regular work. And infiltrate the League of Vigilantes, which is a terrible idea, I mean why did they think that would work. You're way too high profile."

Hawks sighs. "I know. That's why I'm trying to play the part of a sympathizer, like I suspect Gran Torino to be."

"So that's why you've been turning in all those corrupt bastards. I was wondering why the Commission let you do that."

"Yeah, it's been one of the upsides," Hawks admits.

"Ooh, one of?" Rumi needles.

"I've met one or two members, and they don't seem that bad," Hawks says. "And I was there for that raid. They don't seem like terrible people."

"You're not going to turn them in, are you?" Rumi wonders. She takes a flying leap off a building.

Hawks sighs and twists into a dive. "I don't know. Maybe?"

"Hawks, you can't."

"What else am I supposed to do?" Hawks tries to curb his frustration.

"I don't know!" Rumi bites back. "But you can't do that! They're not villains. You know that. If they manage to capture them, the Commission will spin a story to make them the villains, but they're not. They're heroes, better than some of the heroes out there. You can't. I...I won't let you. As much for yourself as for them. You're going to destroy yourself if you keep going like this, and I don't just mean physically."

She doesn't know, Hawks thinks. He's done worse. He's already past the point of no return. This would only be one more black notch in his record. He doesn't want to do this, and Rumi knows that, but it isn't that simple. A sacrifice has to be made somewhere. He'll try to let the league go free if possible, but if there's no other choice, he'll sacrifice them for a chance to save Midoriya.

"Well, then, let's hope it doesn't come to that," he says breezily.

Hawks doesn't know if anyone is going to show that night, and it'll be a little embarrassing if he gets stood up in front of Rumi after insisting on going.

Fortunately, Stain 2.0, the improved version, is waiting for him on a rooftop, crouched like a gargoyle overlooking the city.

Rumi splits off to hide as Hawks lands on the rooftop. It's a mark of trust, Hawks thinks, that Stain doesn't look over at him immediately. 

"I've been watching," Stain says in a dramatic voice, "and I've been impressed."

He turns manic eyes on Hawks. "You are proving yourself a worthy hero."

"Um, thanks," Hawks says. "I, uh, had a little inspiration. I...what happened with your friend was a bit of a wakeup call. That shouldn't have happened on my watch."

Stain nods solemnly. "Indeed. When heroes become lax in their duties, corruption springs up."

A long silence, and Hawks starts to sweat because he really isn't good at these interactions.

"You have our thanks," Stain says suddenly. "For saving Dabi. Now, I will leave you to your work." 

A portal swirls behind him, and Stain falls back into it, leaving him alone on the roof.

Rumi lands beside him with a thump. "Fun guy. Are we done here?"

"Yeah, I suppose so," Hawks says. Normally, he would patrol a bit, but without Dabi to stalk, he supposes there's no point.

"All right then, we're out of here," Rumi declares, and sweeps him off his feet.

*

It is very early in the morning when the interns are startled out of their sleep by Miruko slamming open the door to their dormitory.

"Up and at'em, little birdies and explosion bunny!" She says very loudly.

The clock reads 5 a.m. in bright, glaring numbers. Izuku rolls over and covers his head with his blanket. They'd stayed up late talking last night, and he's generally short on sleep. He wants every minute he can get.

"Fuck you," Kacchan groans, and Izuku whole-heartedly agrees.

Miruko pulls his blanket off his head. "Come on, we need to talk before your bird-brained mentor gets back."

Izuku rolls out of bed and into some kind of upright position. "What do you want to talk about?" He asks.

Miruko looks at him thoughtfully. "I need to talk to all of you, but I also have to talk to you specifically, green one. Do you want to do this privately or all together?"

"All together," Izuku decides. There's not much he's worried about the others hearing, and if it affects all of them, they should hear about it.

"Well, that makes this easy. The Commission is pressuring Hawks to look into and recruit you, and he doesn't want to. They think you have a quirk, which is dumb as fuck. Clearly you can kick ass just fine without one, and if they can't accept that, that's their bad. That's where the rest of you come in. Hawks is overworked and in over his head, and we need to make sure he doesn't kill himself or do something he'll regret. God, I can't believe I'm telling a bunch of kids about this."

Tokoyami looks at her seriously. "We are...aware that the Commission is pressuring him. We are...working on it."

Miruko's ears twitch. "Working on it?"

Well, they were thinking it would be good to bring Miruko in. There's no time like the present.

"We've been investigating Hawks's connection to the HPSC," Izuku tells Miruko. "Tokoyami was concerned he was being overworked and that the Commision had some kind of way of putting pressure on him, so he asked me to look into it, and Shoto came with me. So far, all we've discovered is that Hawks's past is nonexistent before he debuted."

Miruko crosses her arms and huffs. "You're telling me about it. I don't even know his damn name."

"What. The fuck," Nana spits out, and Izuku claps a hand over his mouth.

Miruko is staring at him. "What was that?" She asks quietly.

Izuku sighs while Nana apologizes in his head. "It's fine," he says, "we would've had to tell her eventually if we're going to work together."

Kacchan smirks at Miruko's shocked expression. "The nerd is possessed by the ghosts of a bunch of heroes."

"You have a quirk?"

Izuku winces. "Not technically. I mean, I did, and the vestiges still have their quirks, but I don't have one. Aizawa can't stop the vestiges from switching with me, so that means it's not a quirk."

"So, you're just possessed?"

"I guess. It's not really a bad thing. The vestiges are great," Izuku assures her.

"Right, we'd never do anything to hurt Izuku," Yoichi says.

"That's so freaky. Wait, you can use their quirks, but you haven't been this whole time? Hawks doesn't know?"

Izuku scratches his head. "Explaining is...complicated, and involves a lot of secrets."

"Well, this just got a hell of a lot more complicated."

"Oh, you haven't even heard the worst of it," Kacchan snickers.

"Can it, brat," Miruko snaps.

"Yeah, all right, first, how do you feel about vigilantes?" Izuku asks.

Miruko blinks. "Um...favorably?"

Well, that makes things easier. With a glance at Tokoyami who may have pieced things together already, Izuku dives into the situation with the League of Villains, watching as Miruko's face goes more and more slack.

"What the fucking shit?" She murmurs once he's finished. "And Hawks doesn't know? Oh, this is priceless!"

 "So, you're okay with this?" Izuku checks.

"Oh, I am more than okay with this. Let's get this birdie out of his cage!"

*

When Hawks gets back from his morning patrol, Rumi and his interns and her intern are waiting for him in his office.

"Hey, guys, what's this all about?" He says with a nervous chuckle as he closes the door behind him.

Tokoyami steps forward and hands him a small package wrapped in gift paper decorated with little robins.

"Um, it's not my birthday?" 

Tokoyami nods. "It isn't. Unless it is. I don't know. This is simply a gift."

Hawks holds his breath and blinks to clear his watering eyes as he carefully tears away the paper to reveal...a red braided friendship bracelet with a silver hawk charm.

He's noticed his interns sporting similar bracelets. Having one of his own...

"Thank you," he says. "I'll be sure to wear it."

"Remember, you're making me one, explosion brat. I expect one next week," Rumi tells her internship.

"No way in high fructose corn syrup, furry," Bakugo scoffs, and Rumi cuffs the back of his head in retaliation.

Hawks fastens the bracelet around his wrist, and he can't stop staring at it.

*

The end of the weekend comes quickly enough. 

"I'm escorting them home," Miruko tells Hawks and whisks all of them away.

Once they're out of sight, she turns to the group. "All right, where are we headed?"

Izuku swallows a smile and tugs them into an alleyway. One text to Kurogiri later, and they're tumbling into Gran Torino's apartment where most of the League is waiting for them.

Miruko takes one look at Dabi and shouts, "Touya? Dabi is Touya? Holy fuck!"

Touya buries his face in his hands. "Why is my sister's girlfriend here?" He groans.

"Oh, did she call me that?"

Izuku cuts in. "She's here to help with the Hawks situation. We're recruiting her."

"Great. Just great."

It isn't so bad," Shoto says. "Miruko is an excellent hero."

"You don't have to watch her and Yumi flirt every other day."

They're getting off track, so Izuku decides to bring back the topic.

"We're planning to break into Tartarus," ha announces, and that gets Miruko's attention.

"You're what?"

"Breaking into Tartarus. Don't worry, it's just to talk to someone."

"How?" Miruko demands. "That's...no one does that."

"We have a warper," Izuku tells her, "and a super genius to get us all the access we need and disable the alarms."

Miruko grins ferally. "That sounds like a plan. Count me in!"

"Hold your horses," Touya drawls. "It's the same night as our family game night, and Fuyumi said she invited you."

"Dang it!" Miruko curses.

Shot pats her on the back. "I was disappointed, too. But don't worry, bowling will be almost as exciting."

With the dramatics over and done with, they're able to get down to business. Miruko may have known Hawks longer than any of them, but she doesn't have much information to offer. Hawks's private life is non-existent, as is his life before heroics.

Juggling the HPSC's interest, both in the League and Night Owl and in Midoriya himself may prove to be a little more difficult.

The ideal solution is just to get rid of the HPSC entirely, but to do so requires that they strike a critical blow both to the organization's power and their public image, and for that they need more information...or a really juicy scandal. It's an idea Izuku shelves for later.

First, they talk to Lady Nagant. If she's willing to share, they'll finally have the breakthrough they need.

They part ways when the meeting is over, but Tokoyami hangs back. He'd been so quiet, Izuku had almost forgotten he was there.

"Thank you," he says seriously. "I had no idea there was so much going on, but I'm grateful you still want to help Hawks."

Izuku smiles at him. "Honestly, I might not have found out about this quite as quickly, or easily, if I hadn't been paying attention to Hawks. So I guess I should be thanking you."

Tokoyami acknowledges him with a nod, and then he walks through a portal to his home.

Gran Torino stops Izuku before he can leave as well. "Are you sure you're okay with this? Telling so many people, I mean. I know it's not what you wanted. You shouldn't push yourself like this."

"It's for a good cause," Izuku tells him. "And, I guess I don't mind too much. I'd like to not have to keep so many secrets some day. This is a start."

"Well don't push yourself, kid," Gran Torino grunts. "Now, get home and get some rest!" He pushes Izuku toward his portal.

Stumbling into his bedroom, Izuku doesn't immediatle do that. Instead, he settles down at his desk. He reaches for his notebook, the one he used to outline the plan for All for One's downfall, but decides against it. There's not enough room. He pulls out a fresh notebook. 

This is something he can't bring up with the rest of the group. They'd never allow it. But, the Commmission is targeting all of them because of him, and they've bared a weak spot to him. He'd be a fool not to take advantage of it.

Are we doing what I think we're doing? Yoichi asks.

Something stupid and self-sacrificing?  Kudo snorts. Absolutely.

It's a good plan. Izuku will just have to negotiate with the vestiges not to snitch on him.

Chapter Text

They've been over the plan a thousand times, or however many times it takes to be sure that they can pull off the simultaneously dumbest and most choreographed of their stunts to date.

They're the League of Vigilantes. They beat the greatest supervillain of the last two centuries. They can totally break into Japan's most secure facility to talk to a prisoner.

Izuku leans back in his seat. They're several thousand feet in the air, flying over the ocean to Tartarus in Nedzu's mech which has a surprisingly cushy interior. The principal is in the cockpit, keeping an eye on the radar.

He'll admit to being a little nervous. There are butterflies in his stomach that no amount of looking out over the dark sky and darker waves can dispel.

The two most important parts of this operation are not getting caught and not giving away that Lady Nagant is their target.

An attempted breakin will draw attention while a small team sneaks over to Lady Nagant's cell to question her. There's no way to ensure she'll cooperate and this gamble will pay off, and there's no telling what info she'll be able to give if she does talk. It's all a big if.

Izuku kind of wishes that Shoto could be here. He always feels safer with his friend at his back, but he couldn't take his friend away from family, and with Hawks apparently invited, it makes for a good alibi for him if the League is discovered.

The team is pretty small, what with the Todoroki's gone and Twice and Toga still happily holed up in the psych ward of Musutafu General. Toga had her urges under much better control the last time Izuku had visited, but she wasn't quite ready to leave, and Twice's new medication was doing wonders for him but he was still under observation to ensure it really worked.

That leaves Izuku himself, Kurogiri, Tenko, Spinner, Magne, Mr. Compress, and Gran Torino, plus Nedzu as their pilot. Mustard is there too, but only because Magne couldn't get a baby sitter.

"We're approaching the exterior," Nedzu announces. "Prepare to deploy."

"Distraction squad, are we good to go?" Izuku calls.

Tenko grunts, fidgeting with the gloves he wears that cover his thumb and index finger to prevent quirk accidents. Compress twirls several marbles around his knuckles. Magne is on her feet already with her weapon hefted over her shoulder.

Mustard pouts from where he's strapped into a seat with homework on the seat next to him. "I still think I should be allowed to go."

"Not until you're in high school, honey," Magne says. "And even then, you have to get permission."

Mustard just scowls and looks away.

Izuku gets to his feet. He pulls his mask up and over his face. They're all dressed in black clothes, nothing distinguishable to identify them. He and Spinner are going to warp in, and the rest will provide the distraction. There won't be backup if anything goes south, but Kurogiri should be able to warp them out.

Nedzu already has control of the cameras. There will be nothing to prove they were ever there. Just in and out. Easy.

The back of the mech opens up, showing a landing pad far below. The entrance to Tartarus.

With a bow, Compress springs out, followed by the rest of the team. Gran is last with a heavy sigh that Izuku knows is purely for appearance. Gran loves the League.

"I'm ready when you are," Kurogiri says.

They give the distraction squad a few seconds for their distracting to really get underway, and then Izuku and Spinner step through the portal.

It's very white. The floors, the walls, the ceiling...everything is white.

They're in a hallway. Izuku's seen this floorplan, could walk it in his sleep. They're currently in a dead end with two empty cells. Lady Nagant's cell is at the end of the main hallway.

This is the isolation block, so there typically isn't much guard activity.

The alarms begin to blare, and Izuku takes that as his cue. He enters the main hallway, Spinner at his heels.

How much do you bet they'd slam us in here if they ever caught us? Nana speculates. 

Kudo scoffs. They could try.

I've always wanted to try an escape room, Yoichi says thoughtfully. Although, I've heard that prison food is awful.

Prison's not so bad, Banjo informs them cheerily. The people can be real nice, even if there's generally a bit of hazing.

Izuku mentally hushes them as he turns down the last little hallway. It's dark, far away from even the other cells. He nods to Spinner, who takes up guard to watch his back and gets to work on the door.

There really shouldn't be this many locks on a single door. Nedzu can handle the electronic one, but just to make it more difficult, there's also a padlock and several creative deadbolts. 

Not for the first time, Izuku wishes that one of his ghosts had a telekinetic quirk of some kind that would allow him to just wave his hand and open the locks. That would be convenient.

He shoves the last lock to the side and taps his comm. "The locks are off," he informs Nedzu.

"Then you're all clear."

The door slides open, and Izuku steps inside.

The room is a stark white, with padded walls and floor. Against that white background, Lady Nagant stands out as a splash of color. She's wearing an orange jumpsuit with a number patch, and her purple and pink hair is loosely tied back. Sharp eyes peer at Izuku.

Izuku gets the feeling that Danger Sense would activate just from being in this woman's presence. She's a threat, much in the way that Hawks would be without his carefully crafted ditzy personality.

Izuku raises his hands in the air to show he's not a threat. Lady Nagant keeps her manacled hands up, still watching his every move.

"Who are you?" She demands.

"No one special," Izuku says. "I'm just here to talk."

"About what?"

It's going out on a limb, but then again, that's what this whole operation is. "Your successor: Hawks."

Lady Nagant's whole body freezes, and her gaze sharpens. "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean, Hawks has some very close ties to the Commission, much like you did. I'm a little curious what led you to turn on them."

"If you're looking for blackmail-"

Izuku pulls his mask down, revealing his face. "I'm trying to help him."

Lady Nagant stares at him. "You're a kid," she says at last. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

"Like I said, I'm looking for answers. We don't have very long, so I'd appreciate it if we could get down to business." Izuku takes a few careful steps forward.

Lady Nagant lowers her guard. "So, Hawks..." There's a distant look in her eyes, like she's calling up old memories. "What do you want to know?"

"Anything you can tell me," Izuku says.

The former hero plops down on the floor, crossing her legs and letting out a slow breath. "If you want to know about Hawks, there's not much I can tell you. We didn't have much contact. I saw him a few times, spoke to him even less, and I wasn't involved in his training at all. I was already operating as a pro when they took him in." She frowns. "I don't even know if we were trained the same way."

Izuku's heart is pounding. This is so much more than they could have hoped for. On the other side of the line, Nedzu is also rapt, paying careful attention and recording everything she says.

"I didn't even know they were training him until I came in for an assessment and passed him in the hallway. It was stupid to assume I was the only one they would train, but I was young and naive back then."

"So, when you killed the president...?"

Lady Nagant snorts. "It wasn't about him. We'll, maybe it was, but if I had really been doing it for him I would have gotten him out. He must be like twenty now, and stuck right where I was. Fat lot of good I did in the end."

"Then why did you do it?" Izuku wonders.

"I was tired," the woman admits. "I was tired of being their pawn. I woke up and started breaking free of the web of lies they'd spun around me, and I was just so angry. I'd been used. It's probably difficult for you to understand, but I was taken in so young I can't remember a life before my trainers. It was always training, to be a hero, to keep the peace. I was willing to do it, to make the sacrifices necessary to save people, but it wasn't that simple." Lady Nagant's face twisted into something disdainful. "The Commission owned me. I had to do whatever they said. I just...I lost it. I wanted it to be over, and I made a stupid decision."

A long silence stretches between them, then Lady Nagant shifts. "How is he? Hawks, I mean. They don't tell me things in here."

"He's pretty much the number one hero now," Izuku tells her. "People love him, and he's got some great sidekicks, even if the Commission is working him to the bone. He's not alone, at least."

Lady Nagant studies his face. "He's got someone like you looking out for him. He must be doing something right."

"He's doing his best," Izuku agrees.

They're running out of time now, but what he's learned...well, it's a lot. The Commission has been training up their own heroes who will be under their control. It's worse than he had suspected.

He looks around the cell and really considers it for the first time. Lady Nagant had said they didn't tell her things, but that might be an understatement. She's been in total isolation for years. The Commission has done an excellent job of silencing her, so that her side of the story is never heard. She's been painted as a lawless, arrogant hero who went rogue, rather than someone who'd been driven to desperation to set herself free.

This is about seven shades of fucked up, Kudo says darkly, and Izuku agrees.

"I can't break you out right now," Izuku says. "The timing isn't right, and I can't let the Commission figure out what I'm after."

Lady Nagant smiles, a brittle understanding smile. "Of course."

"But I'll be back," Izuku promises. "You don't deserve to be here, anymore than Hawks deserves what's been done to him. You're both victims."

Lady Nagant huffs. "You have to go, don't you? Just get out of here. I'll be waiting." She shoves Izuku away. "Tell Hawks I said hello, if he even remembers me anymore. And tell him I'm sorry."

"You should hurry," Nedzu says in his ear. "I've picked up the others. Your distraction is gone."

It feels wrong to slip the bolts of the door back in place. Izuku doesn't want to. He doesn't want to think of the lonely, bitter woman trapped inside. But he can't afford to tip off the Commission before he's ready to strike a decisive blow.

He runs past Spinner, and they tear down the hallway, back to the portal that's waiting for them.

"Mission successful!" Izuku announces as they stumble onto the mech.

Yes, it's a success, even if he had to leave Lady Nagant behind for the time being.

"Then we'll be on our way!" Nedzu chirps, and the mech's thrusters ignite, pushing them away from Tartarus and all its sordid secrets.

*

Shoto is happy for his sister. He really is. He's also happy to have his mom back with them. Her release from the hospital is recent, and she still barely leaves the house. Sometimes he can hardly believe she's back, that he can just wander into her room and talk to her after long days.

But, was it really necessary to bring them all out to a bowling alley with Miruko and Hawks?

What makes it bearable is that he already knows both of them, but still. He's used to family time being just for family, and sometimes Izuku when he comes over.

He hopes Izuku is all right, breaking into Tartarus. The best Shoto can do for him right now is watch Hawks. So, he meets the pro hero outside. Fuyumi is with them, since she came with Miruko. Natsuo and Touya are with his mom inside making sure she's settled and comfortable.

This means that he has prime real estate for the whispered meltdown that Hawks has when he sees Touya.

"You never told me that the barista was a Todoroki?" He hisses at Miruko, who grins ferally.

"You never asked," she retorts.

"Oh my- fuck, this whole time, and he's a Todoroki?"

"Hey, it's not such a big deal. You already know the baby, and you know Yumi." Miruko punches his shoulder. "Don't get your feathers in such a twist. I'm sure he'll forgive you for looking up to Endeavour."

Hawks's face is bright red. "You could have told me," he whines, and Miruko laughs.

This is most interesting. Shoto didn't know that Hawks knew Touya. He knew that Hawks had met Dabi, but...it's a little funny, he thinks.

Hawks decides to use Shoto as a shield the whole evening, putting him between the pro hero and Touya, which Touya finds amusing. 

"I'm so embarrassed," Hawks whispers into his hands about halfway through the night after Touya made fun of him for getting a gutterball. 

Shoto pats his shoulder. "It's okay. You've never been bowling before."

Hawks sighs. "That too, but mostly your brother. I thought he was just a barista. I didn't know he was your brother!"

"It's not such a big deal." Shoto shrugs. He really doesn't see why it's such a big deal.

"I'm such an idiot!" Hawks groans and takes a loud slurp of his drink through his straw. "He must think I'm so dumb." He knocks his head against the table.

Shoto frowns. He isn't the best with figuring out interpersonal relations, but there must be a reason that Hawks is upset about this. He thinks over his own experiences, the only times he's felt worried or nervous like that are...

"Do you want to be friends with Touya?" he asks.

Hawks blinks at him. "I guess. I mean, I thought he was cool, and he's fun to talk to, and I like the coffee he makes. But, I don't know how to do friends. Rumi kind of just decided we were friends. I don't know how to make friends myself."

This Shoto can understand. He nods. "I see. I also didn't know how to make friends."

"But you have so many?"

"Well, if you want to get close to someone, contractual relationships have a very high success rate." It's true. He's seen it in dramas.

"Contractual relationships?" Hawks says.

"You agree to have a fake relationship, but then it turns into another real one. It worked with my class. You just have to offer something they want."

Hawks slumps on the table again. "But he's a Todoroki! He's rich! I can't give him anything."

Shoto raises an eyebrow, because has Hawks even met Touya? Shoto's brother refuses to touch a cent of Endeavour's money, hence why he's working. Touya is incredibly bribeable.

Maybe, he can give his mentor a few tips.

Chapter Text

Walking into the cafe a little earlier than usual, Hawks feels...embarrassed? Is that the word? Nothing has happened to embarrass him yet, but he just knows. He's embarrassed in advance.

It's a little pathetic, he knows, to be an adult and not really have any friends. It's even more pathetic to admit that to someone. And the most pathetic thing of all - asking someone to be his friend.

That's something that normal kindergartens do on the playground and grow out of by their middle school years. Or at least, Hawks thinks that's the way it goes.

Just asking someone to be friends and then shaking on it doesn't sound right. Shoto had sent him some clips from various dramas that Hawks wasn't familiar with showing adults making agreements to form mutually beneficial relationships to spend time together and support each other. That was better, but it still doesn't feel like the real thing. Friendship should grow organically, or be thrust on a person without room for rejection like Rumi had done to him. It's something ephemeral, untouchable...unattainable.

And yet here Hawks is, nervously shifting the papers from hand to hand as he approaches the counter.

Touya, Todoroki Touya, his barista, gives him a grin. "You're here early, hero. And here I thought I'd never see you here again."

Hawks forces an air of easygoing unflusteredness. Looking like a nervous wreck isn't going to do him any favors. He's a pro hero, pretty much the number one pro hero. People love him. There's no way this goes poorly.

Except, he's already acted like a complete idiot in front of the oldest Todoroki. He doesn't want a repeat performance.

Shoto probably knows his brother. He wouldn't have suggested this if it was really such a bad idea. Unless he was messing with Hawks. That's a possibility.

Hawks slides the papers across the counter to Touya.

Touya looks down at them, then back up at Hawks. "If this is supposed to be some sort of robbery, you're doing a really bad job."

Hawks can feel the heat rushing to his cheeks. He resists the urge to hide his face with his wings. The papers are upside down. He quickly rights them.

"Nope. Not a robbery," he informs his barista. "Just...an offer?"

Touya doesn't touch the papers. "For what?"

Ah. This is the awkward part. Thankfully, there's only one other person in the cafe right now, and the woman appears to be absorbed in her phone while she sips her coffee. If he's going to embarrass himself, the last thing he needs is an audience.

What had Shoto told him to say? Just be straightforward. He could do that.

"I know this may seem like it's coming out of nowhere, but I've been enjoying getting to know you." Hawks just has to power through this. Explain why he's asking Touya for this. "You're honest, which I appreciate, and you don't treat me differently just because I'm a hero."

Touya squints at the papers. "This is all very sweet, but I'm still not sure why this requires...a contract? Is this an NDA? Do you not want people knowing how the number one hero likes his coffee? There's no need to butter me up." He winks one impossibly blue eye. "I won't tell."

Hawks's feathers fluff up. "That's not what this is about. Look, there's not many people I'd feel comfortable asking this of. I'd like to spend more time together, maybe outside of coffee runs. If you don't mind. We could get dinner, go to arcades, anything. I'll foot the bill, if you're worried about that."

Touya is staring at him, and Hawks is definitely feeling the embarrassment. How did Shoto manage this with all of his classmates?

"You...like me?" Touya asks.

Hawks scratches the back of his neck. "Yeah. I do." He thought that was implied in the whole 'wanting to be friends' thing. Were people friends with people they didn't like?

"Do you...not like me?"

God, he sounds so juvenile. It's something he's needs to know, though. If Touya's just been messing with him, humoring him, this whole time...well, Hawks would feel pretty stupid.

Touya sighs, and a smile stretches across his face. It's a soft smile, a slow one that transforms his face into something indescribably warm, like a sunlit ice sculpture. Hawks doesn't think he's really seen Touya smile at him like this. Devilish grins, smirks, definitely. But this genuine smile? That's new.

"Why the contract?" Touya asks.

Hawks isn't about to say that Touya's little brother suggested it, so he goes with the next best thing.

"I'm a pro hero. Personal relationships can get...messy."

Touya scowls. Right, Endeavour. That's sensitive territory.

"I don't want to end up pressuring you. I'm not asking for media appearances, or anything at all from you. I just...I want to get to know you better."

Sighing heavily, Touya plucks a pen from a mug and scribbles his signature on the line. "There better not be anything weird in there, Hawks, or I swear to--"

"Nothing, I promise!" Hawka says cheerily. He scoops up the papers. What he's going to do with them, he isn't sure. They'll make a great keepsake, he supposes. Should he frame them? "So, can I get my usual?"

Touya grumbles but rings him up an makes his drink. "Any chance I can negotiate more tips as part of this arrangement?"

Hawks subtly slips a few notes into the tip jar. Touya just raises an eyebrow. 

"Really? That's all I'm worth to you?"

"I don't carry that much cash on me," Hawks protests. "I'll come prepared next time."

"You better," Touya says as he slides the drink over to Hawks. "Otherwise I'm adding a pump of arsenic."

Hawks chuckles nervously. Having Touya as a friend is already eerily like having Rumi as a friend. What does it say about Hawks that he seems to surround himself with violent people? Hopefully good things.

He picks his drink up and takes a long sip. Huh, it's just strawberry this time. He takes another sip. It's pretty good.

"So, have anything in mind?" Touya asks, leaning against the counter. "I mean, if you're paying, it figures you should decide."

"I don't really know many places," Hawks admits.

Touya runs a hand over his face. "Fuck. Neither do I. This is awkward."

Well said. "I'll find something," Hawks promises, and by that he means he'll ask Rumi. "Can I...?" He trails off. Is it presumptious or overly familiar of him to ask for Touya's number?

Touya's way ahead of him. He grabs Hawks's hand, bites the cap off a pen, and scribbles his number on Hawks's palm, with the cap held between his teeth.

"Text me when you have something figured out," he says. "I'll be waiting for it."

Another wink.

Hawks can't quite decide if Dabi is being serious or not. 

*

currently trending on Herogram

#Hawks

#Coffeeshopau

#Hawks boyfriend 

#herolove 

Justafangirl: OMG!! So, I'm just at this coffee shop that I go to all the time. I've heard that Hawks and Miruko come by sometimes, and there's this super edgy, hot barista. So, anyways, I'm there for my morning coffee and Hawks is there, like actual Hawks. Guys, I cannot make this up. I'm pretty sure he just asked the barista out. He's got like a whole stack of paperwork so that the barista won't have to worry about being in a relationship with a hero. And the barista is smiling at him. Agshdgshdhdh!!!! They're so cute! Guys, I think I ship them!

-toebeanz97: I think I know the place. Hawks is there in the afternoons all the time. He and the barista have been flirting for ages, and Hawks is DOWN BAD. This man drank a cinnamon sweet potato latte with hot sauce just because the barista gave it to him. My real life otp.

-wakemeupwhenthesungoesdown: Hawks is dating someone?!?!?

-haruhi.rose: Honestly, I wish them the best. It's always difficult for heroes to date civilians or just to date in general. I'm glad Hawks is being so considerate about this...Also, they should kiss!

*

After the sun sets, Izuku climbs out his window to take to the rooftops. Shoto is waiting for him. They'll meet up and do some crime fighting. Despite the fact that the situation with the HPSC is consuming much of his time, Izuku tries to make time for the more traditional vigilante activities.

After they meet up, Izuku and Shoto patrol for a few hours, stopping five muggings, a drug deal, two cases of stalking, and watching a kid learning how to graffiti. Izuku is pretty sure he could do better.

"It's a dying art," Banjo says mournfully. "There used to be way more street art."

"Oh, he dropped it," Shoto observes in a deapan voice, watching as the amateur artist scurries after his can of paint.

It's a quiet night, all in all, which is why when Shoto's phone begins to ring, it's very obvious.

"Hello, Touya," Shoto answers. "Is something wrong?"

"Put it on speakerphone," En requests. "I wanna hear what this is about."

Shoto obliging switches the call to speaker.

"-is exactly trying the kind of shit you would pull. This has you written all over it. I fucking know it was you, Shoto."

"What was me?"

"Hawks showed up to the cafe with a fucking contract. And then he confessed! How have you not seen this. It's all over Herogram! What the fuck did you say to him?"

Now Izuku is curious. "Did you turn him down?"

"What? And break his fragile little birdie heart?"

Shoto frowns. "I didn't tell him to do that. I gave him a few recommendations, but-"

"Still, blaming you."

"I had no idea Hawks felt like that," Yoichi says. "Who'd have thought?"

Izuku takes over again. "So, what did you do?"

There's a long silence. "I said yes."

"I might be overstepping my boundaries, but...do you...feel that way?"

"Oh, he hung up," Shoto says while the line goes dead.

"This is....a development." Izuku isn't entirely sure that it's a good one. Hawks getting close to Touya, whether he's sincere or not, means more opportunities to get information from the hero. It also risks exposing Dabi, especially if they recruit Hawks into the League.

Izuku won't pry into whatever Dabi wants out of this. It's bound to be a messy situation, whether Dabi accepted for the mission or for personal reasons. The vestiges will probably get involved, but he's washing his hands of it.

He pulls out his phone. For his own sanity and just because he's been busy, Izuku tends to stay off social media unless he's doing research or posting something. 

Yep. It is all over Herogram, all originating with a single post that includes a selfie with Hawks and Dabi in the background talking over the counter.

Was Dabi upset because Hawks confessed, or because it went viral? Did he think Hawks was being genuine? Did he return Hawks's feelings? All of these factors make for multiple possibilities. It's difficult to tell which is the true scenario without prying.

Does this change anything? Kudo wonders.

We're going ahead with the plan, Izuku responds mentally. If anything, it means we need to speed up our timeline. If Hawks is doing this on the Commission's orders, it means they're onto us. If he's being genuine, Dabi could still be in danger if the Commission doesn't want people getting close to him. Miruko's different because she's a hero, but Dabi doesn't have enough presence for the Commission to think twice about trying to get him out of the picture.

So, we're inviting him into the League? Hikage checks.

Soon, Izuku confirms. In the meantime...

"How do you feel about trying our hand at street art?" Izuku asks Shoto.

"I'm down for whatever you are," Shoto responds, standing and stretching. 

Izuku grins. "The HPSC has a nice building. It's pretty boring. I figure we could give it a little color."

*

Dabi buries his face in his pillow and screams. He's never going to have any peace ever again, is he?

He's not mad at Hawks. The hero is too pathetic for Dabi to be mad at him.

He's mad at the man's obsessive, horny, stalkerish fan base. He's had...a long day.

At least the tips were good. That's the only good thing that came out from this.

Magne and Compress already called to congratulate him.

It's not like that. They weren't there. They didn't get it.

Hawks is desperate. Dabi could see it in his eyes. He's desperate for affection, connection. As a teenager, Dabi was just like him. It was different, of course, but he'd had the same desperation to have some kind of connection and validation.

There was something else going on, some other meaning behind Hawks's proposal. It was almost like...like...

Like those fake relationships in the dramas that Fuyumi sometimes made him watch, when the characters would pretend to date each other to get people off their backs or achieve some other goal.

God, Dabi is an idiot. No wonder Hawks had given him a contract. He replayed the scene in his head, and that made so much more sense.

Now, why Hawks needs to fake a relationship, Dabi has no idea. He racks his brain, trying to remember why people did it in dramas. Is the Commission...trying to set Hawks up with someone? That's a disturbing level of involvement, even knowing what Dabi does about Hawks's past. And Hawks has no outside connections to help him. Miruko is in a relationship already. Any of his sidekicks would obviously be problematic. Which left Dabi.

Hawks must be desperate.

It looks like Dabi is going to have to go along with this. What other choice does he have? Once Hawks is out of the Commission's control, he'll be able to move on.

It's going to be awkward until then.

Dabi doesn't dislike Hawks. In person, when he's not putting on a front for fans, the man is far from his persona. For one, he's not even remotely cool. Dabi would even call what they have a tentative friendship. It's difficult to be friends when they both have secrets to keep, but there's something there nonetheless.

The real problem is that Hawks is popular.

Terrifyingly popular.

Dabi's had his fair share of publicity, being the eldest child of the number two hero. If what's he's been through today is any indication, being in a relationship with Hawks is almost definitely going to result in more media attention than Dabi is prepared for.

It's for the mission. That's what's going to get him through this. It's all for the mission. He can deal with crazy stalkers if it means getting Hawks free.

He's going to hate this, isn't he?

His phone dings, and Dabi makes the mistake of looking at the post Compress sent him.

He almost throws his phone into the wall when he sees the thirst edit someone's already managed to put together.

He almost throws himself off a bridge when Magne sends him fan art of him and Hawks later that evening.

Chapter Text

It's five in the afternoon, and Hawks is desperately rummaging around in his apartment. His meet-up with Touya is in just half an hour.

Hawks has no idea what he's doing. He doesn't go out with friends, because he doesn't have any other than Rumi.

All this is to say that one on one time with other people is new ground for him. Most of the time, he's flying solo–literally.

The prospect of meeting up with Todoroki frickin Touya has Hawks feeling more than a little nervous.

It should be just like going out for coffee with Rumi–just two friends hanging out, getting to know each other. Hawks had suggested they go to an out-of-the way park to walk around and maybe gets food from the food trucks that often parked in the area. It's casual. Chill.

Hawks is freaking out. He and Rumi never really scheduled when they'd meet up. They met up after patrols to hang out. He's never set aside time like this specifically to hang out with someone.

He doesn't know what to wear. He doesn't know how to act. He doesn't know what to do. In the end, he cracks and calls Rumi to help him figure out what to wear and whether or not he should bring a gift–do people do that on first friend-dates?

Rumi laughs at him but helps him sort through his meager closet. She has a lot to say about how lacking it is, but in the end Hawks winds up in jeans, a t-shirt, and a bomber jacket that's been modified to accommodate his wings. He gives his hair a quick brush, but by the time he's flown over to the park where they're meeting up, it's a wind-blown mess.

Todoroki Touya is…a fashion icon apparently, and Hawks is so underdressed he’s going to be embarrassed to be seen with his new friend.

Hawks lands and tucks his wings at his back. He saunters forward bravely with a nervous smile on his face.

They'd decided to meet at a fountain, and Touya is leaning against it. His white hair matches the gleaming spray. He's got a long black overcoat with silver stitching on, the collar turned up against the breeze. It's an all black outfit, which looks unfairly good on him.

“Hey!” Hawks waves at him. “I hope you weren't waiting long.”

Touya turns his impossibly blue eyes toward him and shrugs. “Not long.”

Hawks stands beside him, watching the water falling from a flower-covered urn and send ripples across the surface of the fountain.

“Do you wanna get food?” Hawks asks, after they've spent about two minutes staring at the water.

Touya grunts. “Sounds good, birdie. I'm famished. So, what are you getting me?”

Hawks takes the lead from there, putting his reconnaissance skills to good use finding which food trucks have the best selection. Touya turns up his nose at the fish tacos, but the spicy chicken kebabs are a yes, as are the mini bacon burgers, and the curly fries.

For dessert, Touya decides they need ice cream, even though it's getting a little too cold for that. It's not like Hawks can say no, so they both get cones and wander off to the rest of the park.

Hawks has no idea how Touya can eat the ice cream without shivering. Or how he takes a full bite out of his scoop of strawberry ice cream without getting a brain freeze.

Actually, it's not that unbelievable. The other Todoroki's have ice quirks from their mom. Touya has her hair. He probably has an ice quirk as well which makes him more resistant to it. It's a little ironic that Endeavour had so many children to inherit his quirk, but all of them took after their mother.

Touya notices him shivering and smirks. “Cold, birdie?”

“A little.” Hawks tries to shrug it off, but his teeth are chattering too loudly and betray his true feeling.

Touya laughs. It's a deep, raspy laugh that in other circumstances could have been sinister. Here, Hawks thinks, it just sounds like Touya has a little bit of a cold.

“Here,” Touya says. He grabs hold of one of Hawks’s hands and holds it in his own, tucking their joined hands into the pockets of his coat.

Touya’s hand is pleasantly warm, and Hawks wriggles his fingers contentedly. “You're very warm,” he remarks.

“Thanks. It's the genetics,” Touya says dryly. “How’s the ice cream?”

“Great,” Hawks says and licks his cone, immediately regretting it when a shiver goes down his spine. “Did you have a good week?”

“I suppose the generic response would be: ‘it's better now that I'm with you,’ but my week was fine. Had a complete asshole of a customer come in. One of my younger coworkers was at the register, and he was being a dick to her, so I took over.”

“I hope you threw him out,” Hawks says viciously. That's his comfort coffee shop. No assholes allowed.

“Oh, believe me, I did. Wish I could have done more.” Touya's face shifts into something dark for a moment.

Hawks remembers now that the other Todoroki siblings had said something about Touya having health problems and having to spend a lot of time in the hospital recently. He hopes his new friend didn't overexert himself.

“Next time, you could just give me a call if I'm in the area. Or Rumi. She'd be happy to deal with any unpleasant customers.

Touya grins at that. “That’d be amusing, but I can generally handle it. People are surprisingly intimidated by a little swearing and my resting bitch face.”

“Still. Anytime you need me, I'm just a call away,” Hawks offers.

They walk a bit longer. There aren't many people in the park, and the trees make a pleasant environment. After sunset, the lamps come on.

Hawks checks the time and sighs. “It's time for my next patrol.”

He doesn't want to leave. For all that he's been nervous pretty much the entire time, spending time with Touya has been…pleasant. Touya’s kept hold of his hand this whole time, keeping it nice and warm. The other man has a dry, wry sense of humor that sends Hawks into peals of surprised laughter.

“I'd like to do this again, though, if that's something you'd like. “I really appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to do this,” Hawks says.

“Well, it's not every day the number one hero invites me out,” Touya drawls. “I'm not too busy to say nothing to a free meal. I'd like to do this again, too.”

He lets go of Hawks's hand. “Now get going, birdie. I'll text you later.”

A few seconds and a goodbye later, Hawks is in the air, flying back toward the coffee shop and his nightly watch.

He could get used to this whole friends thing.

*

Dabi is a little late to his patrol due to the date with Hawks. He's honestly hoping the hero meant he had somewhere else to be when he left, because having his identity exposed would be a bit awkward.

Dabi doesn't have much experience when it comes to dating, but he thinks that was pretty good as far as dates went. The food was good, and they'd just talked the rest of the time. If the food is that good every time, he doesn't see any reason to stop.

By the time he's changed into his vigilante gear and made it back to the coffee shop, Hawks is already in his usual perch, looking out over the streets.

Because the pro hero has taken to patrolling the area–and stalking him–Dabi supposes he could stand to leave the street unguarded a few nights a week. Hawks would stop any crime that occurred in the area. Dabi didn't really need to be there.

But, it's been awhile since he patrolled, after his injuries and then spending time with his family. He wants to get back into the swing of his old routine.

The plan is to bring Hawks into the League. Once he's in, they can keep him safe while they take the Commission apart.

He prowls the streets for about half an hour without running into any crimes before a ruffling sound alerts him to Hawks gliding down to him on extended wings.

“Glad to see you up and about,” the hero says with his trademark grin. Having seen what a real smile looks like on Hawks, Dabi decides the fake one is utterly intolerable. It makes Hawks looks like some piece of shit douchebag.

“I was a little worried I wasn't going to be seeing you again,” Hawks continues to chatter. “I hope your injuries weren't too bad.”

Dabi shrugs. “I've had worse.” But, this is the opportunity he's been waiting for. He can't botch this. “Thanks…for the other night…getting me out. I would've been in trouble if you weren't there.”

“Oh, it was no trouble. And your new Stain guy already came by.

Carefully. Carefully. The League has to reel him in, make it look believable.

“I wouldn't be against working with you in the future,” Dabi says slowly. “I know we can't have a real, public alliance, but…I'd like to repay that debt. I think that working together we could do a lot of good.”

“I agree.” Hawks flutters his wings ever so slightly.

“I'm part of a bit of a group,” Dabi admits, watching Hawks for his reaction. “The others might agree to bringing you into the loop, so that we can all coordinate.”

“Stain’s part of that group?”

Dabi grimaces. “The new one.”

Hawks laughs at that. “Yeah. The old one worked solo. This new one doesn't seem so bad. A little odd, but that's not so bad.”

“Oh, he's definitely an odd one. As long as he's not a psychopath, I guess. We've got a few others, all vigilantes. We work together, look out for each other, stay in touch with a few heroes. It might be nice to expand our network a little. The world needs all the help it can get.”

“Are Night Owl and the Blue Spirit part of your network?” Hawks wonders. “I know they've worked with heroes in the past, and you were all at that raid that Night Owl arranged.”

Dabi hums noncommittally, unwilling to give so much away so early in the game. Hawks can't suspect anything until he's firmly on their side.

“It's definitely something I'd appreciate,” Hawks says. “We need more heroes who are dedicated to what needs to be done. They can't just go after the big, flashy fights and the lucrative missions. They need to be on the streets protecting people. Like what you vigilantes do. If you'll have me, I'd be honored to join your group.”

For his own sake, Dabi hopes that Hawks isn't entirely lying about this, that he really does want to work with them, and that the Commission isn't the only reason he's seeking them out. He doesn't want this to be an act. 

"I'll talk to them," Dabi promises. "I can't imagine them saying no, though. Hopefully, next time we meet, we can meet as partners."

He means it. Dabi sees an uncomfortable amount of himself in Hawks. He doesn’t want the other man to end up like he did, tearing himself apart to meet the expectations of those who hold power over him. Hawks might not have shared his story yet, but Dabi already understands.

At that time in his life, what Dabi needed was for someone to pull him out of his own head and the false reality that had been built around him. Dabi hopes he can be that person for Hawks.

He hopes that Hawks makes it out of this less scarred than Dabi was when he escaped.

*

Izuku has been thinking. Long and hard. Very long and hard.

The vestiges have been thinking with him. Whether that enhances the thinking being done or not has yet to be discovered.

It's not a spur of the moment decision when he goes to the HPSC's website and clicks on the resources tab.

What it is is a bit of a gamble. He knows the Commission is after Night Owl, and he suspects they're after him in his hero student identity as well, albeit probably for different reasons.

It's just a hunch, but he'd felt that something was fishy when Hawks was so insistent about Izuku interning with him. He doesn't think it was entirely Hawks's choice. Not that he thinks badly of the hero. It says more about the Commission that's controlling him. There's no definitive proof.

Like he said, it's just a hunch.

Izuku navigates to a page listing resources for those with quirks requiring accommodations or those needing support equipment. They offer appointments and consultations for those going through sudden quirk manifestations or developments.

If the Commission is looking into him, Izuku can guess why. 

Akatani Mikumo had a quirk. Izuku, who took their place, doesn't have a quirk. Akatani in particular had a supposedly powerful quirk. On paper at least. He'd never really shown it off in public. Surely, the Commission is curious about what happened. Surely, they suspect something.

If they are…Izuku just has to lay a trap, and wait for them to take the bait.

He'll play into their curiosity, dance to their tune, and wait for the perfect moment to strike. For Hawks. For Lady Nagant. To a lesser extent, for himself.

He fills out the applications online, listing the reason for his appointment as a sudden quirk development and requesting testing and counsel. That should pique their curiosity.

You don't have to do this if you don't want to, Nana reminds him. 

They've been over this before.

“I'm doing this,” Izuku says aloud, as if to cement his resolve.

There's no need to be stupid, Kudo growls at him. There's other ways to do this.

No others that are going to work half as well, Izuku counters. We need information that they aren't just going to give us. We have to get it from the inside. Besides, I trust the others. I'm not truly going into this alone.

We know that, kid, Banjo says. I get that this is a good plan. I still think it's risky.

I trust you, Yoichi says. We all do. We just want to be sure you're prepared for this.

“I'm ready,” Izuku says. 

He clicks submit on the forms and leans back in his chair. It's done. Now, it's a waiting game.

Chapter Text

The night before Hawks's introduction to the League, they hold a big meeting. It's mostly just reminders not to call anyone by the wrong name and what Hawks can't know just yet.

Eri is one of those things, and Mustard won't be attending meetings with Hawks because he's too young. They also will have to stop meeting at Gran Torino's apartment. They don't want to implicate him. 

Izuku finds an abandoned warehouse that will do the job for the time being, and they have a short inaugural party for their new headquarters while they're there.

Izuku and Shoto have a patrol planned for afterwards. Just a quick spin around the block.

They meet outside the warehouse once the party has begun to dissipate. Izuku cheeks are still warm and flushed from the laughter and the punch that Mustard spiked. It's good. Things are good.

Shoto is silent as they begin their patrol, but that isn't particularly unusual for him.

They stop atop a roof that provides a good view of three different alleyways and a good stretch of street to keep watch, and Shoto decides to break the silence.

“You’re planning something,” he says. It's quiet. Not an accusation. Just an observation.

Izuku laughs. Awkwardly. “Well, yeah. We're all planning this together.”

You are so busted, Kudo snickers.

Shoto shakes his head. “That's the problem. We're not. Sure, Hawks is going to join us, but you haven't said what we're doing next. What comes after that? How exactly are we going to take down the Commission?”

“It's kind of contingent on Hawks,” Izuku explains. “We need someone on the inside.”

Shoto stares at him from behind the mask. “But what if Hawks doesn't agree to help us?”

Izuku bites his lip. What he said is partially true. He is relying on Hawks. Gambling on him, really, but he's planning to put the hero in a much more volatile situation, one that will make him far more likely to betray the Commission. And they do need someone on the inside. It just won't be Hawks.

“You were like this before,” Shoto says. He looks away from Izuku, out at the city. “I didn't like it.”

“He's right, you know,” Yoichi says.

Izuku pulls his knees up to his chest and hugs them tightly. He doesn’t…he doesn't want anyone else to be in danger, not when he can handle it all himself.

Shoto pries Izuku’s hands from his knees and holds them. “Don't leave me out again. I don't want to be left out. If you're doing something dangerous, I want to do it with you. Please.”

“Hey, we'll tell you, squirt,” Nana says.

Izuku's mouth is betraying him. His gaggle of ghosts is turning against him.

This isn't fair, he whines at them.

Yeah, well, this is a democracy and we outnumber you. Majority Rules, kid. Them's the rules, Nana says smugly.

Let me tell him? Izuku asks. If Shoto is going to be told, he wants to do it himself. He'd rather not have Shoto think the vestiges are doing it against his will.

That’s the spirit! Banjo cheers.

Izuku sighs and lifts his head to look at Shoto once more.

“Did the ghosts convince you?” Shoto asks.

Izuku will always find it amazing and a little eerie how Shoto is able to just guess what’s going on inside his head.

“Yeah,” he admits.

He spills his entire plan to Shoto, starting with the steps he's already taken and ending with the final blow he plans to deal the Commission.

Shoto listens quietly through it all, never interrupting, never arguing.

“Do you…think it's a bad idea?” He asks, once he's finished.

Shoto seems to consider the question. “I think it will work, if that's what you're asking. But I do think it's a bad idea…if you do it alone.”

Izuku frowns. “But, it's a one person thing. I already have my appointment. They only do one at a time. And I have a good reason to go in. You don't.”

Shoto shrugs. “Just bring me along. I'll tell them I had a quirk mutation and now I can use fire, but I'm having trouble controlling it.”

“They'll never suspect a thing,” Yoichi agrees, using Izuku's head to nod along.

“But…” Izuku frowns.

“No buts. I'm coming,” Shoto says firmly.

Izuku sighs, and the rest of his arguments die in his throat.

He feels a little lighter now, though he'd never admit it. The tight feeling in his chest that he'd been doing his best to ignore had dissipated.

Maybe this was what he should have done from the beginning.

“So, when are we doing this?” Shoto asks.

“This week, Friday, after classes.”

“Right before Hawks's introduction,” Shoto notes.

“If all goes according to plan, but that time in a month, we'll have everyone where we want them.”

“This is still contingent on Hawks,” Shoto says thoughtfully. “If he betrays us–”

“He won't,” Izuku says quickly. What he's doing definitely falls into the category of psychological manipulation, but no one ever said that was off the table. Look how well it worked with Kacchan. He's practically reformed!

“If you say so.” Shoto accepts his word easily. It's a kind of trust Izuku sometimes thinks he doesn't deserve, but also one he never wants to lose. He doesn't know how he lived so long without it.

“What do we do now?”

“Now?” Izuku grins. “Now, I want the Commission to know who we are. We're taking back this city!”

*

Hawks is nervous. The fluttery wings, butterflies in the stomach, can't stay still kind of nervous. It's driving Suzuki insane.

“Please, Hawks-san, you have reports to finish!” His secretary bodily blocks the window and his escape.

Hawks drops into his chair. He can't focus. Not right now.

He reaches for his mug of coffee, but Suzuki swats his hand away and snatches the mug out of his reach.

“No more caffeine,” the man says. “You've had way too much already, and you're jittery enough as is.”

Hawks can't help it. Dabi had sent him a text. (How did Dabi get his phone number? It's a complete mystery). Hawks is officially invited to join the League of Vigilantes. Or, he gets to meet with them, at least.

It's the biggest breakthrough he's had in a while. For weeks, he's been appeasing the Commission with scraps, lying about Izuku, giving the bare minimum about the League.

This is something. This will keep the Commission from putting someone else on the job. Someone who might do the job a little too well.

Hawks told them about the meeting, but he made sure to emphasize that the League didn't trust him. They'd have contingency plans in place in case Hawks tried to betray them. It's not a good idea for the Commission to try to get them this time. Later. When the time is right. Not now. 

Not ever, Hawks tells himself. He'll find a way. There has to be one.

“Hawks-san, you have a call!” Suzuki informs him.

Hawks picks his head up from the desk where it had fallen after one last valiant attempt at focusing on his work.

“Tell them to leave a message.”

Suzuki grimaces. “It's Madame President.”

In a second, Hawks is sitting bolt upright in his seat. “I'll take it.”

He picks up the phone on his desk, and Suzuki transfers the call.

“Madame President, to what do I owe the honor.” Hawks keeps his voice saccharine sweet. It's unusual for the President herself to call him out of the blue.

“Nothing too urgent,” the woman says. As always, she sounds immensely pleased with herself. “I just wanted to congratulate you on the excellent work you've done with your intern. Midoriya? And the Todoroki boy, too. You did far better than I would have expected. You even got that uncouth Miruko's intern. Truly, you surprised me, Hawks.”

Hawks licks his lips. He has no idea what she was talking about.

“You flatter me,” he replies. “I really haven't done much. I haven't even discovered anything about Midoriya's quirk, or if he ever had one to begin with.”

“Perhaps not. He might not have told you, but you've planted the seeds, and now they're sprouting. I look forward to a plentiful harvest.”

The other side of the line clicks off, but Hawks can't put the phone down.

What…what did Midoriya do? What did Todoroki do?

What is he going to do?

*

Approximately 2 hours earlier

“Why is he here?” Izuku demands of Shoto in a furious whisper.

“I can hear you, you miserable excuse for a mint chocolate chip mascot,” Kacchan says. He crosses his arms over his black hoodie and scowls at Izuku.

Shoto shrugs. “I told him we were going, so he wouldn't freak out later, and he said he was coming along.”

Izuku puts his head in his hands and pulls at his hair. This is not how this is supposed to be going.

“For the record, this is simultaneously the dumbest and the smartest shit I've ever heard of,” Kacchan says.

“Language,” Shoto reminds him absently.

“Buy an ice cream truck!” Kacchan snaps back at him.

Shoto doesn't seem to care. He stares up the the building in front of them. The appointment isn't actually in the skyscraper. It's in the squat building next door, but the skyscraper is the more interesting of the two to look at.

One tagalong was bad enough. Izuku isn't entirely sure how he's going to explain two.

“You can't come,” he tries, even if he knows it's futile. Kacchan is nothing if not stubborn.

“Cry about it,” Kacchan says. “How do you plan on stopping me?”

“Incredible violence?” Kudo suggests dryly.

“Oh, it's on!” Kacchan throws himself at Izuku.

Izuku ducks out of the way. He has a headache.

“We don't have time for this.” He's going to regret this, isn't he? “Let's just go inside.”

The lady behind the desk is very nice, and she's very understanding when Izuku explains about his friends who wanted to come with him. For support. It's a difficult time for all of them.

Not for the first or last time, Izuku is profoundly grateful that he was genetically guaranteed to get the Midoriya puppy dog eyes. They're more useful than a quirk some days.

When they're eventually called into a consultation room, the doctor only looks a little surprised at the three teenagers who walk in the door. There's only two seats, so Kacchan stands behind them and looks menacing.

The doctor clears his throat. He's a middle-aged man. Balding. Tired.

“Hello, Midoriya, and…?”

“Todoroki Shoto.”

Kacchan grins. “Lord Explosion Murder.”

The effort it takes not to punch Kacchan into next week makes Izuku shake.

“Bakugo Katsuki,” he corrects. “I'm sorry for the intrusion, but when I told them I was coming, they wanted to come to. We've all been having some trouble, and since we're hero students, it's important that we have control over all the power at our disposal.” Izuku bites his lip and looks down, trying to look reluctant. “UA is a great school, but…for me…they expect students to already have control over their quirks, and…I don't know what to do. Hawks-sensei said that we could always come to him for help, but he's so busy. He said the Hero Commission had resources he could get us in touch with, so I thought maybe I should just go straight to you guys.”

Izuku sniffs. He's not crying yet, but he needs to be if he's going to sell the next segments of his story.

“I'm so sorry to hear that, Izuku, but Hawks was absolutely correct. We'll always be here to help you. Now, how can I help you?”

Izuku fiddles with his fingers. “I…um, well, I'm…I was quirkless. For a long time. I was accepted into UA because of my high scores, but it was contingent on how well I performed. I knew they wouldn't let a quirkless student in, so I used my cousin's name. They live in America, but it let me provide documents that said I had a quirk so they wouldn't throw out my application. If I ever couldn't keep up, I would be expelled. And…I just wanted to keep up. But then, during one of our exercises, I was fighting, and all of a sudden….well, maybe it would be easier to demonstrate?”

“Of course. Whatever would be easiest.”

The doctor shows them into a training room where Izuku powers up. He's already decided on the angle he wants for this operation

The HPSC is looking for the next All Might, the next top hero. We'll, he can give them just that.

Yoichi takes over, and the super strength of One for All coils around Izuku's limbs. The lines of glowing energy resign themselves into crackling white static. It had been green for Izuku, but Yoichi's power is white.

One punch is all it takes for the doctor to stare at Izuku, open-mouthed. “This is your quirk?”

Izuku nods. He holds his hand awkwardly. In order to sell this, he needs to look like he's lacking in control. Like his quirk is hurting him. Yoichi had done his best to overload him, but Izuku's body is far too good at handling the super strength.

Shoto decides this is his cue. “I've also had a quirk evolution that I can't control. Can I get help?”

The doctor nods numbly. 

Shoto holds out his arm, eyes closed like he's concentrating. And then fire springs to life, white and hot and…his leg is on fire, not his arm.

Shoto sighs heavily. “It never goes where I want it.”

The doctor is blinking at them rapidly. “I see. I see.” He looks expectantly at Kacchan who glares back at him.

They're escorted back to the exam room after that.

“I'm really hoping you can help me,” Izuku tells the doctor. He rubs at his eyes, trying to will the tears into existence. “My mom…she doesn't want anything to do with me.”

Kacchan not very subtly stomps on Izuku's foot, making his eyes water.

“I just don't know where to go,” Izuku says, his voice full of tears. “And I keep hurting myself!”

“I also don't know where to go or what to do,” Shoto says.

This time when the doctor looks at Kacchan expectantly, the blond shrugs.

“I'm gonna get expelled soon and my parents are kicking me out.”

*

When Hawks arrives at the meeting place, a swirling portal is waiting for him.

He dives in without hesitation.

The Commision can't get its claws in his chicks. He'll talk to the kids of course, make them understand the danger, but now that the Commission knows…they're never going to let them go.

Hawks hadn't realized the kids were so alone. So vulnerable. So easily taken.

Like he had once been.

He doesn't know who else to go to. This wasn't part of the plan, but it is now.

Bursting into a warehouse full of shadowy figures, Hawks locks in on the hooded figure seated on the edge of a stack of pallets.

Night Owl.

He sets his jaw and looks up at the vigilante.

“I need your help.”

Chapter Text

Izuku isn't quite prepared for the flustered Hawks that tumbles into their meeting, and he certainly isn't prepared for the first words the hero says.

“I need your help.”

The plan was for them to have a suitably intimidating introduction. The League needed to be mysterious, still just a little out of reach. They’d build reliable rapport with Hawks until they could be sure he was on their side, and by then, it would be time to strike.

But Hawks has bowled through the carefully arranged schedule by coming to them with a request already on his lips. He’s trusting them when there’s no real reason to, asking them for help when he barely knows them.

I need your help.

Now, nothing could be more true. Hawks definitely does need their help, but the League hadn't been aware that he was aware he needs their help.

It's a complicated business.

Izuku carefully uncrosses his legs and hops down from the pallet he'd been perched on.

“Well, we'll be happy to give it, as long as we can trust you to do the same,” he says, and his voice comes out sharper through the voice changer.

Hawks audibly swallows. His voice is rough and low when he speaks. “I realize I may be jumping the gun a little.”

Yeah, just a little, Kudo snorts.

I think it’s admirable, Banjo declares. What’s the word? Yes! It’s manly of him to get straight to the point and ask for help when he needs it!

Izuku never should have let you talk to Kirishima. Hikage sounds mildly annoyed.

Dabi walks up behind Hawks, clapping him on the back. To his credit, the hero doesn’t seem to be all that startled.

“We’re vigilantes,” Dabi drawls, using the lower tone of his vigilante persona that implies he smokes at least three packs a day. “We’re used to desperate people.”

“I’m not–” Hawks seems to reconsider what he was about to say.

If he wasn’t before, Izuku is certainly intrigued now. He can’t really think of anything that would have Hawks desperate. Perhaps its another situation like Lady Nagant. Maybe he’s ready to snap. Maybe he has been the whole time and Izuku just hadn’t seen it.

Izuku had looked at Hawks and seen someone in need of saving, but he had also seen someone so thoroughly under the Commission’s thumb that he didn’t even think of rebelling. Truthfully, Izuku had thought Hawks was too busy to push back against the Commission, probably by design. They’d built a house of cards resting on his wings to fetter him, crafting a narrative that if he fumbled even a single one, allowed a single one fall, society would come crashing down around his ears.

Hawks is a good person, and a good hero. That Izuku has never doubted, but he was trapped in a crushing system, one doing too much harm to be allowed to continue. Izuku had thought they’d have to fight him, at least on an ideological layer, tearing down layers of indoctrination and lies, before he came to their side.

Would it really be this easy?

Hawks’s eyes flit around the room, like a cornered animal's.

He doesn’t trust them, Izuku realizes. He’s afraid, even if he’s doing his best to hide it. So, for him to come to them, he’s realized that there’s a bigger fish after him.

“I know I have no right to ask this of you. It’s too much, and there’s no good reason for you to believe me.”

“Just spit it out,” Dabi says.

“People ask for all kinds of things that they have no right to all the time,” Compress chimes in softly. “We are heroes of a kind, and that is part of the role, is it not, hero?”

“Not like this,” Hawks say. “I shouldn’t even be here. I should have cut contact with you long before now. I never should have tried to get close.”

It’s time for a gamble, but if it will set Hawks at ease, Izuku thinks it might be worth it.

“We know you were attempting to infiltrate us,” he says casually.

Hawks head snaps toward him so fast Izuku half expects to hear a crack. “Then why? Why did you allow me to get close at all?”

Izuku tilts his head thoughtfully. He’s playing a role, he reminds himself. He has to be Night Owl and not blow his cover. “Because anyone can change their mind…and it’s easier to control people when they think they have you fooled. And ‘keep your friends close,’ and all that.”

“You’re a bit different than the rumors, and memes,” Hawks observes.

“I have to be.” Izuku won’t deny that he enjoys the reputation he’s cultivated. It’s even true for the most part, and he’s setting up the League to look more serious than it actually is. All for a good cause, of course.

“Now, shall we get back to the topic at hand?”

Hawks sobers up immediately. He sets his jaw in determination, and there’s a fearsome light in his eyes. “What do you know about the HPSC?”

“Enough to steer clear of them,” Izuku answers evasively, wanting to see how much Hawks will divulge.

“Well, apart from their interest in you, they’ve set their attention on some…other people. Some hero students.”

“And that’s a bad thing?” Izuku prods. “Aren’t they supposed to offer their support to the heroes, not just police them?”

Hawks nods a little absently. “It definitely started out that way. At least, I think it did. But the way things are now, they’ve skewed toward…control.”

It started with people trying to order us around, Banjo growls. I don’t think much has changed.

“How so?”

“They have…programs, nominally to help heroes reach their full potential, but it’s more a way to bring them to their side, keep them in their debt, and make sure they don’t go against the Commission.”

“And you know about this how?” Dabi demands.

Hawks is suspiciously quiet. “I’m the new number one hero. You learn things the higher you climb. It isn’t something they advertise, exactly.”

“So, they’re going after some students,” Magne gets them back on track. “I’m all for keeping them away from the kids, but that seems like something you should talk to those kids about, make sure they ever get into the programs in the first place.”

“I could do that. I should have done that,” Hawks admits, “but I think it might be too late for that now. The Commission has already set its sights on them. I tried to keep them away, I really did, but they didn’t tell me they were planning on going in to see about the program, and then it was too late.”

There’s a prickly feeling on the back of Izuku’s neck. This wasn’t how this was supposed to go. He has a sneaking suspicion that’s almost certainly correct that Hawks is talking about him, Shoto, and Kacchan.

This was supposed to be about Hawks, not them. They need to infiltrate the place, dammit! They can’t have Hawks getting in the way before they’re able to carry out their plan.

Looks like someone snitched on you, Kudo says, very amused.

“What exactly do you think is going to happen to these young heroes?” Compress asks.

Hawks stiffens, and his feathers bristle. He licks his lips, and suddenly he looks very pale. “Nothing good. The Commission could easily spin it so that they won’t be missed.”

Was that the story behind Hawks? Was he someone who was never missed, who slipped away from his old life and into the Commission’s ranks because he had a powerful quirk?

“What do you want us to do about it?” Izuku asks. “The best course of action would be for you to warn them and for them to stay vigilant.

On the one hand, he’s glad that Hawks is disillusioned with the Commission, and even willing to work against them, but on the other hand, he doesn’t want the hero interfering with his plan.

“I…maybe I didn’t think this through,” Hawks says sounding unsure of himself.

“Whatever.” Dabi rolls his eyes. “Don’t get your feathers all ruffled. You panicked. Everyone does every once in a while. We can keep an eye out for the kids to make sure they don’t get carted away in a white van, sound good?”

Hawks exhales, slow and shuddering. “Yeah. That would be great.”

“So, who are we dealing with?”

“My interns.”

*

As soon as Hawks disappears through the portal that Kurogiri opens for him, Dabi whirls on his little brother and his idiot best friend.

“What the actual fuck were you thinking?”

Izuku takes off his mask, staring down at it like a good enough for the current situation is going to write itself across the face of it. “In my defense, I didn’t think he was going to find out about it.”

“He’s not stupid,” Dabi sneers. “And he would have found out when you fucked off or got kidnapped.”

“Well, that was kind of the point.”

Dabi can’t believe this. How did he end up with this pack of idiots again? What is his life coming to?

He turns to Shoto. “I thought you were better than this.” Not necessarily smarter, just better. “You’re supposed to keep this idiot from getting into trouble like this.”

Shoto shrugs. “It seemed like a good plan.”

“What part of it seemed like a good plan?”

“The part where he let me come with him.”

Dabi takes back every assumption he ever made that his brother had some kind of preservation instincts. Apparently, he didn’t even want to keep Izuku out of trouble. He just wanted to be able to fucking die with him if it came to it. Teenagers! When Dabi was a teenager, he semi-successfully, not entirely intentionally, faked his own death and had given himself severe nerve-damage. Did his little brother really have to try to upstage him? Dabi didn’t need the identity crisis that would come with Shoto usurping his title of family screw-up.

“It’s whatever,” Izuku cuts into his thoughts. “There’s nothing we can do now. We were already on the Commission’s radar, and there’s really no going back now. We’re going through with it.”

“Yeah, well, you’re telling us the plan this time, or were you planning on fucking off and trying to handle it all on your own?”

Izuku pouts, as if that will work on Dabi, hardened not quite a criminal anymore that he is. “I would have told you. Eventually.”

“After it was all over,” Spinner guesses, probably correctly.

“Spill!” Dabi demands.

“I’m with Dabi on this one,” Compress says, when Izuku presses his lips together tightly, refusing to talk. What is he, five? “We formed the League so that we could take on the things that threaten us together. Splitting off defeats the purpose.”

“Finally, someone with sense.”

“Although, your plan may have some merit to it. You plan to strike from the inside, no?”

Izuku nods. “Hawks doesn’t seem like the type to open up. If we want answers, we’ll have to find them on our own. Besides, we’ll need more than one person’s testimony to convict them. We’ll need evidence, undeniable evidence.”

“You’re going to manufacture a scandal,” Compress says.

Dabi still doesn’t like whatever this plan is, but maybe he doesn’t have much of a choice. It’s already playing out. He can’t stop it. All he can do is hold on for the ride and hope Izuku knows what he’s doing.

He thinks of Hawks’s distraught face, the way his wings trembled.

Dabi could see echoes of his own past in Hawks, but where Dabi had made mistakes and allowed those mistakes to shape him, turning him onto the path of villainy, however brief that phase had been, Hawks has been a hero the whole time. He cared more for his dumb interns than Dabi ever would have expected.

He hopes that whatever Izuku has in store for them, he’s remembered not to put Hawks in harm’s way.

*

Hawks stares in the mirror, and he doesn’t know who he sees there. Years of seeing his face on posters, in the news, in magazines, and he knows what he looks like far too well. Or, he knows what Pro Hero Hawks looks like.

Sometimes, he wonders what he looks like under that facade. If he could peel away the face the Commission had created for him, what would he be underneath?

Some days, he feels like a hunting falcon, hooded and blind, powerful, but with his wings pinned in place until he’s given an order, and he wonders what it would feel like to have those restraints gone.

Maybe he’d still be a hero. Maybe he’d have gone to college, studied birds or something like that. Maybe he’d have scraped his knees and gotten dirt under his fingernails as he learned to fly, gotten into trouble for flying where he shouldn’t have…

He can picture a young man with crimson wings laughing, expression unfettered. His clothes are messy, his hair is messy, and not in the studied, wind-swept way that Hawks’s is styled to be. He has a backpack overflowing with work to do, but he leans over the counter of a coffeeshop anyways to listen to the biting remarks of a blue-eyed barista.

It’s difficult to imagine, because it never feels like him. It’s someone else, and he’s not that person. He doesn’t know if he ever can be, not with the way his world is warping around him, threatening to swallow him whole.

He’d panicked, going to the League like that, although Dabi’s reassurance that they would look out for the kids had made him feel better.

They were right. This is something he needs to deal with mostly himself. The League can’t actually help until things have gone to shit. Until then, the ball is in Hawks’s court.

He squeezes his eyes shut.

He’ll have to tell them, his interns, he means. He has to warn them to keep them out of this absolute mess, and it will mean telling them about himself, or about Hawks at least. He can’t say much, doesn’t want to say anything at all, but he needs to get the chicks as far away from the Commission as possible.

It will be easy enough to tell Rumi to watch out for her intern. It’s his interns he’s worried about. Will their opinions of him change? Will they still trust him? Should they still trust him?

He opens his eyes and looks at himself.

The man in the mirror sure as hell isn’t Hawks, and maybe he hasn’t been for a while. Hawks would never consider betraying the Commission. Hawks would kill and steal and destroy if the order were given. Hawks would never question an order.

Hawks wouldn’t want to be someone else.

Hawks had gone to the League for his interns. He had to keep them safe and out of harm’s way. He doesn’t want the Commission to sink its teeth into them and tear them apart.

And maybe, when this is all over, he’ll go back to the League again.

Maybe next time, he’ll do it for himself.

Because no one deserves this.

Chapter Text

Hawks's interns shuffle in with expressions that tell Hawks they know they did something wrong and they're trying to pretend they didn't. 

Midoriya and the little Todoroki, that is. Tokoyami did nothing wrong. He deserves the title of Hawks's favorite intern. Hawks won't lie and say he doesn't like the others, but they're kind of causing him a headache at the moment, and Tokoyami has done nothing wrong ever. He's a precious little bird of darkness.

The room swims a little, the price of missing sleep and trying to make up for it with copious amounts of caffeine.

Midoriya looks at Hawks with wide green eyes, giving him the puppy-dog look. Hawks, however, is a trained agent. If he can't resist puppy dog eyes, he doesn't deserve the number one spot. It's a futile attempt. Hawks wants to get a picture of it.

Hawks fixes his interns with a stern look. “We need to have a talk. Midoriya, Todoroki, in my office.”

Midoriya and Todoroki share a look, and then Midoriya takes something from behind his back. It's a drink tray. A full drink tray. With four coffees. All with whipped cream and caramel and chocolate syrup.

Hawks can't help it. His eyes lock on. Predator mode, engaged.

Tokoyami clears his throat. “I'll go get changed,” he says seriously and backs out of the room.

Midoriya and Todoroki rush past Hawks into his office. Hawks closes the door behind them and makes a beeline for his desk where his interns have deposited the coffee.

They know they've done something they shouldn't have.

And they know he knows. Hence the coffee. Which is totally a bribe. Hawks is aware, and he is shamelessly taking advantage of it. Accepting bribes is fine as long as he stays aware.

After a loud slurp, he stares down the two guilty fledglings in front of him.

“You went to the Commission,” he says, and it isn't a question.

Midoriya stiffens, like someone dumped a bucket of ice water down his back. “I'm sorry. I know I should have gone to you, with my quirk changing and all, but I felt so behind, and I wanted to catch up.” He clasps his hands in front of him and bows profoundly. “I'm so sorry, Hawks-sensei!”

Todoroki mirrors the bow. “I also should have told you about my quirk changing, but I didn't want to burden you.”

Hawks takes another loud sip, suddenly not sure what to do. This feels like it calls for a patented, ‘I'm not mad, just disappointed’ speech.

“I may be busy, but that's no excuse to shirk my duties as your mentor.” He frowns. “And you have your teachers at UA. You shouldn't have to…” he trails off, unsure how to say this.

Midoriya shifts, evidently uncomfortable. “I just…I felt like I would be a bother. This is so new, you know.”

Hawks pinches his nose, then finishes his first coffee, taking off the lid to get the last bits of whipped cream out. This is the important bit, and he suddenly doesn't want to do this in his office. He eyes the window, and several of his feathers slip off to open it. He sends a few more after his interns, hooking their costumes.

“Let's take this outside, shall we?”

There's only enough time for two small screams when Hawks takes to the sky with his interns in tow. He chuckles at the way they hang limp. They deserve a little scare after everything they've put him through.

“Don't worry,” he yells. “I won't drop you.”

“I'm sorry?” Midoriya yells back.

“You can put me down,” Todoroki tries to negotiate.

He does put them down after a few minutes. They only stumble a little.

He turns to face them, feathers fluttering nervously.

“I'm not angry with you,” he tells his interns. “But I don't want you going back to the Commission. Not for this. Not for anything.”

Midoriya's eyes are wide. “Why?”

“Yes, why?” Todoroki echoes. Hawks has grown used to the fact that Todoroki has made it his mission in life to back up Midoriya in his every endeavor. It's a little cute.

Hawks grimaces. “You're better off using your own resources, rather than those of the HPSC. They offer them for free, but you're putting yourself in debt regardless. I'm to blame for not telling you. I just assumed I wouldn't have to. I should have warned you.”

“Hawks-sensei…”

He forces himself to lock eyes with his interns. “I'm afraid for you,” he says. The words are so simple, yet so true, that they hurt a little to say. “I want you to become heroes, good heroes, in your own right. I don't want you to disappear.” The last sentence is a whisper.

Midoriya's eyes are filled with tears. “Hawks-sensei, I'm so sorry!”

Todoroki nods, valiantly attempting his best crying face. He's not a terribly expressive person, but he's doing his best, and that's what matters.

“Please, don't go back to them,” Hawks says. “I may not be the best mentor, but I'll do everything I can for you. So, please, take care of yourselves.”

Midoriya throws himself at Hawks, wrapping him in a hug, and…huh. It's not so bad. Midoriya gives good hugs, probably a good trait for a hero. Todoroki…well, Todoroki gives hugs, which means he's already a step ahead of Hawks. Maybe he can ask them for tips. Hawks wraps them up with his wings, using the feather to ruffle hair and wipe tears.

It's a productive conversation, he thinks.

When he gets back to the agency, he has more coffee, but this time he's able to appreciate how good it tastes.

And then he's ready to have a conversation about Midoriya's quirk, because that came out of left field and it's going to change a lot of things.

*

How does it feel, being that good of a liar? Kudo asks slyly.

I wasn't faking all of it, Izuku argues.

You're totally going back to the Commission, aren't you? Nana asks. Because that was actually a kind of fun plan.

The only problem is that everyone knows about their plan and has decided that it's too dangerous and stupid and they're not allowed to do it. Gran Torino got involved, and then Kurogiri called Aizawa just so he could tell them “No” which he did so without any additional prompting or even knowing what the situation was about.

The only one on their side in the end was Mustard, and that was just because he wanted to set a precedent. The kid was slowly progressing toward being a crack shot, and he was itching to put it to use.

They're out on patrol now with Hawks. Izuku is very tempted to give up the charade and let Nana out to use Float. Hawks keeps picking them up and carrying them around with his feathers. Tokoyami is the only one to escape this indignity. 

Briefly, Izuku indulges in imagining how Kacchan would react to getting toted around in the same manner. It would be peak comedy, he decides.

Really, he could easily keep up with Hawks if he was just allowed to use the vestiges. But he'd have to wait for the day he could freely use his abilities. It's coming. Soon.

Hawks is already aware of his super strength aspect, courtesy of the Commission. That was an awkward and fun conversation to have with his mentor. He'd had to explain that he'd had an unexpected manifestation, and he was totally not able to control it yet. Definitely.

Hawks bought it. He actually had quite a few good tips for how to control his power that might have come in handy back when Izuku was initially coming to grips with his quirk. The vestiges had taught Izuku well, but just like how they each brought him a unique perspective, Hawks had his own.

Izuku almost wishes he could get the hero's thoughts on the rest of his quirks. The vestiges’ quirks. Same thing. Hawks has a wide skill set, and his quirk has a lot of applications that overlap with the ways in which Izuku uses his own quirks.

Izuku perches on the corner of a building. Shoto has frozen a purse snatcher and Hawks is walking him through the arrest process. After so long operating as vigilantes, their first instinct is to just tie up the criminals and leave them for the police.

What are you going to do? Yoichi asks. Just curious. I know you're not letting this plan go to waste.

I don't have to do anything, Izuku notes. Well, maybe I'll have to make a phone call, drop a few hints...but that's easy enough. They'll come for me.

Mm, a good kidnapping plot, En says quietly.

It's a flawless plan! Banjo booms. In fact, it's even better than the first. You'll have everyone right to turn them all inside out if they've kidnapped you.

Turn them inside out, Kudo makes a noise of disgust. What's that a euphemism for?

Doesn't matter, stop being a bitch! Nana interrupts. We have a plan! Also, I can't wait to see the looks on everyone's faces.

When we inevitably get kidnapped or when we start kicking ass with multiple quirks? Izuku asks.

Both.

There's a lurch, and Izuku is pulled into the air again. There has to be a dignified way to do this.

“We've got a robbery two blocks away,” Hawks announces over the comm. “I'm going in to help. You three will be on the sidelines. Don't engage unless you or a civilian is in danger. Understood?”

Three affirmations came back.

We should totally kick some ass, Kudo says.

I'm just a student, Izuku counters. You don't want me to lose my license by disobeying, do you?

Bo-ring! Kudo calls back. I'm an adult. I should be allowed to beat up some villains.

You weren't even a hero, in the legal sense, Yoichi reminds him. It would be even more illegal for you.

I totally could! Nana reminds them.

I don't think that's an explanation I can use.

Hawks deposits the interns on a rooftop, apparently having an inkling of what they'd do if he left them on the sidelines close to the action. The hero swoops down to the scene of the action.

Izuku locks eyes with Shoto. His friend has a hand on the hilt of his twin swords.

“Slide us down?” He suggests.

Shoto nods.

“Are you certain we should?” Tokoyami says hesitantly.

“How else will we be able to defend ourselves?” Izuku asks innocently. “We can't defend any helpless civilians from up here.”

Tokoyami gives him a look. “I don't think that's what Hawks meant.”

Izuku shrugs, and Shoto makes an ice slide for them to get to the ground.

In the end, Tokoyami floats down after them, unwilling to leave them without supervision. There's crowd control to be done, and even a few stray villains to catch. It really was a big operation. Shoto freezes the runners easily, stopping them in their tracks.

Kudo sighs loudly. That was incredibly boring. 

Izuku hums. The vestige isn't entirely wrong. It was rather boring.

But, that's not such a bad thing. It's actually quite normal, and Izuku's life has been lacking in “normal” for some time now. 

*

Dabi finds himself waiting for Hawks's arrival. He isn't sure when that became a thing.

As usual, the hero spends the first half hour stalking him from a distance, then he swoops in.

“Have a good day chewing out the kids?” Dabi asks with a grin. 

Izuku and Dabi's kid brother had gotten several earfuls already from the League. Getting yet another one from Hawks was something Dabi wishes he had on camera. It would be priceless.

Hawks grimaces, screwing up his face in a way that's part comedic part endearing. “They apologized. Cried. Gave me hugs. Promised never to do it again.”

Dabi knows an opportunity when he sees one. “Don't tell me our number one hero doesn't know how to deal with his precious interns crying?”

Hawks squirms. “I do!” He protests.

Dabi only grins harder. “We'll take care of it,” he promises. “Let kids be kids, and all that.”

For some reason, Hawks deflates a little at that. His expression becomes thoughtful. “Yeah.”

The patrol is quiet after that.

Dabi gets home early in the morning, with just enough time to fall asleep so his alarm can drag him out of bed for his shift. He really hates taking the morning shift. It puts him in an awkward situation of having to sleep in the afternoon to be rested for the evening and then his vigilante activities. Sometimes he's just on for closing, which is nice.

There's a notification waiting for him, a text from Hawks.

Dabi smiles when he sees it. They're in the middle of setting up their newest media appearance. That's definitely what it feels like.

Hawks is good company. The man might not have a clue what he's doing–which is fine because Dabi doesn't either–but being around him doesn't make Dabi want to combust. In fact, it makes him feel all warm inside. Ew. Gross.

Dabi goes about his morning routine trading messages with Hawks. He's in the middle of trying to convince the hero that flying isn't the same experience as being in a Ferris Wheel when he gets a text from Shoto thanking him for the coffee recommendations the day before. It had worked apparently.

Maybe Dabi shouldn't have. Maybe he should have let his brother suffer the consequences of his actions. He finds it funnier to let the kids try to bribe their way out. It's better for all parties involved.

And then he's back to texting Hawks. The hero is still awkward, as is to be expected, but Dabi thinks…well, he thinks that maybe, after this is all over and Hawks isn't wrapped up in everything and overworked and exhausted…maybe Dabi can give him a crash course of what a normal life is supposed to be.

They'll get ice cream from an ice cream truck in the summer or anytime they want. They'll eat watermelon in the park. They'll go on cozy coffee dates. Dabi can drop by the agency with coffee or hot chocolate. They could go to movies together, or just stay up late and watch them on a laptop with their own snacks and popcorn.

He stubbornly ignores the part of him that never got to experience that as well, that's aching to achieve something resembling a normal life. This is about Hawks. Dabi is fine. Dabi has always been fine. The way he lives is fine. It works. It has to.

The scars have healed. He has things together. It's easier to ignore the holes now that he's moved past them.

Dabi goes to work, and Yumi stops by for her morning coffee. It's nice, seeing her like this. Miruko comes in for a few minutes before her patrol to get coffee and talk with Yumi before they have to go to their separate ways.

It's nice.

Dabi just doesn't know if this is the life that fits him.