Chapter Text
“Where you going today, little dove?”
You let out an over-exasperated sigh at the sound of Hawks landing just behind you as you continued to reorganize your delivery bag filled with baked goods. The wind was stronger this morning as you both stood on the roof of the bakery, whipping your ponytail this way and that.
“I'm a hummingbird, how many times do I have to remind you?”
The smell of croissants wafted through the air as the wind picked up, making your little emerald wings flutter. You worked at a bakery where your main task was deliveries, a job you loved because it allowed you to use your quirk freely.
Today's deliveries followed a familiar route, delivering to mostly regulars at their homes and a few company brunches. You especially looked forward to delivering to the young mother on the other side of town who'd always invite you in for tea as long as you delivered through her window. She was charmed by the way you reminded her of a story about a certain magical witch.
“Are you sure? Because google told me that hummingbirds can only be found in the Americas.” Hawks returned with a teasing grin.
You ignored him as you double-checked your delivery list before zipping the bag closed. You pulled the straps of your forward facing bag over your shoulders, then secured the waist belt around your middle. Your bag was basically a cross between a baby carrier and cooler bag, which you admitted probably looked a little silly on your flights.
Twisting to look over your shoulder, you went to fasten the strap on your upper back, just above where your wings sprouted. It wasn’t the most comfortable place to have a strap, but the lumbar support helped ease the discomfort. The wind made the shoulder straps flap wildly around you, making it hard for you to get a good hold of the clasps.
Noticing your struggle, Hawks stepped beside you and spread his wings fully to cocoon you, blocking out the wind almost entirely.
“... Thank you.” You voiced as you looked at him over your shoulder. He smiled in response, and you noticed the heavy bags under his eyes. He had probably patrolled through the night. You realized. Even in his exhausted state, he was thoughtful. And really nice to look at, rumpled attire and all.
You paused at the thought
He's really nice. Period. You corrected yourself, even as a slight blush started to dust your cheeks. You turned away, eyes focused on your shoes while you finished fastening the straps. You stepped out of the shelter of his wings once done, hoping he didn’t notice the effect he had on you.
He definitely noticed.
“No problem.” He replied with a smile that kept growing bigger. “Do I get a treat for my chivalrous act?” Hawks beamed, eyes sparkling with mirth.
You rolled your eyes with a laugh as you stepped up to the edge of the roof.
“Not today, chicken boy. I’d ask Maki-san downstairs though, she made extra croissants today.”
And with that you stepped off, taking flight towards your first customer.
---
It had been a year since you moved to Mustafu from Kanazawa. You loved your little hometown, especially in the fall with the autumn leaves turning the whole prefecture into a beautiful display of oranges and reds.
But it had also been stifling.
To be specific: your wings found it stifling.
Your mother feared for your safety from the time you could remember. Your quirk took after your father, an American, who had never been a part of your life. Your mother realized early on how enticing some people found your little emerald wings and red underlit hair.
You were still living in Tokyo when you first entered preschool, where on multiple occasions people showed up to your school claiming they were tasked with picking you up instead of your mother that day. The school refused to relinquish you to them of course and reported them to the authorities. The third time someone showed up making the same claim, they had barged their way through the building and managed to get their hands on you before the teachers were able to restrain them.
You were left with a scar on your lower right jaw.
The school apologized profusely for not being able to protect you, promising to hire a hero agency specifically to patrol the school and surrounding areas, but your mother would hear none of it. Within forty-eight hours, your home was packed up, and you found yourself in a small, rural town just outside Kanazawa.
With your little wings bound, hidden underneath your clothes.
You had cried almost daily for the first few months, begging her to let your wings free. She would not relent. It wasn't until the winter months arrived that you were allowed to wear heavy layers of clothes instead, weighing your unbound wings down. Your mother then took a job as a teacher at the small school you enrolled in to keep an eye on you. After a few months with not a single incident, she seemed to relax somewhat, though she’d still make you bind your wings in a customized corset during the summer months. You learned to hate the summer.
It had taken everything to convince her to let you go to the university in downtown Kanazawa, which was barely an hour away. She ultimately gave in after you threatened to leave and never speak to her again, on the stipulation that she could come check on you monthly, and that you continued to keep your wings hidden.
The first thing you did upon arriving at uni, was cut holes in the back of your shirts.
You were careful to keep your newfound freedom a secret, keeping a secondary wardrobe full of uncut shirts and refusing to get social media. You also kept a jacket wrapped around your waist at all times, in case someone with a camera strode by.
Having your wings free felt as though you could see in color for the first time.
On your first day of quirk self-defense class, your instructor had referred you to the campus doctor upon seeing how weak your wings were. You were informed that your wings were under-developed, which had also stunted your growth, but with rehabilitation and training, they could be strong enough for you to fly.
Four years later, you showed up to your mother’s home, wings fully in view, with an Occupational Quirk License.
Needless to say, it took a while for your mother’s shock and nerves to settle again.
And now you lived in Mustafu, the only city your mother begged you to choose because of it's high number of heroes, living fully and flying freely.
And that’s where you met Hawks who, on your first meeting, tackled you out of the sky.