Chapter Text
Rain.
Trist and grey except for the lightnings splitting the sky every so often followed by deep thunder growls which come scarily close to the familiar sound of a dying world. In short: a normal storm mid-August.
Enji enters the Todoroki estate alone, abiding in the entrance era at the open door. His gaze is set on the waterdrops falling from the sky so fast, there’s nothing but a deep rushing sound coming from the outside and echoing within him.
Shoto is already on his way back to UA. Fuyumi accompanied Rei to the house he let built for them. And Natsuo- well. Enji doesn’t know where his second-youngest is heading to. Where he lives, if he’s still studying or how his plans for the future look like. In fact, he probably saw him the last time today. Today being the day of Touya’s funeral.
The ceremony was small. No friends. No officials. No cameras. Only the five of them and the bare minimum of staff for everything to work as intended.
Not that Touya didn’t deserve a big funeral after everything he had been through. However, given all the crimes he committed as the villain Dabi too many questions would have arisen if they handled it any other way and the rest of the family too would have ended up in the more than controverse spotlight Enji found himself in ever since Touya’s announcement all those months ago. And in his opinion there is no point in making Rei and the kids suffer even more for his mistakes. After all today’s mood was tense enough as it is. Barely a word was spoken. All five of them mostly caught up in their own thoughts, grieving on their own. But now it was officially over and Enji finds himself wondering once again if he could have turned the tides at any point after the reveal. If there would have been a way to save Touya or if the final outcome had been inevitable for far too long already?
Enji ultimately pulls the door shut. His legs are hurting for a while already, and so does his right arm – the latter thanks to yet another misfitting prosthesis and he genuinely hopes the next version will finally be the one to stick with him and have a functioning hand to make everyday life easier. Then again, isn’t it a suiting little punishment as the cherry on top? Struggling so much after all his unforgivable mistakes? It’s dark thoughts similar to those, that are his constant companions for months. Impossible to shake, although he figures they’ll start to fade a bit with time, now that Touya can finally rest in peace.
Instead of allowing himself to spiral further just yet, he focuses on taking off his coat and shoes, which thankfully works relatively good with one hand as well, unlike putting everything on. Barely two minutes later he is on his way to the living room already, where he will get rid of the damn piece of crap technology. With no one watching though, he can allow himself to walk a lot slower, focussing on his movements to reduce the pain every step sends through his legs, especially the joints. Half way there his phone vibrates. He stops for a moment and takes a glance at the screen which reveals a message from Hawks.
Hawks: How was the funeral?
Enji isn’t sure if answering right away is a good idea, or if he should safe it for after dinner. Except he doesn’t know if he’ll be able to eat even a single bite today. He already skipped lunch and breakfast consisted of nothing but a coffee that took him ages to drink, because the hole in his chest felt bigger than ever before. Bigger and deeper. As if it could swallow him whole and the world alongside him.
Me: As expected.
Hawks: Wanna talk about it?
Does he? Despite everything Touya did specifically to Hawks, the bird has always been very supporting and understanding towards Enji, whenever they happened to talk a bit about his eldest son.
Me: Maybe another day.
Hawks: Okey.
Hawks: Can I still steal a minute or two of your time?
What could be so important that Hawks insists on calling him today of all days?
Me: I’ll call you in five.
It’s the amount of time he needs to arrive at the living room and get the small screwdriver and everything else he needs to removing his prosthesis. With all tools in hand he sits down onto a cushion at the couch table and his exhausted legs couldn’t be more grateful to him. In moments like this it still feels weird to him. How all of it changed after just one battle. Sure, it was the all-or-nothing battle for Japan and by extend the whole world. Nonetheless Enji used to be able to patrol the city streets for twelve to sixteen hours each day without an issue. Now the short distance from the car to his front door already feels like running a marathon. However, things are the way they are. So he shakes the thoughts off and then dials Hawks’ number.
“What’s the matter?”
“Straight to business as always”, the merry tone immediately vanishes from Hawks’ voice though, as he continues to speak. “I know it’s more than just a bit tactless of me to bother you with something like that today. But All Might called me. He said you continuously refuse to come back as Japan’s number one hero.”
“And he sends you to change my mind, huh?”
“I told him you’re too stubborn as if you’d listen to lil old me. But- lets be brutally honest here, Endeavor-san. Japan needs you.”
Enji starts to turn out the first screw. “We all saw what happened after I became number one. What Japan actually needs is fresh wind. The next generation of heroes, like you, rebuilding it with new dreams and visions.”
“Maybe. Still, it is a fact we’re way too few people for way too much work. The final fight three months ago cost us too many hero lives. I mean, my agency and I are basically alone with the chaos down here on Kyushu and the rest of Japan isn’t much better off. We could really use your help. You know? Having someone with shoulders strong enough to carry the burden and walk ahead until the next generation is ready to take over the wheel.”
Meanwhile Enji turns out the last screw and then grabs the whole device to turn it for about thirty degrees. A little klick then he is able to take off the prosthesis, granting the stump that used to be his arm the much needed relieve. He puts the prosthesis to the side.
“I doubt I’d be of help. Not after what went down with Touya…”
“You don’t seriously think, he wanted you to give up, do you? Wasn’t this the very thing he criticised you for, during your first talk after the war? And wasn’t he the one, trying to equal and ultimately beat you more than anyone else? I mean, how can you undermine his ambitions like that? How can you stop trying to become his equal again, since he obviously surpassed you? You think he’d want that? Cause if you ask me, he wanted you to join him in his endless dance for the number one spot of the family.”
“That’s a mean card, Hawks. And you know it.”
“Sorry, but it should highlight how serious, or rather desperate I am. Besides, he’s not the only one your unyielding willpower used to inspire as a kid. Cause as you know, this lil bird here never has been an All Might fan. No. True strengths I only saw within you. How you always continued, never giving up, no matter how impossible the task. And exactly that’s what we need right now. Cause if rebuilding Japan and leading it back to former strength isn’t a mammoth project, then what classifies as one?”
Enji sighs. “I hate how you use all the praise against me.”
There is a laugh coming from the other end of the line. “Aw, Endeavor-san~ don’t tell me you like being sugar-coated?”
“I don’t.”
“Yeah, riiiiight~”
“Hawks!”
The laugh dies down and Hawks returns to dead serious. “I hope you’re aware I’m not joking. I really think we won’t make it without you at the top. At least not within a reasonable timeframe to be ready whenever the next catastrophe comes crashing in. You don’t need to decide right away and it wouldn’t surprise me if you’d stick with your current resolve. After all you fulfilled your duty as a hero for so long already. Just- just know you’d be the next one on All Might’s list who’d regain his old strength thanks to Eri. You’d get your arm back, Endeavor-san. And you’d be able to walk like a normal person again too. No more physical pain.”
He remains silent. Instead, he recalls his last conversations with Touya. How he was with him, when he died. How he watched his son leaving the pain and agony behind; finally freed from the shackles of his tragic life. How the whole family cried, each of them once more confessing how sorry they are. How he stayed with Touya’s dead body far longer than everyone else, thinking, reflecting, eaten alive by guilt and feeling how the fire inside himself went out for good, no matter the glint in Touya’s dead eyes commanding him to keep the flames alive.
No. Hawks is right. Touya never wanted him to stop. He wanted to kill Enji, sure, but until he achieved that he wanted him to fight for his life and everyone else’s. Because deep inside, buried under hate and wrath and disappointment, Touya was the same little boy, looking up to Enji, envisioning him as the greatest hero of all times until the very end. And it remains a mystery to him how it hadn’t been enough for his younger self. Another failure of his which struck him the very moment this last gaze of Touya’s met his, because of course it was directed at him and only him. No, Touya wanted him to continue the fight until the day he dies, he is sure of it. Nonetheless, one question remains: does he still has it in him? Is he still strong enough to continue, to move forward, after everything that happened?
“Endeavor-san?”
“Why me, Hawks? Why not All Might?”
“The real question is: why not you? Why should we pick All Might over you?”
“Easy: He was always superior in all aspects, so placing him at the top of the new HPSC seems like a huge waste.”
“No. He wasn’t superior in all aspects. No one is as stubborn as you.”
“Very funny.”
“Besides, Eri can’t bring back One for All, cause it belongs to Midoria now. Plus, All Might himself said he won’t do anything that could take it from him, cause it’s already a miracle she was able to restore it, just like she did with my wings.”
“Then let me get this straight: so for All Might, taking the lead over the newly formed HPSC is the next best thing to do, to help shape the future for the generations to come.”
“Exactly. So, what do you plan to do? Don’t you want to play your part as well? Or do you prefer to hide from the public while your former rival continues to fight and by doing so proves he’s actually more stubborn than you?”
The teasing tone can’t be unheard and Enji can basically feel the vein pop into sight on his forehead. “You damn, brat…”
“Aw, come on. You should know me by now. I’ll do almost everything for the greater good, no matter if I like it or not. So what you say? Are you ready to return and help Japan to rise from the ashes like a phoenix?”
For a moment he attempts a last soul-search. Would it be the right thing to do? Are his last impressions of Touya real and not just wish thinking? The begging hope he saw in those intense blue eyes before they lost their glimmer entirely; wasn’t it an illusion?
If he’s brutally honest, the last thing Enji wants is to return as a hero. It’s a description he’s not exactly comfortable with anymore. In a way the mere thought makes him scared – a feeling he hasn’t felt in ages, at least not like this. So, could he really fulfil Touya’s unspoken dying wish?
“You still with me, Endeavor-san?”
“Guess you’re influence on me is bigger than you thought.”
“Wait- are you saying-”
“Yes. But only for the time being. Until the next generation has gathered enough strength in numbers to take over.”
And undefinable sound erupts from his mobile. It’s faintly reminiscent of a bird sound.
“What the hell, Hawks?”
“Ah, sorry. Could keep the inner bird quiet.”
“Aha.”
“Want me to call All Might for you, or-?”
“I’ll do so myself.”
“Alright. If there’s anything you need-”
“I’ll let you know.”
“Great. And Endeavor-san?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
It sounds so genuine, almost innocent, unmistakably straight from the bottom of Hawks’ heart and so extremely relieved. For a moment Enji is unsure how to respond to it.
“I’m not doing this for you, Hawks.”
“I know. But it means a lot to have you back at our side. At the top. Say, how do you handle the pressure?”
And just like that Enji rolls his eyes.
“Stop it already, will you? I’m pretty sure you’ve got enough work waiting for you.”
“Urgh, don’t remind me.”
“If you’re fishing for pity then mine’s the wrong number.”
“I’m aware. And you’re sure I can’t help you with anythi-”
“Go back to work, Hawks. See you in a while.”
Not giving the bird a chance for another answer and by doing so drag the conversation further into eternity, Enji simply hangs up on him. Merely a few seconds after the call he already questions his decision. Something the old Enji never would have done.
Was it wise to even consider something so big today of all days to begin with? Or had he avoided this very step for far too long? Either way, he said yes, to Hawks of all people too so he’s quite sure within the next few minutes half the remaining heroes of Japan will know it already. In other words, he’d lose the last sad bit of his integrity, shouldn’t he go through with it now.
But then again, isn’t that who he’s always been? Striving for unreachable goals, no matter if it is a good or a bad thing? He only hopes accepting this probably last endeavour won’t turn into another thing he will regret sooner or later.
About one year and two months later...
It's five in the morning and the sun has yet to get the memo that it should start rising. Or at least it’s what Hawks wishes for as he flies through a frosty night sky that shouldn't be so extremely cold even in early-November. Behind him lies a way too long and way too straining shift and his entire body screams for his cosy nest-like bed. It lets him reconsider if he wants to do the paperwork right away or if he should rather postpone it till whenever he would arise from the almost-dead again. Just when he's about to decide his exhaustion wins, his phone rings.
“Gosh, who has the nerve to call me now?” he mumbles as he slows down and fishes the device out of his pocket. Then his heart skips a beat, all sleepiness forgotten when he sees the caller: <3 Number One <3
Naturally he picks up immediately.
“Good morning, Endeavor-san. What can I do for you at this ungodly hour?”
“Where are you?”
“Midair, unsure where to go next. Why?”
“You currently patrolling?”
“Nope, just finished an eighteen-hour shift.”
“Got the energy to stop by at your office?”
“Of course, but why?”
“Cause I'm waiting here for half an hour already.”
Now Hawks' heart stops for different reasons. Did he forget a meeting? With Endeavor?! No there is no way he could! He’s usually on the excited edge starting the second he knows his idol is coming over to Fukuoka. There’s no harm in asking though.
“Did we have an appointment?”
“No. I just stopped by because I was requested for a team-up in the area and hoped for your support in a specific matter while I’m already here.”
“Do I have time to grab a cup of coffee first?”
“Sure.”
“You want one too? There's this super nice Café right around the corner which is open twenty-four-seven and-”
“No thanks. Just hurry up.”
“Alright, I'll be there in-” and Endeavor already hangs up on him. Typical Todoroki Enji behaviour. He never is very talkative. While Hawks thinks it's cool and makes him a bit mysterious it also drives him insane for it makes it hard to get any information about any likes or dislikes or whatever out of him, yet Hawks strives so badly for each and every tiny piece of knowledge about him.
However, right now Endeavour sits in Hawks' agency and he better not make his idol wait for any longer than absolutely necessary so he flies on at full speed.
Barely ten minutes later he lands on his agency’s roof, coffee cup in his hand and wings almost frozen to the core. Okay, the last one is certainly an exaggeration, although he can't remember when was the last time, he felt so cold. It only gets marginally better, when he enters the building and the shuddering switches place with the nasty light stinging pain of perfectly heated air starting to warm up icy skin. Nonetheless Hawks stretches his wings a bit as if it enables him to shake off the cold more easily. Seriously, he hates the current temperatures outside.
At least his mood improves exponentially at the prospect of Endeavor waiting for him. Moments later he already reaches the floor with the big open office his sidekicks operate in. Tokoyami gets up to greet him the moment he arrives.
“Oh, you're here early”, Hawks states.
“And you’re making extra hours again. Anything important I should know before I take over?”
“Nah not really. Just the usual. ‘Miss Paranoid’ thought there's someone lurking around her store again, so make sure to stop by whenever. You're a lot better at calming her down, than I am.”
“Which is ridiculous. You left a feather at her place before.”
“Well, who knows”, secretly Hawks is certain the young lady in question has a crush on his hopefully soon to be sidekick. However, he decided against posing his theory to the youngster, for it is way more fun watching him find out himself.
“Anything else?” Tokoyami asks.
“Yes, why would no one call me earlier when there's Endeavor-san waiting for me?”
“Mira said Pigeon tried to reach you five times but you never picked up.”
“Ah, right... guess that one's on me, huh?” Though Hawks doesn’t think it's his fault, at least not entirely. This kid is calling him every ten minutes or so to ask about- well, literally everything! It is a miracle the boy is able to breath on his own, so of course he would block the number at one point. It’s also a rather painful reminder about why he doesn't want any interns and proof of how lucky he has been when picking Tokoyami as the first exception. Hawks still tries to figure out why the younger bird keeps coming back for both internships and work studies, already functioning like a real sidekick already. It gives him the faint hope Tokoyami indeed will join his agency after graduation next spring.
“He's waiting in your office, by the way.”
“I figured as much and I really hope you or anyone else offered him coffee or tea or-”
“Of course we did. We're not as stupid as to let your great idol wait without a hot beverage,” there’s some weird form of amusement swinging in Tokoyami’s voice, but Hawks pretends he doesn’t hear it. He’s quite sure by now his whole agency knows about him having a huge crush on the current number one hero and it wouldn’t surprise him if they made a bet behind his back about when he will make an actual move on Endeavor. If he would make one. However such thoughts have to wait, since Tokoyami isn’t done talking yet. “We even made some small-talk attempts.”
“Which he all turned down in ten seconds?”
“More like two.”
Hawks can’t contain a little laugh. “Yeah. Classic Endeavor-san. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a number one to talk to. Have fun on your patrol. I'll meet up with you later.”
Tokoyami sighs. “Please just rest properly for once, Hawks.”
“Yeah yeah, will do at one point. See ya.”
Waving with one hand he presses down the doorknob with the elbow of the other arm - the one which is still holding his coffee - and pushes the door open with his ass. Or at least it's what he usually does, followed by one smooth movement of turning around and simultaneously taking a sip from the lifesaving liquid.
Except this time the door is opened from the inside a mere split-second before he touches it with his butt. If it wasn't for a strong hand immediately supporting his back and by doing so help him keep his balance, he most likely would have lost to gravity and what's even worse, his coffee would be everywhere but in its cup. With how things turned out though, both he and his caffeine shot are saved by no one else than Endeavor himself.
Admittedly, it was also Endeavor who almost caused his fall too, yet Hawks won't complain. Especially not with a certain someone’s warm hand pressed right to the spot between his wings. Despite the layers of clothes, it sends a cosy feeling through his body and into every single feather. To his luck his brain catches up just in time before his mouth can say something stupid like: Damn, you're hot. Instead, he glances over his shoulder and smirks as he meets piercing blue eyes.
“Ah, thanks Endeavor-san, you're not only a life- but also a coffee-saviour.”
No comment from Endeavor, who’s expression is as grumpy as ever, so Hawks continues to speak after a short pause. “So, can I get you something to drink, or some snacks or maybe-”
“Don't bother. I'll help myself to another cup of tea.”
“I could task one of my sidekicks with that and-” Endeavor interrupts him while he walks past Hawks, the heavenly warm hand vanishing from his back, very much to Hawks’ disappointment.
“Not necessary. Just drink your coffee so you're focused in a couple of minutes. And try to warm up your frozen chicken wings.”
“Oi oi oi, I’m not a chicken!”
“Paradise bird then,” and Endeavor already walks around the corner towards the coffee station within the office. Hawks can’t help but stare at those broad shoulders till they disappear. Tokoyami is still standing nearby, the fun he’s secretly having clearly visible on his face.
“Need some help to take a seat, paradise bird, or can you make it on your own despite jelly legs?” Not that Hawks ever made a big deal of hiding it to begin with, but isn’t such a comment a bit too straight forward?
“I’m good. Now shush. Off you go to your patrol.”
“Should I take Pigeon with me? Nightowl said, he’s been lingering around at the agency for three entire days. Office couch naps included.”
“If you want to do this to yourself, I’m the last one to stop you. So assuming he slept at least a couple of hours tonight feel free to take him with you.”
“Alright. And don’t forget to rest yourself, Hawks.”
“Don’t worry. I will after Endeavor-san is gone.”
“Tch, as if. We both know you’ll be too hyped afterwards to do so. You always are. Especially when there’s coffee involved.”
“Would you just go? I gotta speed-drink this one, or he’ll be mad at me.”
Tokoyami rubs his forehead, probably deeming Hawks the lost case he is. “Sure. Have fun then.”
“You too.”
Only now Tokoyami turns around to head out and Hawks finally enters his office.
The next moment he already curses himself internally since his personal office is even more of a living mess than it usually is, with multiple staples of randomly put together papers and countless unsorted folders that only he can navigate through without trouble when he is searching for whatever. Adding to it, there is the battlefield-like wall of post-its and whatnot, not to mention the nest style oversized dog-bed on top of the almost room-high filing cabinets where he takes his power-naps whenever his thinking process won’t lead anywhere.
Is crammed chaos the best way to expand his brain into the outside world? Yes, one hundred percent yes!
Is it also the most unsightly form of a top pro hero’s office? The answer stays the same and frankly put it’s kind of embarrassing, almost disgraceful, especially if compared to Endeavor’s neatly sorted and perfectly cleaned spacious office in Yokohama. It makes him wonder what impression it left on his idol. Well, he can’t change it anymore anyway, so he simply uses his feathers to move the two staples from the low couch table to another corner of the room in order to make some space.
Figuring Endeavor will prefer the couch, he drops himself on the armchair, wings spreading for a moment to get comfortable. Right after he is seated and takes a very very big sip from his coffee in form of drinking half the extra-large cup in one go, Endeavor already arrives back at the scene, a mug with steaming hot tea in hand. Said hand is so big, the mug – despite being a large one – looks small in comparison.
The door gets closed and mere seconds later he takes a seat on the couch, placing his tea on the table.
“So, what urgent matter brings me the honour of you visiting me in person? Need some insight on that show Fuyumi’s watching or-”
“Did you hear about some pro heroes suddenly losing their quirks recently?”
“Straight to business as always. Let’s say I heard a thing or two, but nothing specific, so I thought it’d be just some new underground rumours to scare the newbie pro heroes”, however, he already gets a feeling for what is about to come.
“Well, there seems to be more to it than rumours. A small agency in Tokyo requested our help. One of their pro heroes suddenly couldn’t use her quirk anymore mid-battle and was heavily injured as a consequence. When I tasked a sidekick of mine to do some research, he dug out three other agencies facing the same issue as well as some vague police reports.”
“Sounds bad.”
“It appears to be.”
“Is some kind of drug involved, like the kind the Shie Hassaikai were developing?”
“No. Or at least there aren’t any reports hinting at such substances yet. It appears to be a quirk’s doing, though we have no clue how it’s triggered and when the effect kicks in. Or if it wears off at any point.”
“You think it’s like Eraserhead’s quirk just permanent?”
“Who knows. I wouldn’t rule it out just now.”
Endeavor takes a sip from his tea and Hawks uses the time to do the same and drinks the rest of his coffee.
“So, to the most important question: how can I help?”
“Since you don’t have the information, I had hoped you’d have, I’d like for you to come to Yokohama and Tokyo with me for a while. Spread your wings and search for the bottom line of this mess with me so we can stop it before the situation escalates in one way or another.”
Oh how long has it been since he teamed-up with Endeavor? They always stayed in touch on a regular basis, sure, even more so after Endeavor’s comeback as a hero, yet there only were two smaller occasions after the war where a real team-up of them was necessary. Hawks hasn’t deemed it possible, but all of a sudden he feels an excessively big amount of energy rush through him – and it’s not the coffee’s doing.
“How far ‘s the investigation already?”
“Only getting started. We got the request yesterday morning and by the end of the day my sidekick found out what I just told you.”
“I see. Now, when do we get started?”
“After you took a nap.”
“I hit myself with an extra-large caramel chocolate latte with vanilla flavour, a triple caffeine shot and rainbow sprinkles like two minutes ago. I won’t be able to sleep for the next eight hours. Minimum!”
Endeavor groans in what can only be annoyance. “Fine. Then go home, take a shower, grab your stuff and we’ll meet at the airport in two hours.”
“Just to clarify, am I going to stay at your agency or in a hotel? And if the first’s the case, do I need to pack towels and slippers?”
“I had intended for you to stay at a guestroom at my agency for a while, yes. Naturally we’ll provide you with whatever you need. Say the word and my sidekicks will organise everything,” originally it was intended as a bratty comment, but knowing he will indeed stay at the Endeavor agency, and accordingly be near the man himself twenty-four-seven makes him want to scream with joy. Or rather, he would be nearer since he doubts Endeavor stays at the agency all the time.
“Alright. I'll see you at the airport in like thirty minutes.”
“Take your time, Hawks.”
“Forty-five then.”
“Hawks!”
“What? I’m ready to start working on the case immediately.”
“Which is commendable, but our flight leaves in three hours so take a break first. I’ll be heading back to my hotel for the time being to take a powernap as well.”
In this very moment, Endeavor looks extremely exhausted to Hawks, so much it actually gives him the shivers. “You don’t think about retiring early nonetheless, do you, big guy?”
Within the blink of an eye the flames on the other’s shoulders surge higher and an angry vein pops into sight. “Who do you think you’re talking to, you damn brat?! It’s clear the next generation at least needs another couple of years till they’re ready alas there’s capacity for me to retire and even that ain’t certain!”
“Ah, that’s more like you, Endeavor-san~ Now, shall I escort you to your hotel?”
Instead of an answer Endeavor simply gets up and heads for the door. Hawks grabs the empty mug he left and then follows him, catching up a few heartbeats later.
“That a yes or a no?”
“We’ll meet at the airport in two hours, as I said.”
“But-”
“No but. If you can’t wait those few hours use them to tell my sidekicks what you need and call your contacts at the HPSC to get some additional first clues.”
Hawks sighs. “Fine. Will do.”
“And speaking of sidekicks, I bet you got some instructions for yours too. So I’ll see myself out.”
“Alright. In that case, good night, sleep tight and till later, Endeavor-san.”
Hawks waves but doesn’t get any reaction in return. Hell, he’s not even sure Endeavor took notice of the gesture. So he lets out another little sigh as he watches how his idol leaves the agency.
A moment later someone appears right next to him. Someone who’s entire body is covered in grey and black feathers, with a cute tiny beak instead of a mouth and a nose and with big caramel eyes drilling holes into his head from their position slightly bellow his shoulder height.
“Soooo, what did Number one wanted to talk about?”
“We’re gonna team up on a case.”
“Oh that’s great. When do you start? Next week or next month or-”
“Now”, Hawks turns around to bring the mug back to the coffee corner, considering to refill and drink from it himself before he washes it up – after all it would be like an indirect kiss, right?
“Now? NOW?!” His sidekick repeats before she turns her head around a hundred and eighty degree like the real deal of an owl. “Wait, NO! Don’t do this to me, Hawks! Not again! I beg of you!”
“Sorry, Nightowl, but when Endeavor-san himself asks me-”
He hears her pitter-patter after him, walking at his side again mere moments later.
“You finally need to learn how to say no, Hawks. Even if it’s towards Endeavor. No- especially if it’s towards Endeavor!”
“Yeah, you said that before”, he gets ignored though.
“Listen, you’ve been on so many super-short-notice solo missions lately we’re barely able to keep up with everyday hero work, not to mention the special cases and-”
“I’m sure you’ll be fine. You always are.”
“Can you please use your brain for ten seconds and give me your full attention you damn lovebird?!”
“Ah, no can do. I need to think about what casual clothes to pack for my trip.”
“As if!”
“I’m being serious here! What if we need to go undercover and-”
“Hawks, we all know you’re way too flashy to go undercover. Even more so with a not-to-be-overseen-almost-two-metre-tall Endeavor next to you.”
“That’s hot, right?”
She angrily pokes his shoulder with her beak.
“When. Will. You. Finally. Think. About. Your. Agency. First?!”
“Stop it, it hurts!”
“Good!”
Now he’s got enough and flaps his wings a couple of times to not only gain some space, but also to keep her at distance afterwards, as he continues his way to the coffee corner.
“Besides, we all know you’re basically leading the agency, not me.”
“Yet you’re the boss. A very irresponsible boss to be honest!”
“Which is exactly why I need someone so amazing and reliable as you to back me up and-”
“Nice try, but the days where I fell for you complimenting me are over for a long long time already.”
“There’s no harm in trying, right?”
She sighs. “Hawks, seriously, listen. Our workload here isn’t the only thing I’m worrying about. I’m worried about your condition as well. Everyone is. You’re doing way too much lately, going way too fast, a lot faster than before the war. You’re jumping head-first from one crazy case right into the next one and we still don’t have enough people to deal with the number of villains you usually take on by yourself for more than a couple of days, weeks maximum.”
“Well, tell me something new. I know we’re utterly understaffed or what do you think why I take on as many shifts as I can”, and they reach Hawks’ destination, where he indeed just refills the mug with tea after throwing away the coffee cup.
“Yes, I know and we need you to step down a notch and care for yourself a bit more. Focus on Fukuoka instead of external missions unless it’d be a catastrophe to not join and take a vacation yourself if you must, at least for a couple of days.”
“I am, right now.”
“Teaming up is not a vacation!”
“Well, to me teaming up with Endeavor-san is.”
An even bigger sigh leaves her throat. “You know he doesn’t feel the same way for you as you do for him, right?”
To hear the words out of her beak stings cold and deep. “Of course I do. I’m neither stupid nor blind. But a bird can wish and hope and dream, don’t you think?”
“Sure, I guess?”
Silence for a moment. One he uses to take a sip, almost burning his tongue with the tea and Nightowl sends him an accusatory look. “You didn’t wash that up first, did you?”
“Nope, and it tastes so much sweeter like this”, as if to bring his point across he takes a second sip, leading to the same result accompanied by a shit-eating grin on his side as well as Nightowl rolling her eyes.
“You sure are a lost case of head over heels in love, aren’t you?”
“Absolutely.”
“Well, at least you’re aware...”
More silence forms between them for a couple of moments. The only sound is coming from Hawks who continues slurping his tea. Then Nightowl breaks the silence.
“So, about us needing additional people-”
“Search out a couple of promising candidates and send me their files. I’ll go over them and personally contact those I deem fitting as soon as possible. I’ll also try to stop by whenever I have the capacity to help you guys out for a day or two in between.”
“Fine, but please consider to take our newest intern with you when you do. He really admires you and by now has a hard time coping with you giving him the cold shoulder from day one.”
“I’ll try. But he’s not even remotely as capable as Tokoyami.”
“Noone’s like Tokoyami. And I hope you’re aware you should do everything in your power to make him join us after his graduation.”
“Will do but the choice is his to make. I can only make him an offer.”
“Then better come up with a freaking good one while you’re gone, instead of nonstop swooning about Endeavor”, she spits the last part out like an insult before she gets back to business. “Also, mind telling me about which cases I should keep you in the loop during your absence?”
“Just the usual. The big stuff, the long running ones and the classified one only you and I know about.”
“Alright.”
“Also, did you hear anything about the other’s having made any bets concerning-”
“-you and how you’ll screw up your questionable friendship with a certain Flame Hero in case you ever confess your love for him?”
“Yeah. That.”
“You actually think I would tell you?”
“You kinda did with your answer. I’m looking forward to find out who wins it in case I ever manage to hop over my shadow,” he refills the mug another time, seemingly triggering a headache for Nightowl.
“Hawks, this is getting silly.”
“That’s what you say. So far it’s the closest thing I got to kissing him.”
“Well, then have fun making out with your mug. I’m back to work. Take care.”
“You too. And feel free to call me at any time in case of an emergency.”
“Oh you bet I will and probably a lot sooner than you’ll like!”
She walks away, straight back towards the cubicle she calls hers while Hawks slurps his tea.
He knows it is silly how he’s behaving. And he also knows he has been very inconsiderate of his agency recently, putting way too much work on his sidekicks. However, he can’t help it. Restoring a peace like state within Japan after everything that went down about one and a half years ago isn’t an easy task. A fact making him extra grateful to little Eri, who rewinded him as far back as to the point right before Touya burnt his wings so he too is at the top of his game again, like Endeavor and Rumi and a bunch of others.
Yet exactly this is the issue.
Nowadays he is faster than ever, so he should be able to help more people than ever too. And in order to do so he needs to get involved in big, nationwide cases as well. Dangerous cases. Cases which might deserve the title suicidal at times. And someone has to tackle them, so why not him, when it’s exactly what HPSC trained him for? He just hopes his sidekicks will manage to hold out a little longer and forgive him when it’s all over.
Hawks takes one more sip of his tea and his mind jumps back to the fact his not-so-secret crush drank from the very same mug minutes prior. It sends a comfy hot tickling straight into his cheeks and he wishes he would finally gather the courage to tell Endeavor about how he feels instead of sticking with swooning from afar and both subtle and not so subtle flirting.
From the corner of his eyes, he sees Tokoyami approaching him anew.
“That was a quick talk. Everything alright?”
“Yeah. We’re gonna team-up for a while, starting now.”
“Really? How unexpected. Doesn’t he usually send you a text message for such occasions? Yokohama’s not exactly around the corner after all.”
“He was in the area for- I don’t know what kind of mission, but they seemed successful.”
And another sip, drawing Tokoyami’s attention onto the mug with the other bird squinting his eyes.
“Isn’t this the mug Endeavor was drinking from earlier?”
“What if it is?” Hawks counters with a mischievous smile, before he takes one last sip to finish the beverage. He sees a decent blush on Tokoyami’s face, although the youngster pretends there’s no such thing.
“You’re getting kinky, huh?”
“I wouldn’t say kinky. More like desperate.”
“Seriously, Hawks. That can’t be normal.”
“You’re right. However, I don’t care if it’s normal or not, cause I’ll probably never get more.”
“With that mindset you definitely won’t.”
“Look, I’m an optimist, but I was also taught to be realistic when it comes to my chances of winning and such. And let’s be real here: the possibility of me ending up with Endeavor is basically non-existent. So I take what I can get and cherish it in silence.”
“What you’re doing here still classifies as creepy.”
“If you say so. About why you’re still here-?”
“I decided to grab a coffee for me and Pigeon before we head out.”
“Ah. Right. So you really take him with you.”
“Of course I do. Someone has to teach him stuff after all, you know? And since you’re unavailable most of the time and I’m his upper-class man-”
“I get it and I’m sorry this somehow ended up as your burden now.”
“Don’t be. I- no, we all know how you’re basically working your ass off nonstop for everyone else’s sake. Just remember you too are only a human and we’re here to support you if you let us. At the same time. we would also need your support too every so often.”
“I’m aware. I’ll try to slow down a bit after the current case, promised.”
“Good. Cause, you know, the last thing we want to see is how you fall or worse get killed due to an exhaustion caused accident”, Tokoyami muses while he fills two mugs with coffee. Hawks does the same but with yet another round of tea.
“Ah, I’m still far away from such a thing to happen.”
“I’m not so sure about that, Mister three-all-nighters-in-one-week. How long are you awake again now?”
“Uh, let me think… Probably thirty-five hours or so?”
Meanwhile Hawks once again almost burns his tongue thanks to drinking steaming hot tea, Tokoyami shakes his head in disbelieve. “This can’t be healthy.”
“Top pro hero spots never prioritised a healthy work-life-balance.”
“Still you’re doing far too much for far too long already. So please take care, Hawks, and try to rest whenever you can, while you’re over at Endeavor agency.”
“Will do. And same to you, when you’re back at UA.”
“Sure. Now if you’ll excuse me, Pigeon and I should get going soon.”
“Mind if I tag along and say my goodbye to him?”
“Not at all. In fact, I think it’d make his day if you did.”
“Well, it’s the least I can do for our babybird after neglecting him, isn’t it?”
And so Hawks walks back across the office with Tokoyami. However, His mind is already jumping ahead, analysing what little data he got from Endeavor, planning his first three phone calls to hopefully gather more intel while he’ll pack his stuff and then- yeah, maybe he’ll just fly over to Yokohama on his own. Because if there’s one thing, he’s not in the mood for right now, it’s fanservice, but he certainly would have to engage in it, should he show his face at the airport. On the other hand, he’d really love to travel with Endeavor. So which one to pick?
Hawks drinks the last sip of his tea, enjoying this final indirect kiss, as he makes his decision.