Chapter Text
Not even a cricket stirred the foreboding silence of the shoddy, run down street on the far side city of Fukuoka. The sound of despondent feet shuffling against broken concrete as well as the faint buzzing from a nearby flickering streetlight was the only other noise willing to accompany you on your late-night trek alone.
Going out was an inevitable necessity in life. Though if possible, you would stay in and seclude yourself away from the world for the rest of your life. Nobody would even know you existed.
That’d be a dream come true, you thought.
Unfortunately the technology wasn’t here yet for you to be able to pull that off, and you still had to eat, so you found yourself taking the long path to the store to pick up heaps of supplies to stockpile so you wouldn’t have to leave the comfort of your home for the next 100 years or so. Taking the long route was rather inconvenient, but you preferred it. The shorter path was more suitable for criminal activity anyway. Not to mention, you wanted to kill some time since your neighbors, who had just graduated from U.A. High, were outside your home all day and night, being loud and obnoxious by practicing their upcoming hero work and perfecting their Quirks. Bleugh. Lucky them.
You would never admit it, but you were secretly envious of those who had the privilege to study at U.A. to obtain their hero license. Just like any kid, becoming a hero was a dream you embraced during the throes of youth as well.
At least… until the accident.
Whatever. Some are naturally cut out for hero work. Others, like yourself, not so much.
The shop was within your sight a short distance away – you always made sure to head over mere moments before locking their doors for the night, to avoid the most amount of people possible. You didn’t want them to know of your existence. It was for the best that way.
“Ah! Stop!” A petite voice called out from the nearby alleyway as you passed by it.
Your steps ceased immediately at the scene.
Of course, you mused in contempt. A lady getting mugged.
In this part of the city late at night? It was bound to happen, you knew. Though with your stupid tendency to disregard your own safety and travel at night, you were honestly surprised that it wasn’t you in her place.
The villain was a run-of-the-mill thug with scaly-blue skin. He had one craggy hand plastered against the wall behind the woman, with sharp claws raised to her neck.
The situation may have been more serious than you thought, and your heart began racing over the different opportunities you had to choose from at this very moment. Conflict overtook your mind over what your next move should be.
She needs help… maybe I should step in-
No. A hero will pop in and save the day like they always do.
…
But what if they don’t this time?
Enough, (y/n). It’s illegal for me to step in and help without a hero license anyway.
You began to walk away, pretending to be blind to the situation.
“HELP!!!”
At that, your feet froze again, completely immobile and unwilling to cooperate. The pounding in your head from your heart racing at a fast pace blocked all other sensations. Your mind screamed at you to do one thing.
Save her.
The woman trembled while desperately handing the villain her purse.
“Got any more?” he hissed while a grotesquely pointed tongue lapped once at her cheek.
“Hey, get out of here, you creep!” You yelled from afar, your underused voice echoing through the grimy alleyway.
Neither he or the woman acknowledged your meager existence as she continued to cower and tremble as his claw began reaching for her.
Your panicked eyes darted around for something to gauge any sort of distraction, then set your sights on a half empty trash bag sagging on the ground within arm’s reach.
“I said knock it off,” you commanded as you winded back your arm to chuck the bag at the assailant. It didn’t register to you until the split second the debris flew from your grip that it was much, much heavier than you had expected.
You watched with a bead of sweat on your temple as the garbage bag flew at surprising speed to strike the assailant directly on the side of his scaly head, followed by an unexpected sound of metal and shattering glass. A broken lamp tumbled out from the plastic sack; its mangled parts now broken beyond repair.
What the – who throws out a whole lamp, bulb included?!
“Ow.”
Uh oh.
It was then the villain finally acknowledged your existence with a threatening side-eye glance. A tingling shiver crept up your spine as your shoulders and muscles stiffened over registering the trouble you had just gotten yourself into.
He stared for a moment before growling, “Shoo, you pest!”
His lengthy tail darted sideways and delivered a hefty push against your chest, sending you backwards and out of the alleyway. “Forget what you saw, and I’ll let you live,” he growled and passed you one last side glare before turning his attention back to the woman who had resumed her screaming.
He didn’t even budge! Wh-what can I do then? Your thoughts plagued you as you stood helplessly in the sidelines. And yet, you refused to accept the villain’s mercy to turn a blind eye. Your conscience wouldn’t allow it.
Before you could process it any further, an immense gust of wind swept through the entire area, sending bits of papers and trash from the gutters out into the empty and dimly lit street. Along with loose refuse, something else was stirring within the winds.
Feathers.
While shielding your face from the powerful winds, one feather had managed to fly directly in your path to smack you square in the face, giving you a chance to snatch one to inspect it further.
A crimson feather. That could only mean-
“HAWKS!” The villain shouted before dozens of feathers darted to invade his tunic before surging him backwards powerfully, effectively pinning him against the wall with no escape.
From above, a shadowy figure then hopped down from the rooftops, landing in the space between the streets and alleyway, directly in the middle of you and the woman.
“Heyo,” he greeted almost too casually despite the dire situation. Hawks then lifted the visors from his eyes and rested them on his forehead before smiling at the woman. “Heard you needed a hand over here. Sorry it took a minute, but don’t worry, I gotcha.”
He then turned and flashed the criminal a confident grin. “The police are already on their way, so sit tight, over there, alright?” He strangely addressed the wanted criminal with the same respect he was treating that civilian. Something about this guy made you feel uneasy.
“Oh, thank you Hawks! Please, is there anything I can do to repay you? Would you like my purse instead? I insist!” She asked with visible stars in her eyes.
Oh, brother. Give me a break.
“You don’t have to worry about it. Seriously,” he voiced in a relaxed yet confident manner. “You gonna be alright out here? Need me to escort you home?”
“No, I’ll be alright, Hawks. Thanks to you!”
You felt like you were going to throw up from all the cheesy hero banter.
“A nice lady like yourself wandering around in this part of town, at this time of night? I’m gonna have to insist you take one of these,” he instructed as a lone feather detached from his wings and glided effortlessly toward the woman to guide her home.
“Th-thank you Hawks!” She bowed profusely before making her way home, with his feather close by her side.
You watched the woman prance away from the scene and out of sight. You then turned your attention to Hawks, only to see that he was already looking at you, catching you off guard with a serious glare.
“So just what in the hell was that?” he ordered.
“Wh-what was what?”
You already knew what he was referring to.
“I saw what you did back there. Trying to take down a serial criminal when you were clearly gonna get your ass beat.”
You opened your mouth to speak, only you had no excuse or words to defend yourself. He was right, after all.
His scornful frown then unexpectedly made a complete switch to that of a gentle smile. “But that spirit, girl. You’ve got that on me.”
Your eyes, which were downcasted in shame, perked up at his total change in demeanor.
Hawks then shut his bird-like eyes and tilted his head in a slightly annoyed but casual manner. “But, as the Number 2 Pro Hero, I’m obligated to tell you not to interfere with hero work, yadda, yadda, yadda. You get the idea.” His gloved hand had been waving off what he was saying, clearly indicating that he didn’t actually care nor believe in what he was reciting to you.
“Hey, don’t blame me for stepping in!” You spoke up, surprising the pro hero as he peered down at you after hearing you form an actual cohesive sentence to him for the first time. “She shouldn’t have been roaming alleyways late at night if she didn’t want trouble.”
“Heh, pot, meet kettle,” he replied, smirking.
“And that means-“
“It means - look who’s talking,” he interrupted and with such a grating cockiness.
Your eyes squinted at the winged hero in irritation. “Man, you’re no different in real life than you are on camera – an annoying big mouth.”
“Yiiiikes… clearly you aren’t afraid to speak your mind. But I can admire that.”
“You don’t know anything about me.”
“Man,” Hawks lifted an eyebrow with his mouth in a straight line. “We should go grab you a shirt. One that says, ‘Careful, I bite,’ as a fair warning.”
We?
“So anyway, you alright? You’re not too shaken, are ya?” Hawks asked.
“You don’t have to talk to me like a child,” you huffed. “I’ll give you some time to realize that we’re both the same age.”
“Hah-ah. Alright, alright,” he remarked with both hands raised up to his chin, palms facing you as a sign of submission. “Well anyway, I’m just on my average nightly patrol, but you're an unusual face. Tell me, what’re you doing out in these parts?”
“Um… I live here. I was just trying to get something to eat, is all.”
Hawks had slipped his headset down to his neck and had an ungloved pinky finger scratching at his ear in mild boredom. “You mean at that place that’s about to close, right there?”
With his other hand he pointed at the store out in the distance just as its inner lights switched off.
“Damnit…” you mumbled under your breath. Looked like you were going to bed hungry.
“Hey, don’t sweat it!” he beamed, the light returning to his eyes. “My job’s not only about saving girls and pets in danger. I’ll help out with the little things, too! I know a great place that’s open until midnight, they’ve got the sweetest-“
“Th-that’s okay,” you interrupted anxiously. “I think I’ll just head home now.” You pointed in the general direction to your home using finger guns before turning on your heel to take off.
“At least spare me this,” Hawks spoke up, one gloved hand tucked casually in his jacket pocket while the other rested on his hip.
His unusual serious tone convinced you to stop.
“Hm?” You turned your head back in his direction without directly looking at him.
“Your name.”
Hawks asking you for something as simple as your name struck you as rather odd. It’s not like he asks every person he saves for something as personal as their name.
You answered with your last name, not sparing him a word more.
At that, Hawks’ solemn demeanor melted back to a benevolent one and he flashed you his signature charming smile. “Well alright, (l/n)! If we’re done here, I’ll make my leave,” he announced before lifting his pointer finger to tap his visor effortlessly to drop back down to shield his golden-colored eyes. He then turned around with his back facing you, his large, crimson wings stretching out to prepare to take flight. “I’ve got something important to do. Later!”
With another gust of wind and a puff of feathers, he was gone.
The trudge back home felt odd to you. Usually your energy was spent on trying not to be seen, but those thoughts didn’t plague you this time. It was as if you felt safe, for whatever reason. There was also this almost brooding feeling. You felt it the moment you parted ways with the Number 2 Pro Hero. A feeling of emptiness.
This… is new, you thought.
The harsh grumbling of your stomach pushed you out of your thoughts as hunger cramps shrouded your senses.
“God damnit. Maybe if I didn’t stop for help, I wouldn’t have to die of hunger,” you muttered to yourself with your head low and eyes diverted to the grimy pavement below. Though if you were being honest with yourself, you were glad that you stopped when you did, even if you really didn’t help much.
Upon approaching the doorstep to your apartment, a plastic bag tied in red string into a neat little red bow sat in the place of the worn-out entrance mat.
What the heck is this? There’s no way it could be for me.
You were about to step over the package, until a note on the front caught your eye.
‘Hey, dove~
Felt pretty guilty for holding you up back there, so I wanted to make it up to you.
~Your secret admirer.
Just kidding! It’s your Number One Hero~
~Hawks
P.S. Yes, this is for you. Yes, you.’
“What the hell, this guy knows where I live now?! That stalker! And did he just call me dove? Who even says that?!”
As if on cue, an incredible scent then wafted to your nose, immediately extinguishing your flames of rage.
Whoa.
On a nearby beam high into the sky, Hawks perched from afar. He was crouching down bending at the knees with both elbows resting casually atop his legs, wings folded and tucked behind him, watching to make sure you got home safe. This side of the city was no place for a quiet soul like you, he thought. He smiled upon seeing you bring his offering inside with you.
Hawks found himself unwilling to move even minutes after you were out of sight. One hand raised to cup his chin, his face in serious contemplation. He couldn’t place a feather on it. What was it about you that just… stuck with him?
There wasn’t a question in Hawks’ mind that you were a good person beneath that feisty exterior. The way you stepped in to help that woman, even when you didn’t stand a chance. He couldn’t forget about how he almost doubled over laughing from watching at a distance as you hurled old trash clumsily at the criminal. A goddamn trash bag of all things. It was so pathetic that it was downright hilarious, he mused with a pleasant smirk and a brief exhale through his nose.
But even after being discarded like trash by that thug, you still stayed. You still had the resolve to help. That’s the type of hero he needs at his agency. But he didn’t know what abilities you had, or if you even had a Quirk at all! Surely if you did, you would’ve used it against that baddie. It’s the reason why he didn’t immediately swoop in and apprehend that criminal from the start. He wanted to see you unleash your Quirk’s inner fury, whatever that would’ve been. But you didn’t - so why?
Why did Hawks find you on his mind even long after parting ways with you? Something about you stuck out to him. Hell, he didn’t know much about you personally other than your last name, and that you were not much for conversation…
…so, why?
At that point, Hawks should have cut his losses and moved on with his mission, but he stayed. He was so used to receiving the attention of every girl who’d look his way. You were the first to actually rebuff him. To not immediately fawn over the second-best pro hero in the country. The Hawks.
He was confused by the unusual reaction to not being on the receiving end of attention for once. This time he couldn’t lie.
Hawks was intrigued by you.
The lights to your tiny home switched on, immediately drawing attention to the various trinkets, decorations and otherwise surprising ornaments scattered throughout your home. You had posters, characterized mugs, and even magnets with puns on your fridge.
If anyone were to see your insanely personalized living space, there’d be no way that they’d make the connection that this was where you called home, due to your frigid and unapproachable exterior. It didn’t matter. Home is where you belonged – just you, and the excessive amounts of stuffed animals and pillows you had to numb the pain of an empty nest and an empty soul.
Opening the takeout box revealed a beautiful display of chicken and liver skewers, likely from that place he tried to guide you to half an hour before. You’d complain that he had essentially stalked you to deliver this to you, but your growling stomach implored you that you could let it slide this time.
This time, you mused. As if he’d be crazy enough to even want to see me next time.
Your attention shifted back to the meal delivered to you, personally, by that scarlet-feathered hero, your annoyed eyes softening ever-so slightly.
…but if he does… I should thank him.
Not a single cloud adorned the sky that beautiful fall morning in Fukuoka. The invigorating winds caressed Hawks’ golden hair and crimson feathers as he glided through the city, watching with keen eyes from above while civilians made their morning commute. Some were perceptive enough to spot a glance at the winged hero and hastily throw up a wave or shout for him, to which Hawks would always acknowledge their praise cheerfully by giving an amiable wave to greet them with a charming smile.
Hawks swiftly approached a sizeable window designed specifically for his entry and departure. He glided effortlessly into the office-style room his wings beating with extra effort to hover in place for a smooth landing. His back turned toward the window to survey the area, admiring the sunny day he was just basking in moments before. His mind wandered to the other night; a gentle grin lit up his face from reflecting on his entertaining night, starring you.
“Hawks.” A stoic and feminine voice disrupted Hawks’ thoughts, immediately wiping the pleasant smirk from his face as his wings drooped slightly.
“You’re late on your status report. The Hero Public Safety Commission expects peak performance from you,” the president of the Commission asserted to the winged hero, his back still facing her.
“Now, tell us everything you’ve learned about the girl.”
“Before you bring it up, no, I didn't get a Quirk out of her,” Hawks remarked spitefully while halfheartedly attempting to remain professional. “Whatever her Quirk is, I’ll figure it out. That’s all I’m after on this mission. Then I can get back to my other mission that, frankly, is a bit more important than this one. I’d thought you would’ve agreed with me on that.”
“Absolutely not,” she replied dryly. “It’s imperative that you learn everything you can about this girl. The entirety of our civilization may depend on it.”
A heavy silence developed a moment later. Hawks turned unhurriedly to address the president of the Hero Commission directly, a profound seriousness overriding his rugged features. “I understand. I’ll gather what I need to, at my trademark top speed,” he declared with a formal bow, his arm crossing over his chest, his large crimson wings spreading wide in compliance.
The leader of the Commission passed him an assertive nod in confirmation. “If your sources have even a fraction of credibility to their claims, then we need to decipher her worth as soon as possible.” Her head then dipped slightly forward in grim contemplation.
“If the League of Villains have indeed taken interest in her… then we need to intervene at all costs.”