Chapter 35 - 8-11

Chapter 8: Hopeless

Hawks stared up at the vent, still in the same position, despite the fact it has been three hours. It was now 5:17, and Izuku hasn't even looked at him, his silent sobs being one of the only noises in the apartment, besides Hawks' flapping wings. He was still hovering by the vent, trying again.

"Izuku..?" Hawks tried again. This has to be the last time, he's bothered the kid too much, and he's probably making it worse.

Nothing again. Pure silence, aside from a sniffle coming from the child. Hawks sighed. He messed up, so, so bad. And he didn't know how to fix it.

"I-I'm gonna give you some privacy.. Okay?" Hawks probably should have gave him privacy a while ago, but he was desperate. He didn't want to lose Izuku like that. 

'Though I might have already lost him..' Hawks thought somberly. If not by his words, then because he didn't give him space.

Hawks landed on the ground, and stared up at the vent one last time. Izuku still wasn't moving. He felt his own heart break, he broke his promise, and just like that, because of some stupid words to tell his damn handler so that she didn't take Izuku away right now. He was desperate to keep Izuku, and in turn, lost Izuku in the process.

He kind of wanted to laugh at the irony. He was worried he'd lose Izuku to the HPSC, and it was his own fucking voice that did the job for him.

His heart felt like it got stabbed again, and he wanted to hide away as well. But he was the adult in this situation. He had to take responsibility, and not pass it on to the next person like he so often did. He had to give Izuku space, and pray to heavens above that Izuku would forgive him. His trust in adults was so fragile, and Hawks just destroyed the fragility even more so.

He wouldn't blame Izuku if he was never forgiven again.

Hawks made towards the couch, and sat there as he forced himself to go deeper in his head. Find a solution to the problem. But his thoughts circled back to the same thing.

This wasn't a problem that could be fixed in ways he normally handled it, giving it someone, or being physical and hope for the best as he attacked it.

This problem was himself. He's the one who ruined everything. He's the one who hurt Izuku. He's the one who destroyed any hope Izuku could trust once again.

It. Was. All. His. Fault.

And he couldn't fix it. He told Mirko that he had no idea how to take care of children. He told her, and she laughed. 

But was it really Mirko's fault, if he decided to follow through? No. No it was not. It was his fault, and he was pushing blame on someone innocent in all this to feel better about himself.

Like he always did. He couldn't remember one time where he took the blame for something, he always laughed and passed it onto the villain.

But he couldn't anymore. Not in this. He had no one else to blame.

No one to blame. But himself.

And that was a concept Hawks wasn't used to.

He didn't like it, he hated it. Hated himself for hurting Izuku, hated the HPSC for-

His thoughts were interrupted as a hand was placed on his shoulder. 'Izuku? No.. It feels like an adult hand. Takano? No.. Takano needs to wear gloves because of her Quirk.'

Hawks didn't bother looking, if he was to be taken away, then so be it. Izuku hated him anyways. He said so himself, and Hawks didn't blame him.

It was funny, how one kid who he knew for less than a week, changed him so much, and yet it felt like he changed so little.

"Hawks.." That voice seemed familiar. It had a feminine sound to it, but it was too low to be Takano's voice. Where has he heard that voice before?

Curiosity finally won over, and he turned to see..

"Mirko?" Hawks blurted out, shocked to see her. She lived two hours away. What time was it? He looked up, and saw the vent closed, but Izuku's shape still in the vent. He looked asleep. Hopefully. He needed it, he's had a long day filled with frustration. 

Maybe this was all a bad dream, and when he woke up, Izuku would be there, practicing his flying, as he made bre-

"Hi, Hawks. Mind if I sit down?" Hawks shrugged, not caring at this point, and pat his hand on the nest. The nest he and Izuku made. Was this the last time he would make a nest with Izuku?

. . . Why was he acting like this was a breakup? Izuku was still here, in the vents. Not talking to him, sure.. But.. He was still away from Inko. Safe.

"Hawks. You missed all of my phone calls. I got worried so I came over. What happened?" Rumi asked, as she sat down and made herself comfortable in the nest.

Hawks opened his mouth to speak, to say anything, but nothing came out. He felt his eyes tear up as he closed his mouth. He was able to talk for three hours, so why couldn't he speak now? Because of the constricting of his throat? The guilt? The pain? That shouldn't matter, he's been trained to be stronger than that.

But this was different, he was never trained for situations like this. He stared down at his hands, it was too much to look at Rumi. He isn't sure he can handle another human right now. But he has to. He has to be the adult in this situation. He has to own up to what he did, even if it kills him.

Finally, he got the chains in his throat to loosen slightly, just enough for him to speak.

"I messed up.. So, so badly Rumi. And it's not going to take an apology to fix it." Hawks said, his voice going quiet again. The chains came back, tighter than ever. He was glad he got the words out before his throat tightened. The gladness was squashed down almost immediately.

He propped his knees up, and buried his face in it, letting a few tears fall.

Maybe it was a lot of tears, because the very next thing he knew, Rumi was hugging him. He stopped for a moment, to look up at her, and see her smile. Smiling, the thing Izuku feared most, for reasons unknown. But it was a comforter for him, so he leaned into it.

He couldn't stop the tears from falling anymore. Why was he the one crying? HE'S THE ONE WHO HURT IZUKU. HE SHOULDN'T... Shouldn't be the one crying...

The guilt in his chest came back tenfold.

It took a while, too long. He felt horrible, here he was, getting comforted, when Izuku was up there, feeling betrayed and hating Hawks now, if what he said before going completely silent meant anything.

He wouldn't blame Izuku. He hated himself too, now.

"Are you feeling up to talking about it?" Mirko asked, slowly getting off of Hawks, breaking the hug.

"I hurt him." Was all Hawks could say. It came out before the chains could get tighter, forcing him mute.

That seemed to make Rumi pause. "Well, I figured that much out.." Hawks nodded, wrapping his wings around himself. Stupid self pity. He should be the one comforting. Not the one getting comforted.

The two sat there in silence. It was all Hawks could do to not lash out, and hurt both Rumi and Izuku. He was feeling anger now, at himself. It didn't replace the—

"Do you regret it?" Rumi asked.

"What?" Hawks asked, looking up at her.

"Whatever happened, do you regret it?" Rumi asked, restating her question as she explained it better.

Hawks thought for a minute. He regretted it so, somuch. But Izuku was so young, and hurt so many times, that Hawks knew he wouldn't listen. He couldn't, his brain would not let him, it would reason that Hawks was just pretending. Pretending so he could hurt Izuku again.

Hawks would just be another adult to Izuku, now.

That didn't make the guilt better. It made it come back a hundredfold, now. 

A single tear rolled down Hawks cheek. "Rumi. No words could express how badly I regret it." Rumi nodded slowly. A silent motion to get Hawks to continue.

"I hurt him, trying to protect him. I used words I didn't mean. When Agent Takano came.. I was desperate to not let Izuku get found, I didn't want to lose him... And I said something I didn't mean. I hurt him, when.." Hawks trailed off, it hurt to think about something so fresh right now.

Mirko nodded in understanding, putting a hand on Hawk's back. "Sorry can't fix it, Hawks. But actions can."

"Well, my actions are the ones that hurt him, and made him lose any semblance of trust he had in me." Hawks retorted, small hiccups coming from him as he dried his eyes.

"But if you could say sorry to him a hundred times over and then more, would you?" Mirko pressed, her hand starting to rub Hawk's back. Hawks learnt that back rubbing trick from Rumi when he had a panic attack. He never felt so comforted during one of those before her. Back to the point, though.

"Rumi, I'd say sorry so many times, it would lose its meaning, and become worthless to Izuku." Hawks vowed, looking Rumi dead in the eyes.

"And if you could make a promise to him that you'd never hurt him again, would you?" Mirko asked, her rabbit ears twitching, as if she heard something he couldn't. It was funny how despite his enhanced hearing, Rumi was always the one to hear things better than him.

"I already made that promise, and broke it." Hawks said, his eyes getting watery again.

"But was it truly broken, if what you said was meant to protect him?" Mirko asked, her ears flattening onto her head.

"What?" Hawks tilted his head, the water in his eyes clearing.

"Think about it, if you truly meant it, then it would be a truly broken promise. Right now, you never meant those words, whatever they may be, because you were trying to not let anything hurt Izuku. Right now, it's a fractured yet mendable promise," Rumi explained, making it click for Hawks.

"I... Could fix it?" Hawks said, his heart having a glimmer of hope in it.

"If Izuku wanted it to be fixed, and if you made a vow to fix it, then yes. I don't see why you should let this promise fully break." Mirko stated.

...

Hawks was silent, he could... Fix it? It wasn't truly broken.. Yet.

"I want to fix the fractured promise." Hawks stated, his jaw set firm.

"Then fix it with him. He will understand, I only met with him once, and though we didn't get the chance to talk, he seems polite, and understanding. I'm sure he would forgive you, whenever that may be." Mirko pat his back, before letting her hand slip and go to her lap.

Mirko may be seen as a fierce rabbit hero who took no sidekicks or anyone, and was tough towards villains, and overconfident.

But Rumi was a person, and a friend who could and would help her friends with their troubles, and protect them till she died. Hawks was grateful to have her at the moment.

Hawks looked at her with an overwhelming thankfulness. "Thank you.. Rumi."

Rumi punched his arm pretty hard, and Hawks had to rub it, but he heard the grumbling coming from Rumi. He could make out a "You're welcome, idiot."

The sound of a vent squeaking caught both of the hero's attention, and Hawks immediately stood up and whirled around, ignoring the vertigo he got from such fast actions, especially after sitting down hunched over for so long. It didn't matter though.

Izuku was standing right there.. And he looked so broken. His face was stained with tears, and he was hugging the blanket. His hair was so fuzzy it looked almost like an afro.

His eyes... They were so, so red from crying. It hurt Hawks, and the chains came back. He swallowed a sob.

But his eyes... Also looked...

...Hopeful?

Chapter 9: Gone...

Izuku was shaking. He had tried falling asleep, truly. He was so close to doing that. But then Mirko came.

He watched and heard the whole conversation, well, as much as he could. He... Couldn't believe it. Not really. After all, what he was hearing defied everything his brain was telling him.

'Hawks... Didn't mean what he said? He... Was.... Protecting... Me....?' He wanted to cry. Hawks truly wasn't like other adults. Was he?

Hawks wasn't like any other adult at all. He hurt to protect him, while others hurt him just for the sake of it.

Izuku unlatched the little levers that kept the vent door closed, opening the vent, wincing at the noise it made. It was a loud squeak, almost like the door from that apartment in Musutafu that Hawks put him in before Fukuoka.

The two Heroes looked towards the noise, Hawk's eyes shining with some emotion Izuku couldn't see from this far away. It wasn't sadness, or anger, though. Izuku couldn't put a name to it.

'Here goes nothing... I suppose.' Izuku thought, grabbing the blanket so it didn't get left there, and showed his wings as to fall softly.

Izuku dropped down, expanding his wings to catch himself. He landed softer than he would have, if it weren't for his wings and the blanket.

Izuku stared at Hawks, ignoring Mirko for the time being. He was shaking enough just looking at one of the Pro Heroes.

The staring contest the two had seemed never ending, until Izuku finally spoke, well, blurted out seems more apt to him.

"You really meant it? You're sorry?" Izuku asked, the grip on his blanket tightening from the stress. Hawks stared at him, his eyes clouded with guilt, tears, and... Hope? Why hope, out of all things?

"Every word, Izuku." Hawks got down on one knee, putting his right fist to his heart, his left hand on his knee. Hawk's eyes started flowing with tears, his face furrowed with sadness, to Izuku. Why.

"Izuku, I am so, so sorry. I never meant it. Not a word. I was trying to protect you, and-" Hawk's voice hitched, and his pupils narrowed, making Hawks close his eyes as the tears came.

"I truly, truly mean it, Izuku. I am sorry. So sorry. I never meant to ruin our promise like that. I never meant what I told that woman. I understand if you don't want to forgive me. Just know I will never stop saying sorry." Hawks finished talking, but..

That was all Izuku wanted to hear. To hear Hawks say he never meant it, that he was sorry. Truly sorry. That was so much more than what anybody told him.

Izuku wasn't in control of his body, it seemed, when he ran to Hawks. When he leapt, and crashed into the older bird. 

Izuku didn't seem to be in control when he started sobbing, burrowing his face into Hawk's shirt, taking in every feeling, every smell, every touch everything. His hands seemed to go on their own accord, scrambling to grip onto Hawk's shirt as he tried burrowing himself deeper. Izuku felt Hawk's wings wrap around him as the older bird grabbed onto him.

Hawks stood up, and just burrowed his own face onto the top of Izuku's head. Izuku felt tears on his head, yet he just didn't care at that moment. Hawks was sorry, he never meant those awful words. He meant being sorry. He was trying to protect him, from the mean adult who yelled at Hawks.

Izuku didn't believe it, yet.... Believed it?

Izuku didn't believe any adult could be so kind to him, yet Hawks proved him wrong again and again.

Yet Izuku believed every word Hawks said to him, about being sorry.

Izuku half noted Mirko leaving, but didn't think much of it. Right now Hawks was sorry, and the two birds were remorseful, with at least one of them crying into the other. That one was Izuku. 

It felt like a long time, it probably was, actually, when Hawks and himself had calmed down. The two just held each other, wings wrapping each other. It was Hawks who broke the silence this time.

"I- I am so, so sorry, Izuku. I really, truly am." His voice was honest, full of remorse. Izuku felt guilt, even though.. He shook his head mentally.

"H-Hawks..." Izuku wanted to forgive him. Really, he did. But... He also didn't want to be hurt by Hawks again. Izuku lifted his head up from Hawk's chest, his right hand still clinging tightly to the back of Hawk's shirt. Izuku looked Hawks dead in the eye, his own eyes tearing up again.

"P-Promise?" Izuku asked, his voice going weak again as he lifted a pinky up. Hawks looked like a cross between shocked and guilt, and everything in between those two emotions the eight year old didn't understand yet. Would he ever understand?

"I promise, Izuku. I will never hurt you again." Hawks vowed, his eyes tearing up again. He connected his pinky with Izuku's.

Izuku nodded, feeling a sudden wave of exhaustion take over his body.

"Then I forgive you, Hawks." He said quietly, though he felt Hawks stiffen slightly. A hand went into his hair and started petting it, making Izuku chirp lightly as he felt the call of sleep lull closer.

"Go ahead and sleep, my tiny Eyas." Was the last thing Izuku heard before his brain shut down, his body being held by the one person he felt he could still trust in this world, despite what happened. He thinks he can figure Hawks. He knows he can.

Hawks set Izuku down in the nest, covering him with some blanket. He couldn't believe it.. Izuku forgave him.. Right? It wasn't just his brain being sleepy? He didn't think so. He still felt overjoyed. He couldn't care anymore, about what anyone thought. Izuku was his. His Baby-Bird.

Maybe Mirko was right, though Hawks would never admit it. That would just give her more of an ego then she already needed.

He hissed when his phone started ringing, it wasn't on silent. He hoped Izuku wouldn't wake up. He needed the sleep. Grabbing it from the sidetable, Hawks walked off, and answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hawks. I'm going to need you to come in tomorrow with Izuku." Tsukauchi said.

"Ah- Alright? Any reason?" Hawks asked, why would the two need to come in?

"We need to ask Izuku a few questions about his home life, gather more evidence against Inko," Tsukauchi explained. Ah, that made sense. This was probably a slow process, but Tsukauchi was doing the best he can, so Hawks was more than happy to oblige.

"Oh. Alright. What time?" Hawks asked, a slight whisper in his voice.

"Eh- 12:30 should be fine," Tsukauchi said, deciding it fit.

Hawks nodded to himself. "Alright, that sounds good. See you tomorrow, Detective." 

Hawks hung up, and went to go get a drink of water. He couldn't help the feeling of dread that spread in his chest. It made no sense to feel that way, especially with everything going well. Ish. So he shrugged it off, heading into the kitchen to grab a cup, pouring some water in it from the fridge. Oh how he missed being able to get water from a fridge. 

It was also getting pretty late, being 9:30 and all when he had hung up from that rather short conversation, so Hawks decided to head to bed in preparation for tomorrow. He shut off the lights and locked the doors.

He walked closer to Izuku, checked to make sure he was genuinely asleep. Once he decided Izuku was out like a candle, he nodded to himself and walked towards his room.

"Goodnight, Fledgling." Hawks said softly before closing the door to his bedroom.

The feeling never left.

Inko had gotten a call at 9:00 that night. It was the Detective calling her to ask her to come in, in two days. Saying they found evidence of where Izuku might be. She grinned violently, and thanked the detective whats-his-name. She didn't bother to remember it.

She decided she wouldn't come in, in two days. But tomorrow instead. If they had the evidence already, then why wait two days for her offspring? Why not get the evidence and find him? Finally catch the mouse? Sure the police station might be busy, but when was it not?

She couldn't wait for Izuku to come back.. By then it would be six days since he went missing. (Counting the day he opened the car door) And Inko grew sick of it. Izuku would get the worst punishment he's had since he developed the stupid fucking Quirk that completely ruined her son.

She couldn't wait to be rid of those damned things that caused so much misery towards her. Her son would pay the price.. 

But then... Then they could be a happy family again.. Just as they once were. Izuku would forgive her. He always did. Why wouldn't he? She's the one who gave him life.

Yes. Inko would much rather come in sooner and seem like a better parent for it. For being "Worried" for her useless, awful son.

Her sweet Izuku... Tomorrow it would be. 

She fantasized ways to hurt Izuku. Punish him for worrying his sweet, caring, loving mother.

Tsukauchi sighed. Tomorrow he would get as much information as he could, and determine the situation, then when Inko came in in two days she'd get arrested for suspected abuse. This woman was smart, hiding any traces of abuse. He really needed the kid to fess something up, or else he'd go back to her. She was almost too smart. He was glad for his Quirk to be able to tell when people lie and tell the truth now.

Clicking the pen repeatedly, he swiveled in his office chair, looking down at the two files. What to do.. What to do.

Hawks woke up early that morning, to get Izuku ready. He was, though he really shouldn't have been, shocked to see Izuku up, though he was rubbing his eyes and yawning, so he seemed to have just woken up.

Hawks felt a pang in his heart as Izuku flinched before realizing, or, remembering yesterday's events. Izuku may have forgiven him, but Hawks doubted that he trusted him like he once did.

He was going to work to get his trust back, though.

"Good mornin', Izuku." Hawks said, heading to the kitchen to make something. Izuku just chirped and bounced over, flapping his wings slightly. Hawks wanted to smile at the sight, yet refrained yet again from doing so. Izuku was still practicing every chance he got, to try and fly.

"We have to go back to the police station we visited a few days ago, and answer some more questions. Is that okay?" Hawks asked as he stared at Izuku.

Izuku just nodded and chirped. "That's okay... Can I bring a toy this time though?" Izuku asked, his eyes lighting up while asking the question.

"Just don't drop it, okay? I'll be carrying you again, and I don't want it dropping." "Alright, Hawks!" Izuku picked up a Hawks action figure and started posing it, his eyes focusing.

Hawks immediately felt slightly embarrassed, knowing that was most likely the toy Izuku would be bringing. 

Breakfast had been simple, just miso soup with some bread and fruits. Hawks noted that Izuku really seemed to like strawberries. Maybe he should make a snack pack for the flight so when the two got there Izuku wouldn't be too hungry while in the police station.. Yeah, that sounded good.

"Should I go get ready Hawks?" Izuku asked after he was done eating his breakfast. (Hawks noticed that Izuku seemed to light up every time he gave him breakfast..)

"Mmm, Yeah, that sounds good. Don't forget the toy you want to bring!" Hawks said. He didn't want Izuku being bored while at the police station.

Maybe Hawks should pack a bag with snacks andtoys.. Maybe a blanket for Izuku as well if he gets tired- 'OH MY GOSH- I'm turning into a parent.' Hawks realized with slight horror. He was only 18! Though isn't that technically what he signed up for when he decided he would be the one to take care of Izuku?

Hawks sighed, getting ready. (He did end up packing a bag full of things for Izuku)

The two birds got to the police station at 12:02, and Hawks was glad he decided to pack the bag full of essential things for Izuku to not be bored. Though with the way Izuku got starry-eyed and filled his notebook up with Quirks every time an officer passed by, he wondered if it was really necessary, or if he was being a worry-wart for no reason. He thought the latter, but he couldn't exactly help it. The feeling from last night seemed to have grown, and he started becoming antsy, eyeing everyone and everything he came across. As if nobody was trustworthy anymore.

Hawks smiled slightly at Izuku frowning when no more officers came, and pulled out that Hawks toy from earlier. (He knew it. He knew Izuku packed that thing in.)

At 12:33, Detective Tsukauchi came out, and was about to signal them to both follow him, when the police door opened, and when the winged hero turned, his heart dropped. In came a short, plump woman with hair tied up in a messy bun, looking like an absolute mess of a person. She had dark green hair, and verdant, bright green eyes.

Though she had no freckles, Hawks knew. The resemblance was uncanny. She was Inko Midoriya. Izuku's mother. She didn't seem to notice him nor Izuku yet, though. So Hawks took that as an advantage to glare at Tsukauchi, silently asking why she was here.

Tsukauchi was wide eyed, so she clearly wasn't supposed to be here. He looked down at Izuku, to see his eyes widen, and face pale to a deathly white. His eyes started tearing up. Instinctively, it seemed, he hid his wings.

"IZUKU?!" The woman's shrill voice made Hawks turn back around, to see Inko's eyes widen, and her mouth forming a sweet smile, which made chills go down Hawk's spine. No wonder Izuku was so afraid of smiling and smiles itself. He'd also be uncomfortable if he had to deal with that look every single day of his life.

Her eyes looked manic as she stared at her "Son".

She sped walked to Izuku and promptly picked him up before even Hawks had a chance to react. Izuku dropped the Hawks action figure. 'No- wait...' Hawks couldn't move. It felt like every time he tried, all of his small feathers would pull him away, as if being controlled. But why, though?

He watched Izuku pale somehow even worse, to the point where his freckles were gone, and the woman whirl around to the Detective, who was staring wide eyed.

"Thank you so much for finding my son!!" The woman started crying, though... They looked fake. Hawks would know, he's spent his life around fake emotions, and an entire week studying people's expressions to better help understand- "Izuku! I was so, so worried, where have you been? Oh, that doesn't matter now. What matters is you coming back home with me!" Izuku's tears started rolling off of his face, as he nodded. 

Tsukauchi simply nodded, and when the shock and feeling of being unable to move,the woman was already running off with her son, Izuku looking at him.. With a look of utter sadness, a hint of betrayal and fear.

A look that was begging Hawks to save him. Help him. ANYTHING. The car sped off before he could get Izuku back. Before he could save him. WHY COULDN'T HE MOVE?!

Hawks picked up the toy Izuku dropped, staring at it as tears filled his eyes. Gone. Izuku was gone.. It happened so fast he couldn't even react. Couldn't even blink. Inko was there, right there, SHE WAS RIGHT. THERE. In his sight, in his range, EVERYTHING. And he let her get away. 

With Izuku, no less. Hawks felt the tears roll down his cheeks.

He failed Izuku again, in less than 24 hours. Broke his promise. Again.

Why...

Chapter 10: Visiosubrideophobia

Hawks was shaking. He put down the toy, and turned to glare at Tsukauchi. He couldn't believe Izuku was just gone. Gone.

"Where. Is. He." Hawks was pissed, to say the least. What was- why was Izuku's mom here?! Did Tsukauchi set the two up? No, why would he do that? Unless... He just really didn't care, and wanted to get the job done. It wasn't the smartest to jump to conclusions, but Hawks was still in shock, and couldn't exactly think straight. He was just... Angry.

"I cannot give you that kind of private information, Hawks. I'm sorry." Tsukauchi said, which ohhh, thatwas the wrong thing to say.

Hawks whirled around, fist at the ready, and he felt it connect with the detective's cheekbone. It was probably aggravated assault to do that, but..

"Does it look like I care, Tsukauchi?" Hawks felt the tears roll down his face. He truly didn't care. His Eyas was gone, got taken by his abuser, and he did nothing to stop it. He saw the look in Izuku's eyes, and was useless. He couldn't. Fucking. Move. Whether by Quirk or something else, Hawks wasn't sure of. He was sure of one thing, though.

He failed Izuku twice, he wouldn't fail again. He couldn't. Couldn't handle it.

"Hawks, it's against the law. I ca-"

"DOES IT LOOK LIKE I CARE, DETECTIVE? SHE TOOK HIM... And I did nothing, again." Hawks said, his voice quieting down at the end of it. The tears were still coming.

"Give me their address, Tsukauchi. You and I both know he is not going to be safe until he's away from that woman." Hawks was speaking the truth. Izuku was in danger. He wouldn't be safe with that woman.

The detective looked like he was weighing all the options in his mind, and finally nodded. "Alright, Hawks. I'll... Be back, just- wait here." The detective walked off, and Hawks used those moments to breathe, and cool off a bit, so when he did get Izuku back, he didn't lose him immediately. Again. He stood there, chewing his cheeks, feeling it get cut just a little bit by his fangs.

Tsukauchi came back, after what felt like a eternity. Hawks just glared, and felt a small bit of glee at the bruise forming on the detective's face. He did that. 

Hawks took the paper, and basically broke the door to the police department, taking off before anyone could react. He flew into the sky, finding the fastest going air current.

Inko Midoriya had to have sped, because the house was fifteen minutes away, and Hawks was going as fast as he could, still seeing no sign of the car Izuku was put in. He went faster than he ever felt he went before. He was desperate, and desperate people did things they normally never did.

Five minutes later, so all in all it had been about twenty minutes, Hawks finally made it to the door of the Midoriya home.

He practically busted down the door, ignoring the reeking smell of alcohol. His eyes widened and turned into slits at the scene. The house was a wreck. It reminded him too close of his childhood house.

Alcohol bottles were strewn about everywhere. Some were shattered, liquids and shards in the dented white walls that were yellowed from neglect and presumably, substance abuse. He didn't want to think what the splatters of red contrasting against the yellow walls were.

It did not take very long to find Izuku, who was in the living room. Hawks took a deep breath. There Izuku was... He was... He... Hawks choked back a sob as he rushed to hold Izuku, who was hunched over, sitting on his knees, eyes staring off into space, tears falling. It was only about 20 minutes since Izuku was taken, and there was so, so much happening in the surrounding area.

Blood was everywhere, splattered about the floor, and covering Izuku's shirt. Feathers were everywhere, sticking to the blood, and, inevitably, Izuku's body. Izuku hadn't noticed him yet... Wait, what was in front of Izuku...?

Inko Midoriya. She looked to have collapsed, and her eyes were... Wait. What?

Hawks rushed to Izuku, and immediately engulfed him into a large hug, wings wrapping around the tiny boy. That seemed to have snapped the boy back into reality. "H-Hawks? You're here? You... Came? For m-me?" His voice was so, so quiet. He looked traumatized. Most likely was.

"Izuku, are you okay?" He got a slow nod in reply. "Can you tell me what happened and why Inko looks..... Dead?"

...

...

...

...

...

The silence felt agonizing, but Izuku was clearly not okay, so Hawks gave him as much time as he would need.

"I killed her." Izuku's voice was so quiet, if it wasn't already deathly silent, Hawks was sure he would have missed it. "You... What? How...?"

Hawks looked at Inko, and if Izuku didn't say that, he would've assumed she would've been passed out based on the smell of alcohol, or maybe something with overdose. Definitely not Izuku, who couldn't even fly yet, and... Desperate people did desperate things, Hawks supposed. Though, still. That information was shocking.

"I didn't mean to.. Hawks, I'm sorry... I'm sorry.. I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'M SORRY I'M SORRY-" Izuku's apologies got cut off, as Hawks just completely held him, rubbing his back, and keeping his breathing calm. (It wasn't easy, with the smell of alcohol lingering so, so strongly in this house.)

"Fledgling, it's okay... You didn't mean it, it was an accident.. Right?" Hawks felt Izuku nod, and that made Hawks feel ten times better than before.

It took a while, but Izuku finally calmed down enough to be able to speak... He still looked traumatized, which was extremely reasonable, based on this days events.

"Want to tell me what happened, now, Baby-Bird?" Hawks asked, stroking Izuku's hair.

Izuku nodded, and closed his eyes, taking a deep, shuddering breath.

"Can I.. Trust you with something, Hawks-Sama?" Izuku asked, opening his eyes to look at Hawk's own. He used Sama again. Hawks didn't want to know what that meant. Did all of his progress with his boy backtrack because of this?

"Of course you can, Izuku. I promise." Hawks took his hand off Izuku's head, and held up his pinky, to which Izuku took with his own, and made a promise. 

"Okay..." Izuku said, reassuring himself. "It was... My Quirk.." Izuku said, immediately looking away. Hawks only blue-screened. "What? But- your Quirk is just wings, how is that possible?" Hawks asked.

Izuku shook his head, and hugged himself tighter against Hawks. "That's... Only one part of it. My quirk is called Phantom Wings, which makes my wings phase in and out of reality, which you already know." Izuku loosened himself a bit, probably getting distracted talking about Quirks. That was good, he didn't need to think about the body right now.

"But, my Quirk.. I think.. I only used it once, before... And that time had been accidental.. It can, and I think.." Izuku trailed off, eyes glazing over. Hawks put his hand on Izuku's head again and started petting it again. That shook Izuku up, and he seemed to snap back to this reality.

"i think it can heal injuries, by taking others life force, or... Soul? I think? And transform- no wait, transfer some of the life force of the uninjured person to the injured person... But for that to work, I need to willingly give up a feather, and... Activate it? I don't know... But when I use it, the feather I'm holding turns gold..." Izuku trailed off again.

That... Was a lot to think about. 'Sooo, Izuku's feathers... transfer, someone else's life force to the injured person and heals them? That means... Oh shit..."

"So you tried to heal yourself, and the closest person was.. Inko?" Hawks asked. Izuku nodded. Hawks was immediately filled with anger. Just how badly was Izuku hurt, for his Quirk to kill someone.

Hawks just held onto Izuku, and shot Tsukauchi a text, who was apparently right outside the house...? Had it really been that long? It only felt like two minutes had passed.

"I didn't mean for her to die, Hawks... Am I going to go to jail...?" Izuku asked, his eyes filling with fear. Hawks shook his head. "No, Izuku. You won't go to jail for an accident."

Izuku nodded, reassured as he leaned into Hawks again. Just then, Tsukauchi came into the house, and his eyes widened at the scene. "Hawks... What?" Hawks immediately shushed him. Izuku didn't need to get overwhelmed again. Tsukauchi stood idly by, waiting for Hawks to explain.

Hawks adjusted to stand up, and when he did, he turned to face Tsukauchi, who apparently didn't notice Inko's dead body, and his eyes widened again, before immediately looking at Hawks, suspicion written all over his face, to which Hawks just shook his head, which made Tsukauchi look confused. He had a right to be confused, though.

Hawks was about to tell Tsukauchi what happened, when he froze- he made a promise to Izuku not to tell, but Tsukauchi could tell when people lied. He couldn't lie to the detective, but he also couldn't break his promise. Not again. So what could he do? Who- Tsukauchi would definitely think it was Hawks, and he'd get sent for jail and revoked of his Hero license for the murdering of a citizen, and then who would take care of Izuku? Certainly not the foster system.

He stopped when he felt a tug on his shirt, looking down, he saw Izuku's face, who seemed to realize this as well. "Y-You can.. Tell Tsuchi? Tsukachi? Umm... Him." Izuku pointed at Tsukauchi (Who would now be called Tsuchi, for as long as Hawks was alive, until he came up with a better nickname, but what better nickname was there than Tsuchi?) "But only him, okay Hawks?" Izuku asked, desperate.

Hawks nodded, and went towards Tsuchi-San. "It wasn't me, and this needs to be a secret, can you keep it?" Hawks stated firmly.

Tsuchi-San nodded. "Alright. Izuku's Quirk killed her, apparently, according to Izuku, who doesn't know much about it himself, the Quirk can transfer uninjured people's life-forces to injured people's, but for that to work.. They need to eat a feather, right?" Izuku nodded. "Right, they need to eat a feather, and Izuku needs to do something to the feather for it to even be able to do that, though he doesn't know what. He says it just happens. Right?" Izuku once again nodded, confirming Hawks' words.

"It turns the feather a golden colour," Izuku said, before quieting down and snuggling into Hawks again.

"But.. How could Inko have died... Wait..." Tsukauchi paused, his face going pale. He seemed to have the same revelation Hawks did.

"I'll just write it down as overdose... There's enough of alcohol, and the body seems uninjured. It's a secret, right?" Tsukauchi said, writing things down and calling a dispatch team for Inko and the discovering of a dead body. He turned away from Hawks and Izuku, and was walking out the door, most likely to get some things out of his car.

Hawks nodded. "Thank you, Tsuchi-San!" Tsukauchi froze, and slowly turned around to glare at a smiling Hawks. His eyes flickered down to Izuku, who came up with the nickname in the first place.

"Can I ask why you want this a secret?" Tsukauchi asked Izuku. Hawks felt Izuku tense.

"I don't want anyone calling me a freak anymore than they already do... And Mother... Would have hurt me more if she found out about this aspect of the quirk... I also don't want anyone knowing what else this could do," Izuku said quietly, though just enough for Tsukauchi to hear.

Tsukauchi nodded, and walked out the door. Hawks wanted to revive Inko just to kill her again.

"Sooo, does that mean I can now finally use my foster card for Izuku?" Hawks asked once they entered the MPDJ, which stood for Musutafu Police Department of Japan.

Tsukauchi sighed as he opened his office door, clutching the bridge of his nose. "Yes, Hawks, now that Izuku is a orphan, you can use your foster card," Hawks froze. Did Tsuchi-san say Izuku was an orphan? (He may or may not have forgotten when, just a few days ago, he told Tsuchi-San that it was just him and his mother, his father dying in an accident.)

"Izuku's father is dead? How?" Hawks asked as he laid Izuku down on the waiting room couch, wrapping him with the blanket he packed. (Good call, himself.)

"He died in a construction accident a couple years back. At least, that's what the report says. Some say it was on purpose, and that it was no accident. Though, those are just rumors." Tsukauchi said as he started on some paperwork. "Are you sure you don't want the kid's file to be updated about his Quirk?" The Detective asked, looking up at Hawks, who only shook his head.

"No, if the HPSC found out how much more powerful Izuku's Quirk was, they'll come knocking on my door, and take him away without a second thought about the fact I'm fostering him."

Tsukauchi just nodded, and looked down and continued on his way of paper work. "So, are you planning to adopt him, then?"

Hawks squawked slightly, ruffling his feathers. "Y-Yeah, I was. I've grown really attached to him.." Hawks admitted, blushing in embarrassment, "I don't think I could not adopt him... And he doesn't have anywhere else to go, so..."

Tsukauchi nodded absentmindedly. "And what does Izuku say about it?"

"I- I'm not too sure on what he wants... I hope so, but if he doesn't want to be adopted, or... Wants to leave.. And go to a orphanage.. I.. Won't stop... Him." Hawks felt his voice crack as he choked on his words. He really, really hoped Izuku would want to be adopted, and didn't want to leave him. Hawks didn't think he could handle it.

"Alright, then. Since Inko's dead.. There is no reason to stick around any longer. I'll take care of the paperwork that'll legally allow you to foster Izuku. You go home," Tsukauchi said, waving his hand around in a shooing manner.

Hawks nodded, chirping happily. "Thank you, Tsuchi-San!"

Said Tsuchi-San just groaned, and rolled his eyes. "Don't make me regret doing more paperwork than necessary, Hawks. Go away." Hawks mock-saluted, and walked off to get Izuku and go back home.

"Izuku... C'mon, wake up." Hawks shook Izuku gently. He already packed everything up, and rechecked everything thrice, so now all he needed to do was wake Izuku up.

Izuku groaned, and opened his eyes sleepily. "Time to get up, Eyas.." 

"Five more minutes...?" Izuku asked, his eyes already closing. "Not if you want to make it home in time to snuggle in, eat some chicken, and watch the fourth Star Wars movie."

That did the job, as Izuku's eyes opened, and he practically flew off the couch chirping away. "Alright! I'm up! Can we go now?" Izuku asked, staring at Hawks with excitement in his eyes.

Hawks covered his mouth, and chuckled slightly, making Izuku flinch, and instinctively made a shield around himself with his arms. Hawks stopped immediately, and walked forward towards the small boy. "Please don't hurt me..." Izuku said, his voice cracking.

Hawks immediately stopped, horrified with what he had done. "Oh, Fledgling.." Hawks gave Izuku a hug. 

"What happened to make you not like smiles?" Hawks asked before he could control his mouth. Izuku looked down, eyes tearing up.

"Whenever mother was going to hurt me... She would smile... This awful, awful smile... And forced me to smile, too.. I hate smiling, Hawks.. It scares me. I see her when someone smiles," Izuku said, his eyes tearing up.

Hawks wrapped Izuku up in a hug, and lifted him off the ground. "I'm sorry, Eyas. I didn't know." Izuku shook his head. "It's okay Hawks.." 

It was Hawk's turn to shake his head. "No, Izuku, it's not okay, I'm very sorry to hear that, and until you feel comfortable, I won't smile. Okay?"

Izuku immediately shook his head. "No, Hawks! You shouldn't have to stop smiling because of someone worthless like me!" That made Hawks put a finger over the small boy's lips. "No, Izuku. I am not going to hurt you, and smile. I won't break my promise."

Izuku looked defeated, and just nodded. "Alright, if you insist, Hawks.."

"I do insist. Now, let's go home, yeah?" Izuku immediately brightened.

Hawks unfurled his wings, and leapt into the air, Izuku tightly wrapped in Hawk's arms, backpack in hand.

Hawks and Izuku arrived home at 5:13, had just finished with reorganizing their nest, when the doorbell rang. "Guess the food's here, Izuku!" Izuku in turn chirped, and sat up from where he was buried in the nest.

Hawks opened the door, and froze.

It was the same delivery driver as the last what was it- four times he ordered? This time, Hawks really paid attention to what the delivery guy looked like.

He seemed to have some severe burns on his face, and staples pressing against the lines where the burns and normal skin met. His eyes were a piercingblue, and his hair was black and pretty spiky. All in all he was kind of pretty... What. Where did that thought come from?

The delivery guy cleared his throat, and looked expectant- Oh right, he had to pay. "Ah, here you go." Hawks pulled out the amount of yen needed, plus tip. It was Hawks turn to clear his throat. The delivery guy looked up. "Ah- it seems you uh- have delivered here before.."

"I've been delivering here for three months, not counting last month you weren't here." The guy stated. His voice was deep, and kind of rough. His face deadpanned, looking like he didn't want to be here, and in disbelief that Hawks didn't know that. 

"Ah, uhm.. Well, uh.. What's your name..?" Hawks asked, sort of really embarrassed at that.

"Wouldn't you like to know, weather boy?" The guy responded. Hawks coughed, "That's why I asked."

The guy looked amused. "The name's Dabi."

"Ah, well, thank you for delivering, Dabi!" Hawks said, grabbing the food. "Well, that's my job. Though I do wonder how you haven't gained weight, yet. This is the fourth time this week you've ordered food."

"I exercise!" Hawks defended himself. Dabi snorted, "I'm sure you do."

"Well, my name's Hawks!" He said, chirping. "I already know that. You're a hero. Who wouldn't know your name?" Dabi retorted. 'Okay, smartass.' Hawks thought.

"I was just being polite." Hawks said, trying to sound sort of sassy. He felt small arms wrap around his leg, and he looked down. "Oh, hi Fledgling!"

"You have a kid?" Dabi asked, glaring at him in suspicion. "I'm fostering him, but uh, yes," Hawks said, shifting the bag into his other hand.

"Alright, well. I'm gonna go. I have other food to deliver. Money to gain." Dabi was about to walk off, when Izuku spoke up. "Thank you... Delivery-San!"

That made Dabi freeze, staring down at the kid. "The name's Dabi, kid." Hawks could hear the amusement in Dabi's voice, even though he was straight faced as he looked at Izuku. "Oh, then thank you Dabi-San!" 

"No problem, kid." Dabi left, and Hawks closed the door, faint footsteps being heard as Dabi walked away. He picked up the bag, and said, "Now, who wants to watch the fourth movie?"

"Oh- OH! ME!" Izuku said, raising his hand. Hawks closed his eyes and tilted his head, chirping.

The movie finished, and Izuku looked half asleep.. Though, Hawks couldn't put this off anymore, couldn't wait anymore. "Izuku...?"

Izuku immediately turned, and chirped questioningly. "How... Would you feel.. If I were to... Adopt you?" Hawks asked hesitantly. This was serious, and Hawks was so, so nervous over the answer.

Izuku immediately woke up from any sleepiness he felt. "Like, I be in your family, you're my papa kind of adoption?" Hawks nodded, and felt his heart drop when Izuku started crying. "You... Really want me as.. Your kid? You really want to adopt me?" Izuku asked.

"I do, Izuku.." Hawks put a hand on the back of his head. "I already think of you as my kid, even though you've only been here about a week."

He froze when he felt a body crash into him, exactly like how the two met in the first place.

He stared at Izuku, who was nodding vigorously, chirping happily as tears came down his face. "I.. Take it as a.. Yes? You want to be adopted?" Hawks couldn't help how nervous he sounded. But he had to be sure.

"Yes!" Izuku said, once he gained some kind of grounding from his emotions. Hawks immediately felt so, so happy. Like he could fly to the moon and back kind of happy.

Hawks hugged Izuku back. "I- Thank you, Baby-Bird.. I'm glad.. So glad." 

The two fell asleep like that, that night. Not that either would regret it. Izuku could scarcely believe Hawks wanted him as a soon, and that Hawks already saw Izuku as a son. It was something Izuku struggled with wrapping his head around. But still, he was so, so glad. And, he had a feeling Hawks was glad, too.

Chapter 11: Flight

It had been about three days since Hawks had asked Izuku if he wanted to be adopted, and three days since Izuku had said yes, so Hawks had gotten started on that. He stayed up late filling out paperwork and making phone calls to make everything eligible and legal. So when he woke up by loud chirping at 7:05 in the morning, when he only just fell asleep two hours ago, it was understandable for Hawks to be worried.

In his half-asleep state, Hawks sharpened a feather, turning it into one of his katana feathers, and immediately ran out of his room.

"HAWKS! LOOK!" Hawks was fully awake now, his eyes sharp as he searched around for Izuku's voice, or even better, Izuku himself. He was starting to stress out, sending a few feathers to search the place. "Baby-Bird? Izuku? Where are you?"

... Fuck.

"I'm up here! Look!" His voice come from above him. Hawks looked up, and covered his face with his mouth, as to not show his smile at the sight. Izuku was still very nervous around smiles, and Hawks had yet the time to appoint a therapist session for the little one. Soon, though. Very soon.

"Good job! Oh man, look at that! You're flying!" Hawks stared at the tiny bird, his wings flapping pretty quickly to keep him in the air, but still. His Baby-Bird was flying!

"I told you you would be able to fly by then end of the week! Oh man, how do you feel?" Hawks asked, his feathers putting his feathers back into his wings. Izuku chirped, and landed on Hawk's back. His talons gripped onto one of his wings, and the other on the back of Hawk's head. They were gentle, the claws dull.

"Tired, I've been practicing since I woke up," Izuku explained. Hawks nodded, opening his mouth to speak. "That's understandable, it takes a lot of energy to stay in the air, especially when you're only just able to fly. Your wings would be focused only on keeping you in the air, with none of those fancy tricks I can do."

Izuku dropped on to the ground, slightly pouting, his eyebrows furrowed as he hid his wings away. "It... Won't be forever, though.. Soon I'll be able to fly like you... Right?" Izuku asked, looking up at Hawks through his eyelashes.

Hawks shook his head, "Nah, you have a different wing type than me, so you'll be able to glide for longer, with less flapping. So, not as fast as me, but for longer. Plus you might be able to do smoother turning that I can."

Izuku's eyes shone with excitement at that. "Really? I'll be able to.. Glide? But, that's not flying, is it?"

"It's a method of flying that lets you use less energy than if you were to flap every few seconds or so," Hawks explained to him, remembering his lessons four years ago with the HPSC.

"Oh.." Izuku looked thoughtful, and started looking at Hawk's wings. To which Hawks spread his left wing out to show him. Izuku looked at his wings, and then brought his wings back, both of them spread as Izuku compared the two. It took a minute or so for Izuku to notice and truly understand what he was comparing, but when it clicked, his eyes sparkled.

"Ohhh! I get it now... Thank you, Hawks!" Izuku said, fading his wings away again. Hawks was going to say something in response, but Izuku ran off, flapping his wings a bit as he went to his make shift room. The two finally were able to get a bed for him, after all the events that transpired just a few days prior. That seemed more of a miracle, finally getting a bed than anything else.

Hawks chuckled to himself, he was so proud of his little Fledgling! He stood there for a few moments longer, hearing faint thuds when Izuku dropped to the ground again. He was determined, to say the least. It reminded Hawks of himself, when he was younger. He was still determined even now, but there was something about Izuku's determination that resonated with him somehow.

Keigo sighed, heading off towards the kitchen as to get a start on breakfast. There was no point in going back to sleep, he wasn't tired at all despite it being seven in the morning. Hawks looked out into the large window that viewed the cityscape, watching the sun rise up into the sky. The buildings reflected the gold light, the orange and purpling skies turning blue. Later, he decided that he will help Izuku with start training a bit more with flight and wing movements, now that Izuku's wings could support his body weight.

Heading into the kitchen, he decided that he needed to make something else other than eggs and pancakes. Despite them being simple foods, it wasn't a balanced meal that he or Izuku would need. Pulling up his phone, he clicked it on, his eyes widening at the notification that was on his phone.

It was an E-Mail. 

Opening his phone up, he went into the app he used for E-Mails, scrolling through his inbox. It did not take him very long to find what he was looking for, despite never organizing his mail. Seriously, he has over five hundred E-Mails he never responded to. Nor did he ever plan on responding to them.

Clicking onto the box, he read through the message. A smile started forming on his face, and by the end of it, he was full on grinning. This day couldn't get better. 

After all, what better news could there be? He was approved in fostering Izuku. This would need to be celebrated, he decided with a nod and a click off his phone, putting it back in his pocket. He would be ordering chicken tonight for such an occasion. With the thought of chicken, his mind went over to the delivery guy. Dabi.

Would he be the one delivering tonight? . . . Why does he care? He doesn't even know the guy.

(Spoilers, Dabi was, in fact, the delivery guy that night.)

"So uh-" Hawks stammered.. He had ordered chicken for the sixth time this week. He hadn't expected Dabi to be glaring at him. "Don't you have a kid? What is up with all this chicken? Don't you eat anything else? Not that I'm complaining, it's just- a lot." Hawks didn't quite know what to say. "Well, you see-" Hawks tried to say, before being brutally interrupted again.

 "I mean- I get having a lot of money, being a hero and all, but don't you have anything else in your diet? Don't get me wrong, my bank account is not complaining," Dabi said, frowning at him, squinting.

Hawks just stood there, dumbfounded. He practically pushed the money onto Dabi and took the chicken. Maybe next time. Maybe. Today was stressful and his friendship attempt was a fail.

"Next time" was the very next day, and Dabi was glaring full force this time. "Hawks," He said, and that was, well.. Odd. Hawks straightened his wings out, flicking them. "Hi?" Hawks responded. Dabi sighed.

 "Listen, normally, I could care less. I'm not one to judge. But. This is the seventh time this week. You have ordered chicken every day this week. And you have a kid. This has got to be unhealthy for him. Why are you ordering so much chicken?" Dabi asked, bringing out some very valid questions.

Hawks just stood there again, though he rehearsed this all day, he should be good. "Well- uhm- you see, I uh-..." He stood quiet when Dabi glared again. How was he going to explain when he stared at him like that?

He took a deep breath, and stared at Dabi. "I don't... Eat all the chicken. Neither does Izuku. He eats very good protein filled meals. For the chicken, I bring it to random homeless people on the streets.. And uhh..." Hawks trailed off, when he noticed that Dabi seemed to scowl even worse. "Oh. So you're really a goody-two shoes hero. Typical." He practically sneered out. 'Remind me why I'm doing this again? Oh, because I wanted a friend. Right.'

Hawks looked down, defeated. "Well, you also seemed like an interesting guy, and uh- I was wondering if you wanted to get to know eachother? Be friends, maybe?" Hawks asked, as he distracted himself by pulling his wallet out of his pocket, counting the Yen he needed to pay. He missed the shocked look on Dabi's face, as he pulled out the appropriate amount of Yen to pay.

"You've been ordering an obscene amount of chicken.. Because you wanted to get to know me and be friends," He stated, his voice deep, without emotion. Hawks huffed.

"Well, now that you word it like that... It sounds really stupid..." Hawks said, rubbing the back of his head. Dabi sighed, and pushed himself out of Hawks way and into the apartment. Hawks turned around, not trying to kick him out of the apartment.

"Hey- what? What are you doing?" Hawks asked, following him.

Dabi promptly ignored him, instead pulling out a pen and paper, wrote something down, put the paper onto the counter, put the chicken down next to it, and left as quickly as he came. What exactly did he do?

Confused, Hawks walked into the tiled kitchen, and took the note. It didn't take long for him to scan it, realizing it was Dabi's... Phone number. 

He couldn't help the happiness over the fact his mission was a success.

"Noooo! I don't wanna! Please, Hawks? Don't make me go! Please, please, please, please, PLEASE!" Izuku said, half panicking. Was Hawks really going to do this?! The absolute TRAITOR! Izuku tried harder to get out of his grip. "Hawks, NOOOO!" 

"Izuku, please, calm down! It's okay, okay? I promise, everything will be fine!" Hawks said, not letting go as he brushed Izuku's hair, determined to get it brushed out. It was turning out to be a lot more of a hassle than what Hawks expected, with it being more like an afro than anything else.

"It's NOT gonna be fine, DON'T MAKE ME, STOP NOOO!" Izuku started forming tears as he begged. The hair brush was pulling at his knots and the roots of his hair, making it hurt. (Though it wasn't the kind of hurt to make their promise fracture, so it was ok.. Barely.)

Finally, Hawks managed to finish brushing Izuku's hair. "There, see? Now. Look who's my little Fledgling!" He said, nuzzling Izuku's cheek with his nose. He ignored the fact the hair poofed up worse, literally becoming an afro. 

Izuku sighed, defeated. Hawks really wasn't gonna back out of this no matter what Izuku said. Meany. He dramatically collapsed on the floor, and buried his face in his arms.

Hawks squat down, and pat Izuku on the back in a soothing manner. "Aww, come on, Izuku! Everything will be fine! And don't mess up the hair, it was a pain brushing out all of the curls. You've got really curly hair, my Eyas," Hawks noted, pulling at some of the tender strands, examining it.

"But Hawks, do I really have to go? What if other kids make fun of me?" Izuku asked, his worries being known.

"Fledgling, if the kids at your new school make fun of you, I'll give them a piece of my mind, alright? Plus, I need to go back to doing Hero work, and you need education, and I don't want to get in trouble because you didn't go to school. I promise, everything will be fine, okay?" Izuku looked up, scanning Hawks for any lies. As always, he found none. Eventually, he put a hand up, and stuck his pinky up.

"Promise?" Izuku asked.

Hawks returned the gesture, their pinkies intertwining with eachother. "I pinky promise, Fledgling." That seemed to satisfy Izuku, and his emotions did a whole 360. He used his wings to pick himself up. 

'He's getting really good with his wing control,' Hawks noted with pride. He couldn't believe how much had changed with Izuku, even though it was only about a month and a half since the two met.

Izuku started taking therapy sessions as to better help with his trauma, because that was what it was. Trauma. Slowly, with the help he needed and got, Hawks saw Izuku come out of his shell. He was much happier now, and felt better with having his wings out around Hawks via exposure therapy. After such progress, the therapist, Akatani, finally told Hawks he would be ready to go back to school soon.

Hawks had immediately searched for hours for a good school that had good reviews and a good track record. It took a few hours, but he was satisfied with it. Kaizen Primary.

Hawks grabbed Izuku's backpack, giving it to his boy. With everything ready, Izuku reluctantly put some shoes on. Hawks opened up the window, grabbing Izuku's hand.

Izuku hesitated, or, Hawks thought he hesitated, but he really was just taking a deep breath. Izuku spread his wings, leaping into the air.

Hawks flew as far as Izuku could go without getting tired. Though Hawks held Izuku's hand the whole time, to help with balance and strong currents, Izuku got tired. That was okay, he was still learning and it was about five minutes after they took off. Hawks pulled Izuku close, and held him the rest of the way to Kaizen Primary. When he finally made it to his primary school, it took a while to comfort Izuku, and Hawks finally broke. How Izuku hasn't yet decided that Hawks broke his promise, Hawks couldn't say. 

"Ok, calm down Baby-Bird.. I was gonna save this until your birthday.. But," Hawks pulled out a small jewelry box, and held it out for Izuku. He forgot to take it out of his pocket yesterday, when he got it. 

Izuku took it, and opened it. Hawks watched as his eyes lit up, probably liking the shiny thing, and Hawks could see the ghost of a smile forming on the young boy's face. Hawks hoped he could see a smile on him, though that disappeared almost immediately, as did the smile. Instead, Izuku looked guilty.

"I'm sorry Hawks... For acting like a brat so you had to do this.." Izuku said.

Shoot. Hawks didn't think about the potential outcomes this could lead to. Hawks pat his head sympathetically. "Oh, Izuku, it's alright. You're nervous, and, lots of kids get nervous on their first day of school. Especially when transferring in the middle of a school year."

Izuku lifted the necklace out of the box, slowly, carefully, as if afraid the chain would break if he went too fast. Impossible, those chains despite looking like gold, were durable for lots of things. Izuku watched the crimson red feather that was attached to the gold-like chain. It spun around, dangling.

"Wait- isn't this?" Izuku's eyes flickered to Hawk's wings, putting the pieces together.

Hawks nodded, "Yup! That lil' guy is controlled by me, so if you snap it in half, I'll be able to feel it and come flying, alright?" Izuku's eyes lit up, looking back at the necklace.

"Thank you, Hawks!" Izuku gave Hawks a hug, before running off to school. Hawks noticed as he ranthat his wings weren't showing, and he hoped it wasn't because of the abuse he was put through because of them. Though who was he trying to fool.. Himself? He wasn't a complete fool.

With that, Hawks lifted into the air, bringing some feathers out to go around so he could get a feel of the new city. He would need a new route soon, since his old one was for Fukuoka rather than Musutafu.

It was hours later that Hawks picked Izuku up from school after his work. He was thankful his schedule aligned with Izuku's school schedule. He controlled the feather that he gave Izuku, and gave it a tug to alert Izuku he was nearby. The small boy immediately perked up, and watched Hawks get closed.

"Hiya, Baby-Bird!" Hawks waved at Izuku. He noticed Izuku trying to not laugh at his disguise, which was impressive, considering his emotionless face. His eyes were and always would be, a dead giveaway to what he was feeling.

It was an amazing disguise, though Izuku would never understand just how well it worked. It was, obviously, the same disguise he wore at the mall. The glasses with a fake nose and mustache attached, and a hoodie to cover his windswept blond hair.

Izuku came running, and leapt into Hawk's arms. "Hawks!" Izuku said, immediately nuzzleing into Hawk's chest. Hawks readjusted to hold his kid. "Hiya, Izuku! How was school?" 

Izuku looked like he practically had stars in his eyes. "I. Made. A. Friend!" Hawks nuzzled Izuku's neck. "Well of course ya did. I had no doubts about it! What's your friend's name?"

"Her name Is Tsuyu Asui! Though she likes to be called Tsu." Izuku said, looking up at Hawks.

"Well, that's really neat! What's she look like?" Hawks asked as he flew up into the air once they were a ways away from the school.

"She's got this deep green hair like mine, and her Quirk makes her look a little like a frog! She's so cool! She's got a long tongue, and these really pretty eyes, and her hair is green like mine! And she jumps around everywhere! I pretended to be a frog with her at the playground, and she used her tongue to lift me up to the playground roof, which is so cool! Her tongue is so strong! She's really cool, Hawks! And she also really likes jelly... Oh! She wants to be a hero, too! She said her hero name would be Froppy. We both want to go to U.A. together!..."

Hawks kept flying, and listening intently to Izuku's ramblings about his friend, and school, and from what Hawks could collect, Izuku really liked the school, and made a really nice friend. 

It was the weekend, and Izuku was watching the news when a fight between Hawks and a villain showed up on screen, he dropped everything to watch, feeling extreme stress for his... Could he call him papa? Dad? Father? He'd have to ask what was okay.. If Hawks didn't get upset at that.

He was distracted as the fight grew more intense, forcing Hawks to use his Katana Sword Move. Izuku pulled out a notebook, and started studying, absolutely fascinated, especially since Hawks rarely used his swords. It was exciting, though still very worrisome.

Izuku saw Hawks get the upper hand when the villain slightly tripped on a feather Hawks placed near his foot. Izuku watched as the feather swords disappeared when Hawks captured the villain. 

As Hawks was fighting the villain, moving gracefully in the air, he wondered if Hawks could teach him how to use swords. That would be so cool! Then he could be just like Hawks! Though Izuku worried that Hawks would be angry for asking... And start hurting him, like Mother Inko, would. He slowly stopped considering Inko to be his mother, after experiencing Hawk's love and care. He decided Hawks was his new standard for a parent. No exceptions.

It took about another hour of waiting and biting his nails anxiously, tugging on his feathers a bit, but then Hawks was finally home, and Izuku immediately ran to him, his wings fluttering.

"Hawks!" Izuku shouted, relief in his voice. He leapt onto him, giving him a hug.

"Woah there, Izuku! What's up. Hi," Hawks said, having to use his wings to catch himself before he collapsed onto the ground, and inevitably would've taken Izuku with him if that had happened.

Izuku looked up at Hawks, "I watched your fight on the T.V! Are you okay?" Izuku asked, concern filling in his eyes. Hawks gave a chirp and tilted his head.

"Of course I am, Baby-Bird! Why wouldn't I? That guy couldn't even get that many hits in. Barely hurts." Izuku immediately started searching his face for lies, and settled down when he found wasn't able to find any. "Alright.." Izuku relented.

Hawks set Izuku down, and went to go make dinner. Izuku followed behind him like a duckling, not wanting to lose sight of him in fear that he would somehow be back in that fight.

He was excited about dinner, though. Hawks has been getting better at making food, and Izuku noticed that Hawks surprisingly really liked it when he had the time and energy to cook.

The two had finished eating, and Hawks was worried. Izuku was pretty silent since he got home. Did Hawks do something wrong? He wasn't lying when he said he wasn't injured, the villain just had a close ranged quirk and he didn't want to risk getting hurt any more than he did. He had to be less reckless now that he had a kid to look after, after all.

Hawks sat down and watched Izuku for a few minutes, Izuku was just playing with action figures (Specifically the Hawks action figure that he brought with him everywhere. It wasn't hard to realize that was Izuku's favorite, ever.)

"Izuku? Are you okay? You've been a little off since I got home. Is something on your mind?" Hawks asked, and got a bit worried when Izuku tensed and nearly dropped his Hawks action figure, which made Hawk's heart drop. He took great care in that toy, and for him to nearly drop it made him more worried.

"It's nothing, Hawks! Promise!" Izuku said, not looking at him. Hawks thought he was getting better at reading his facial expressions, which made him slightly upset Izuku would, well, it wasn't lying, but it also wasn't being truthful, either.

"It's not nothing if you seem upset. C'mon, Eyas. You can tell me. You do trust me, right?" That made Izuku look guilty..

"I... Was worried you would be mad at me.. Promise you won't be mad at me, okay Hawks?" Izuku looked him dead in the eye this time.

"I promise, I won't ever get mad at you, unless, you, like- I dunno. Blow up the HPSC, or, this house... Or something." Hawks said, mentally slapping himself for mentioning the HPSC. Izuku looked confused.

"Why would I need to blow up the HPSC? That's very illegal, right?" Izuku asked.

Hawks nodded, "Which is why I would be upset, Izuku." Izuku nodded, and looked slightly better.

"I was watching the fight between you and the villain... And.. When you pulled.. Out the feather swords... I was wondering if you could.. Teachmehowtofightwithswordslikeyou-"

"WOAH! Baby-Bird! Slow your roll! I couldn't understand most of it, but you were talking about my swords? What about them?" Hawks, though getting better at understanding Izuku's mumbling, it was still hard for him to figure out what he was trying to say. It was kind of like deciphering a new language out of a language you already knew, which made it trickier because your brain tried filling in the blanks, even though you didn't need the blanks filled, you needed to process what you were hearing.

Izuku took a deep breath, and started over, just more slow than normal.

"I watched the villain fight.. And when you pulled out your Katana Feathers... I was wondering if you could... Teach me how to fight with swords like yours?" Izuku hunched down, heart racing as he fiddled with his fingers.

That question made Hawks freeze for a moment, looking at Izuku, calculating. It wasn't too surprising of a question, he had figured that Izuku would want to learn how to fight with swords, someday. It still felt just a little bit too soon, though. 

"I'll teach you, but you have to wait until you are ten at the least. Deal? That's about.." Hawks brought his hands to his face and started counting. If Izuku was eight, then.. subtract the two..

"A year and two months!" Izuku said, bouncing on his feet as he looked at Hawks with enthusiasm. Hawks brought his hands down, his eyes wide.

Hawks felt his jaw drop. "WHAT? Your birthday is so soon? I guess that makes sense because you did talk about it when we first met, but that's so soon! Are ya excited?" Hawks looked at Izuku, and froze when he saw how panicked he was. His pupils were constricted, with a faint green circling around the black. Hawks stopped, realizing just what he did.

"Oh shoot- I'm sorry Izuku, I didn't mean to yell, I was just surprised, is all! Promise," Hawks said, raising his pinky. Izuku didn't connect it this time.

Despite that though, the motion helped Izuku calm down, his pupils going back to a "normal" size. Their eyes were constantly changing shape and size, so "Normal" pupils weren't so normal for the two birds. It's also why teaching human anatomy in schools changed constantly, since not everyone was the same anymore.

"Oh.. Alright! But also.." Izuku threw his arms around Hawks. "Thank you! Thank you so much Hawks! I'm so excited!"

Hawks returned the hug, nuzzling into Izuku's hair. "It's no problem, Izuku. Plus, no hero is a one-trick pony, so it would be good for you to get good at swords and the likes, so you're not completely defenseless if something happens on the field, since you want to be a hero. You still want to be a hero, right Izuku?" Izuku looked at him, nodding vigorously. "Then who am I to keep vital ways to defend yourself from you? I just want you a bit older and bigger before we start, so we don't face major injuries. Fair?" Hawks said.

"Fair!" Izuku said, slowing down on the nodding, his eyes glinted with determination. Hawks let go of Izuku, watching as he grabbed his notebook, running off into his room.

It was a Thursday, and effectively because of that, two days before Izuku's birthday. Hawks woke up to Izuku practically beaming with excitement. Hawks took a deep breath, a flicker of a smile on his face.

"Woah- mornin' Izuku. Are you excited for your birthday?" Izuku's response to the question was nodding and flying in circles around the ceiling fan of the apartment. Hawks was glad the fan wasn't on, then realized Izuku must've switched it off, so he could do that in the first place.

Hawks watched Izuku do that for a few moments longer, before he finally landed, right in front of Hawks. His talons made a clicking noise as he landed.

"I'm super excited!" Izuku made a really loud gasp, his eyes practically shining. "CAN I PLEASE BRING TSU-CHAN OVER FOR A SLEEPOVER?" Izuku then froze, his eyes widening in fear as he covered his mouth, breathing heavily. "I-I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to yell at you.. I-I don't.." Hawks pat Izuku's head, ruffling it.

"Ah, don't worry about it, I'd be excited, too. And I personally wouldn't mind, though you'd have to get permission from Tsuyu's parents," Hawks said, making sure Izuku knew he was not mad at him whatsoever.

Izuku slouched down, looking at the ground. "I've never met her parents.. I don't know.. Oh! Never mind, I know! I'll ask Tsu if she can ask her parents, and then she can tell me if it's okay, is that okay?" Izuku asked, looking up at him, as Hawks contemplated this.

"Maybe just give her an invitation for it, so her parents have the address to our apartment?" Izuku thought about it, then gave a thumbs up, and ran off to get ready for school. Hawks just chuckled slightly, his Baby-Bird grew so fond of school in the last few months it was unbelievable, almost. Almost.

Izuku made the invitation, and added green glitter, which he accidentally made a mess of. Hawks thankfully wasn't mad, and even taught Izuku how to clean up glitter properly! Izuku still didn't know how he couldn't be mad at him. How could he not be mad? Hate him for making a mess?

He shook his head, standing up to get rid of the bad thoughts. It was time for Izuku to head off to school, anyways. Grabbing the letter, he inserted it into the envelope, putting it into his backpack, afterwards slipping into his shoes. It was kind of a struggle, they were too small for his feet.

When Izuku landed at school, he immediately searched for Tsu, and when he spotted her, he immediately ran over and toppled over Tsu, which led with him on top of her as she grunted from the impact.

"Tsu-Chan!" Tsuyu croaked in return, which made Izuku scramble to get off of her. "Oops- sorry Tsuyu! Here you go!" Izuku handed the invitation to Tsu-Chan, bowing afterwards in apology. He rose not long after, when Tsu started talking.

"What's this, Izuku-Chan?" Tsuyu asked, getting a start on opening it. Izuku played with his hands as he rambled nervously. "Well, my birthday is in two days, and I- Oh, just read it, Tsu!"

"Well, alright. Kero." Tsu said as she opened it up, reading the letter. She gave one of her froggy smiles as she read on, which would have made Izuku nervous, but he's gotten better with smiles, and Tsu's smile was really cute! Nothing like Inko's! And Tsu was also really sweet, though a bit straightforwardly blunt. It was a nice change compared to what he was used to.

"I'd love to go to your sleepover, Izuku! I'll ask my parents if I can go, alright? Kero," Tsuyu said. Izuku nodded his head. "OKAY! Let's go to class now!" Tsu ribbited in agreement, and hopped along with Izuku.

The next day at school, Tsuyu came up to Izuku with a smile on her face. "My parents said I could go, but only if they could meet your parents, first. Kero." Izuku felt his heart sink into his stomach. His... Parents? "Oh... I only have my.." Hawks was his dad, right? "I only have my dad.. Is that okay? And he's uh... Fostering? Me." Tsuyu just nodded. "That should be fine, do you think your dad can stay at school to meet my parents? Kero." Izuku nodded. "Mhm!"

"Izu-Chan, I'd like you to meet my parents!" Tsu said, waving to her parents. Her mom looked a lot like her, with dark green hair, though her face was wider than Tsu's, Izuku could see the obvious resemblance between the two. Her dad though, looked like a toad. He was large, and brown and bumpy, though he wore a kind smile...

"Oh, you must be Tsuyu's friend she keeps talking about! She didn't talk about her friends a whole lot before you, so it's great to see she has such a kind friend!" Tsuyu's mom said. Tsuyu's dad just nodded.

"W-Well, I'm I-Izuku! N-Nice to m-meet you!" Izuku said, bowing. "Oh, there's no need to bow. Do you know when your parents will get here?" Tsu's dad asked.

"A-Ah, well, you s-see, Ma'am, S-Sir, uh-.. Tsu...?" Izuku couldn't help but panic, these were new adults and Izuku couldn't quite handle it. Tsuyu just nodded and spoke for him.

"Izuku's living with his dad, who's fostering him. Kero." The parents just nodded in understanding. "Well, that's alright! We can wait." Tsu's mom said, smiling. Smiling. Izuku could handle smiling from people he was comfortable with, not people he didn't know. He clutched his feather nervously. He saw Tsuyu's eyes flicker to it, and gave him a small nudge of reassurance. She could always recognize when he was nervous, and he was glad about that. She was a very understanding friend.

About 5 minutes later, he could feel his feather move around a bit, and he turned around and started searching for Hawks. "Oh, is your dad coming?" Tsu's dad asked. Izuku just nodded.

A few moments later, he watched as Hawks landed. He started running and threw his arms out for Hawks. "HAWKS!" Izuku shouted, throwing himself to Hawks, who caught him and spun him around. "Hiya, Baby-Bird! How was school?" "It was amazing! Oh yeah-" Izuku wriggled out of the bear hug he was trapped in, and pointed to Tsu's parents, and Tsuyu, who all stood with their jaws dropped.

"Those are Tsuyu's parents! They wanted to meet you so Tsu could come over for a sleepover!" Hawks nodded in understanding, and walked over to the parents, Izuku holding his hand. He bowed, and introduced himself. "It's nice to meet you, I'm Hawks" He rose from the bow, and smiled, "And you two are?" The two parents seemed to shake off the feelings of shock, and introduced themselves. "I'm Asui Beru, nice to meet you, Hawks-San." Tsu's mother said.

"And I'm Asui Ganma, Tsuyu's father," He introduced.

"Now that you've met Izuku's dad, may I go to Izuku's house for a sleepover? Kero." Tsuyu asked, though she was staring at Izuku with a look like she was saying "Why didn't you tell me your dad was HAWKS?!" Izuku just shrugged in response.

"Well, of course.. Though I trust you will keep our daughter safe?" Beru-San asked.

"Of course, you can count on me!" Hawks answered with a thumbs up.

The two parents nodded in agreement. "Well, I don't see why not. As long as he takes care of her. Is there a pick-up time?" 

 "Ehh, whenever you feel like you want to come." Hawks answered.

"Well, alright then!" The two parents started walking away with Tsuyu. Izuku started waving to Tsu-Chan. "BYE-BYE TSU-CHAN!" Tsuyu turned around, waving in exchange. "BYE IZUKU-CHAN! KERO."

The two birds flew off as well, to prepare for the sleepover/birthday.

Izuku was practically buzzing with excitement, Tsu was coming over! The two birds got everything ready, and Izuku was really nervous, as well. He was grateful Hawks could give such amazing reassurance. "What if she doesn't like it? Is she gonna be mean?" "Izuku.. Tsu, from what you've told me, and I've seen, is a very sweet girl, I'm sure she'll love the sleepover." Izuku nodded, hugging Hawks tighter.

The doorbell rang, and Izuku practically bounced as he opened the door. "TSU-CHAN!" He said, throwing his arms over Tsu, giving her a hug.

"Hiya, Izuku-Chan! Kero!"

"We can do SOOO many things!" Izuku said, leading her into the living room.

"I'm excited! Oh! By the way, here you go!" Tsu said, offering Izuku a present. "Happy birthday, Izu-Chan!" 

Izuku's face was glowing when he took the present. He had no words, and just gave Tsu-Chan a hug. "Arigato, Tsuyu!" Izuku went and put it on the counter, "I'll open it in a minute, but first, I'ma give you a tour!" Tsuyu nodded, looking around with fascination.

After the tour, Hawks showed up from out of his room, "Hiya, kiddos! We'll eat dinner in an hour."

"Can we have.. Um.. Katsudon for dinner...?" Izuku asked, stammering. He still wasn't used to asking things, though therapy has helped him a lot, he still has his insecurities. He hasn't shown anyone in school his wings yet, for instance.. Even though it has been months... He did show Tsuyu, though! And she said they were really pretty!

"Course we can, it's your birthday, kiddo." Hawks said, walking to the kitchen to get started on dinner.

Meanwhile, Tsuyu and Izuku were playing with action figures. Izuku wasn't playing with his Hawks action figure, he treasured it too much, so no playing with it. Just in case. He was playing with a Best Jeanist action figure, while Tsuyu was playing with an All Might one. 

Hawks called them for dinner, and afterwards, it was time for gifts.

Hawks got Izuku some new notebooks, and a few hero action figures! And mechanical pencils with replaceable lead. 

Tsuyu's gift was on the counter, so Izuku walked over to open it. It was a hairclip! "I made it myself! Kero!" The hairclip had green beads, that made a gradient from light to dark, and in the middle of the gradient, were two wings, separated by a frog, so it looked like the frog had wings. Izuku immediately started tearing up.

"T-Thank you so much, Tsu-Chan! I love it so much!" He gave Tsuyu a hug, before putting the hairclip in his hair, effectively keeping his hair away from his face. "I promise to make you a hairclip, as well!" He declared, sticking up a pinky. Tsu smiled, and returned the gesture. Hawks took a (Multiple) picture(s) of the sight, storing it in a scrapbook for later years.

"Ah, Izuku.. You have one more present." Hawks gave Izuku an envelope. Izuku had a quizzical expression, and sat down. "What?" He looked at Tsuyu, who shrugged. He started opening it, and when he pulled the paper out, his eyes became so wide Hawks thought that they would fall out. Izuku's eyes proceeded to tear up as he stared at Hawks.

"Is this... Real?" Hawks nodded, spreading his arms out for a hug. Izuku immediately placed it down, carefully, and ran to Hawks, giving him a hug, and his wings appeared, wrapping him up into Hawk's embrace further.

Tsuyu, being curious, took a peek at what the paper was, and smiled widely at it.

It had read: 

Certificate Of Adoption

This Is To Certify That:

Midoriya Izuku

Has Been Adopted By:

Takami Keigo

On The Date: 

22xx, 7, 13

Izuku looked up at Hawks, "Hawks...?"

"Yeah, Baby-Bird?" Hawks asked, petting Izuku's head.

"Does that mean I can call you papa? Or dad..?" Izuku asked, rather quietly.

Hawks froze, quickly recollecting himself, "Yeah, Eyas. You can call me papa or dad, whichever you prefer."

Izuku looked up at him, his eyes absolutely twinkling with happiness and then... 

Smiled. Izuku gave Hawks a smile so bright he had to fight to not squint. He was right when he thought he'd need sunglasses when the day came for Izuku to smile. Though he underestimated just how bright and lovely Izuku's smile truly was. Hawks smiled back, so, so relieved the HPSC wouldn't be able to get to Izuku anymore. Well, as long as he was around, at least. Hawks was so glad, Izuku's first smile since he's been with Hawks, and it was for this.

Soon, though, Izuku broke free from the hug and bounced over to Tsu, still smiling. "Tsu-Chan! Do you want to build a nest with me?" Tsu looked confused, "A nest?"

Izuku nodded his head. "Yeah! C'mon, I'll teach you how it goes."

The two spent the rest of the sleepover playing board games, (Izuku was surprisingly extremely flexible, and tied with Tsu in twister, who was equally flexible.) The two played Heroes vs Villains, (Hawks was the villain), Uno, (Never again.) and finally settled down with a slice of cake, and snuggled down together to watch a movie.

Hawks woke up at around 2 to use the bathroom, to find the two kids stacked atop eachother, limbs every which way. He'd be lying if he said he didn't take at least 20 photos.

He leaned down when he was done with he photoshoot, and gave Izuku a kiss on the forehead. "Goodnight, my tiny Eyas."