Chapter Text
The flight over the of the abandoned warehouse building that the League were calling their base these days took maybe ten minutes when it normally would have taken him five. He didn’t want to seem too eager, despite being asked for directly by Shigaraki. Plus, the fact that he would keep Dabi waiting tickled the pettier side of his personality.
He never got to show that side very often; after all, pettiness wasn’t a very hero-like quality, according to the Commission. And yet, it always seemed to be dragged out of him by his least favourite pierced pyromaniac.
Speaking of…
Hawks approached the arguably crumbling roof of the warehouse, spotting Dabi leaning against the roof’s entrance. He looked royally peeved, which in itself was nothing new, but this evening he looked especially pissed off. That already spelled out how the rest of this night was going to go for Hawks.
Cerulean eyes flicked up lazily as Hawks’ wingbeats cut through the quiet night air, a scowl furrowing his brows slightly. He took a drag from the cigarette dangling from his lips, making the embers glowing red hot.
“The fuck kept you, birdie? Shigaraki’s been bitching me out for the past 30 minutes asking where the fuck you are.” Dabi snapped, taking the cigarette from his mouth to point at Hawks.
Hawks felt a muscle in his jaw tic in irritation at the attitude and barely held back from snapping back at Dabi that he had only contacted him roughly 15 minutes ago and to stop being such a fucking drama queen. He was too tired for this shit and Dabi’s bitchiness tonight. However, he didn’t feel like being turned into an overcooked Hawks nugget that night.
So instead of saying what he wanted to say, he chose a different approach.
“Well, if it isn’t the light of my life?” He said in sing-song voice, walking over to Dabi in a casual stride that didn’t betray how bone-tired he actually was. He gave a nod in the direction of the cigarette as he approached. “Are you actively trying to turn yourself into jerky now, or is that just a delightful side effect?”
“Can it, feathers, I’m not in the mood for your bullshit tonight.” Dabi growled out, taking another prolonged drag from the cigarette like he was trying to suck the nicotine from it until it looked like an empty juice-box.
A playful pout crosses Hawks’ handsome face despite the bad attitude. He would be a liar if he said that the tit for tat with Dabi wasn’t at least entertaining. Well, some of the time. He batted his eyes, clutching his chest as if the retort actually pained him. “You wound me, Hot Stuff. And here’s me thinking you missed my sparkling wit and charm.”
Dabi rolled his eyes skyward, taking a last drag from the cigarette before flicking it to the floor and crushing it under the heel. He was used to the avian’s chronic flirtation and seemed non-plussed by it, choosing instead to resolutely ignore it.
That fact didn’t annoy Hawks.
Not. One. Bit.
The flame quirk user exhaled the smoke from his nose, absentmindedly reminding Hawks of some kind of grouchy patchwork dragon. “Let’s go birdie. I don’t think I can hear Shigaraki monologing about this ‘opportunity’ and how ‘we can’t miss this’ for another fucking minute before end up I flambéing his dusty ass.” Dabi droned, turning his back on Hawks and beginning to head down the stairs to the main floor of the base. An eyebrow raised at the action; since when was this paranoid bastard unbothered enough to willingly turn his back to Hawks? Seems like Hawks wasn’t the only one that was just done with that evening. Hawks followed closely behind, curiosity thoroughly peaked.
“What’s that got to do with a doctor though?” He asked, walking behind Dabi as the eternal rooftop door slammed shut behind them. He took in the filthy and decrepit stairway for the umpteenth time, making a face at the rusty stairway handle. If Toga and her questionable implements didn’t give him cause to get a tetanus shot, then the conditions of the buildings that the League kept using as their base just might.
He knew they didn’t have much time for interior decoration, but surely to fuck making sure their base wasn’t a biohazard was high up on their priority list, right? After all, one of their users was bound to be immunocompromised; Dabi was a walking open wound for crying out loud!
Hawks’ thoughts were disturbed by said walking open wound scoffed and shrugged. “Fuck if I know. I tune the fucker out when I can.”
Golden eyes widened ever so slightly as he watched on the mop of black hair in front of him, still keeping in step behind him. “Isn’t he supposed to be your boss?”
Dabi barked out a laugh, not bothering to turn his head to look back at him for the seemingly ridiculous nature of his question. “Yeah, so? Doesn’t mean I have to listen to what he says. I can only listen to so many monologues from that manchild before I lose interest. After all, unless it benefits me and my goals, his plans aren’t any use to me birdie. You know that.”
Hawks rolled his eyes so hard he swore he saw the inside of his skull. No loyalty among thieves indeed.
It seemed like the League of Villians were no exception.
“So, you have no idea where we’re going or what we’re doing?” He asked as Dabi opened the door to the top floor of the warehouse and the door to the rooftop clattered shut behind Hawks. The winged hero manoeuvred around Dabi so that he was walking in step with him the narrow hallways of the top floor towards the staircase that would take them to the rest of the members of the League. He glanced over at the fire user in his peripheral, observing for any sign of misdirection of dishonesty. Well, any more than usual.
There was a moment of silence, just the sound of their footsteps echoing in the night air. “Not a fucking clue.” Dabi finally answered, regarding Hawks with a lazy smirk as they approached the stairway down to the next floor. Red feathers puffed up slightly in irritation, reminding the hero strangling the villain right now would be rather counter-intuitive to his whole mission. He settled for glaring at him as he passed him, heading down the stairs. “You’re a real pain in the ass, you know that Hot Stuff?” He griped, hearing increasingly loud racket caused by the other residents of the League in the distance the further down the rickety staircase they went. Dabi snickered, seeming to take great delight in ruffling his feathers. Whether physically or metaphorically.
Hawks didn’t get to hear his answer because as soon as he opened the door to the main floor as he dog-piled by non-other than Himiko Toga. As she had pounced on him, she had produced her undoubtedly questionable needle from fuck knows where and tried to nick him with it. Hawks grabbed her wrist and twisted her arm up and behind her back before she actually made contact, forcing her to drop the object as he settled for patting her on the back to soothe her. Despite the murder attempt, Hawks wasn’t keen on making the girl cry. He wasn’t a monster.
Not for the first time since meeting Toga and discovering her fascination with turning living creatures into pincushions, Hawk was silently thanking the Commission for putting him through those prolonged reflex drills when he was on the verge of exhaustion. Sure, they sucked at the time but at least it meant now he wasn’t constantly at risk of being skewered by Himiko.
It was almost like a running gag between the two of them; how long could he last without being run through by her.
“Hawksie! I didn’t expect to see you here! I missed you!” The bloodthirsty little maniac squealed, beaming up at Hawks and hugging him with her free arm, not seeming to notice or care that she was being restrained. Hawks gave Toga a charming smile, releasing her arm after he kicked her needle far out of her reach and sending one of his feathers to hide that thing for good measure. Again, no stabbing this evening, thanks though.
“It’s nice to see you too Toga. Everything been okay?” He asks good-naturedly, like the little lunatic hadn’t just tried to give him a reason to contract sepsis. Toga pouted and shook her head, causing her buns to bounce erratically. “Shiggy won’t let me go out and look for people to play with. He said we all need to go see the doctor.”
A blonde eyebrow raised, Hawks glancing over to where Shigaraki was sitting on the ratty couch with his phone in one hand, his other hand clawing at his neck. “That so? Is someone hurt?”
“We’re doing good Hawks! Nobody’s hurt. Yes they are! Dabi tried to light my hand on fire for taking a PopTart!” Twice interrupted from his place on the floor where he had been playing some card game with Toga which she abandoned in favour for attempting to make a Hawks-kebab.
“Yes, because you’re a little fucking thief and you’re lucky that Spinner threw his water on you when he did, idiot.” Dabi drawled, having entered the ‘living room’ the League members had constructed on that particular floor and leaning against the nearest wall with an unimpressed look on his face.
A big nod in agreement Twice, putting his hand of cards down on the floor. “Yeah, really lucky. You’re the best dude! You tried to drown me you scaley bastard!” Twice turned and gave Spinner -who was sitting in one of the two ratty armchairs that seemed to match the threadbare couch that Shigaraki was occupying- a big thumbs up, making the mutant-type Quirk user merely raise a brow and nod before returning to polishing his sword.
Compress watched with amusement from the other armchair, one leg crossed over the other and coffee cup in hand as he observed the chaos of his adopted family members. After all, bickering and such like were a daily occurrence. “Now you over dear Spinner a favour, Twice. After all, he did save your fingers from a sure-fire cremation.” He mused, moving his mask to sip his coffee.
Twice pouted behind his mask, tapping his chin in thought. “Yeah, I guess I do. Like fuck I do! He tried to kill me!” Twice pointed at Spinner accusingly, the lizard not even looking up from his task and making Twice squawk with indignation. “Don’t ignore me you overgrown gecko!”
Hawks rolled his eyes and shook his head fondly, having long ago noted that when Kurogiri was gone -as he was now- that the League had a striking resemblance to a daycare filled with naughty kids that were left to their own devices for far too long. Well, with the exception of Compress.
The thought made him smile softly as he continued rubbing Toga’s back, resolutely ignoring the lingering smell of fresh blood that seemed to cling to her.
Feeling eyes on him, he clocked that Shigaraki’s eyes were boring into him, seeming to finally have noticed the winged Hero’s presence. Hawks almost glad that he was ignored by the leader whenever he was usually in the base. Shigaraki’s undivided attention on him was very unnerving.
Shigaraki broke the eye contact, abruptly getting to his feet. “The bird’s here. Kurogiri! It’s time to move.” He barked, heading towards the main entrance of the room they were in. A portal opened in the entrance way before shadowy man stepped out, ever the picture of poise despite being summoned like a dog. “Of course, Tomura. We can’t keep the doctor waiting.” He replied smoothly, unbothered by Shigaraki’s bratty attitude.
“That’s what I’ve been saying. But we had to wait on the fucking bird to make his grand entrance.” He snapped, glaring over at Hawks. Hawks smiled, unwinding his arms from around Toga and shrugging good-naturedly. He wasn’t in the mood to get dusted tonight, or any other night for that matter. “Duty calls bossman. Won’t happen again.”
Shigaraki scowled at him. “Whatever.” He muttered, before storming into the portal in a huff, the rest of the League members following him like baby ducklings. Toga intertwined her hand with Hawks’ gloved one, swinging their joined hands with a beaming smile. “Do you think the doctor will let me cut them?” She asked with childlike glee.
Hawks began with her into the portal, ignoring the holes Dabi was boring into his head as he stared at the back of his head from his position at the back of the group. “Maybe? If you ask nicely.” It was always a little unsettling just how keen she was to carve up people. She was a villain but even then. Toga squealed, giggling wildly and beginning to chatter away as Hawks tuned the blood thirsty villain out.
Just who was this doctor that they were going to see?
And what could the League of Villains possibly want with them?