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Hawks’ perfect day would be none other than sleeping in, waking up at noon, watching TV without having to worry about some phone calls telling him to go straight to the place where the news were talking about. Would be.
He heard a whine and he looked down to a pair of mismatched eyes staring back at him; large and almost filled with tears, and for a moment, Hawks felt panic rising in him; he didn’t know how to handle a crying kid. He patted the kid on the head and murmured, “Easy, easy.”
Whatever he was planning for the day, he certainly wasn’t planning on having Todoroki Shouto, turning ten years younger, holding his clothes tight while Hawks held him in his arms as he flew.
Yep, definitely not his perfect day.
*
It was a common thing to know that Hawks had never walked inside of the building, and he came into his apartment through the window. It was easier, and more private. So that was how he landed quietly, trying not to make any voice when his feet touched the ground. He looked down to a sleeping Todoroki, cheek pressed on Hawks shoulder, hands still clutching his clothes. Hawks caressed Todoroki’s hair, once, before sliding the veranda door open, and stepping inside.
“I’m home.”
*
“Where were—oh fuck. Who the fuck is that?!”
“Shh. He’s sleeping. I can explain—“
“Is that Shouto?!”
“Shh!”
*
It was illegal, Hawks knew. What he was currently doing now was something he was not even supposed to do as a Pro Hero. Yet. He was told he had to.
Well technically, all they asked him was one thing: infiltrate the League of Villains. They didn’t ask him to sleep with one of them, and let him stay in your place.
Then again, Hawks was nothing but wanting for more trouble, anyway.
*
Wait.
“How did you recognize him?” asked Hawks. Todoroki was bundled up in Hawks’ jacket and his own too-big-for-him-now costume, with a little bit of hair sticking up, still sleeping, blissfully unaware of a villain in Hawks’ living room.
Dabi fell silent. Then, “Are you kidding me? That kid is famous. Of course I recognized him. But the last time I saw him, he wasn’t as small as that.”
“That’s what I was talking about,” replied Hawks. “Todoroki was hit by a villain’s quirk, and he turned into a lil’ kid. How did you even recognize him?”
It was a rare moment that Dabi was speechless; opening and closing his mouth as he looked like he was still trying to find the right words. Hawks had some suspicions before, but he was not sure. Especially after—
Todoroki stirred, and opened his eyes. A whine escaped from his mouth, as he rubbed his eyes. He blinked a few times to Hawks, before turning his head to Dabi. He reached out to him and, “Touya-nii.”
Hawks blinked, and then looked down, peered in at Todoroki’s eyes, and then back at Dabi. “Holy shit,” Hawks murmured. “I owe EndeavorSucks666 some money.”
*
There was a rumor, which turned into a theory, along with some kind of evidence from videos of their fight with a Nomu.
Dabi, and Todoroki Shouto were mentioned several times in the theory.
It was fans theory, a popular one that was. Yet Hawks had never paid much attention to it, only lurked around in internet public forum, mostly Endeavor’s fans forum. He thought, what kind of nonsense was that. Endeavor, had an illegitimate child? Yeah, right.
And then he proceeded to start a fight with EndeavorSucks666 on the forum; they seemed to be the big believer in the theory. It was a pointless fight, but Hawks was bored and had too much free time in his days off. It ended with them raising a bet.
*
Well, now Hawks had to find a way to give them the money, and he had to make sure he wouldn’t be found out he was the Number 2 Hero.
*
It surprised Hawks when Dabi easily picked Todoroki from his arms, pushed the strands of hair from Todoroki’s eyes and watched closely.
“Seems like the scar is still there, huh, Shouto?”
Hawks blinked, his mouth opened, but there was no sound come out. Did. Did Dabi just—
“Wait up,” said Hawks, raising his hand. “Did you just admit you’re his brother?”
Dabi answered, “I never said I’m not.”
“And you trust me with this information?”
“So what? Your favorite Pro Hero is my father. Big deal.”
“It is.”
“Then? What are you going to do anyway? Having sex with me while fantasizing yourself with him, now you know I’m his son?”
“Hey don’t talk like that in front of your brother.”
But Todoroki paid no mind, as he traced his little hands to Dabi’s collarbone and neck, mesmerized with the skin underneath his touch.
Dabi shrugged. “Tell me what happened.”
“Uh first, can we change him into something more comfortable?”
*
Hawks could only find a rainbow sweater with, “I ❤ CHICKEN NUGGET” knitted at the center of it. But it fit Todoroki well. Hawks also found some pants and socks for him.
“That sweater is hideous,” commented Dabi.
“What, your mother never knitted you ugly sweater before?” replied Hawks, and regretted it immediately after. He knew some of the things about Endeavor’s wife. It was a mere rumor, sure, but if the rumor about Dabi was true, then maybe the rumor about Endeavor’s wife could be true as well.
“Don’t.” warned Dabi, as if he had read Hawks’ mind. “This doesn’t change anything.”
“Aw, Dabi,” cooed Hawks, “So this means nothing between us? I thought we’re best-buds.”
Dabi’s reply was his eyes rolling. “Tell me what happened to Shouto.”
They both turned their eyes to Todoroki; who walked around mindlessly, while staring up to everything around him in awe, as he reached out to something up above on the desk—
“Wait,” whispered Hawks. “Could it be his quirk—“
Fire lit the edge of the desk. Hawks cursed under his breath and was about to throw one of his wings, but Dabi was faster—with one big step he reached Shouto, pulled him away from the fire, as his other hand was closed on the fire.
“Well that was close.” Hawks said.
“You think?” Dabi replied, turning back to him, and Hawks could see his arm was covered with ice, and Todoroki looked terrified and almost crying.
“I knew I should’ve brought him to his teacher.”
“Then why didn’t you?”
“Okay, hear me out.”
*
So. Hawks was minding his own business. Not that his business happened around UA. No. No. It didn’t.
But anyway. He had heard some noises, and ugly taunting from some villains. Really, Hawks had no idea why would villains be so loud and had big mouth because it sure as hell distracted the heroes, but also they sounded stupid as hell—
*
“Excuse me, not all villains.”
*
Yeah, yeah.
So. Where was he again? Oh, right. He heard some screams and crashes, and he immediately flew to the place, and found Todoroki Shouto was fighting the villain with his ice and fire—
*
“I wonder where did his teacher go, he’d said he would do anything for his students—“
*
Well nice to know Dabi had been keeping up with Todoroki’s school. What a nice brother, Todoroki should be grateful, Todoroki should be glad.
Hawks was about to help, when the villain got a chance to attack Todoroki. Hawks jumped to the scene, landed in front of Todoroki, making a barrier between them, while his feathers had knocked the villain out.
Needless to say, Hawks was disappointed with the lack of trying from the villain.
When he turned around to see if Todoroki was okay, he found a little kid, crouching down, in Shouto’s costume, too big for the little kid.
*
“That still doesn’t explain why you brought him here.”
“I freaked out, okay.”
Dabi closed his eyes for a moment, and Hawks knew he had to hold himself back from punching Hawks, or worse; patting his head. But to be certain: he just felt like he had to. Seeing little Todoroki looking up at him, wide-eyed, Hawks had realized that his eye looked… too much like someone he had known, had lived with him for the past few months.
“Bring him back to school.” Dabi said, his hand wandered to Todoroki’s hair. Todoroki was sitting on Dabi’s lap, fingers clutching the front of Dabi’s shirt. “And see if his teacher can fix this.”
“Don’t you want to spend more time with him?”
“He…” Dabi stopped. “He didn’t remember me.”
Hawks didn’t say anything else, except remembering Dabi’s Don’t. There were some certain boundaries they had set up, a line that neither of them wanted to cross. And this was one of them. They were not there to listen to each other’s traumatic past and consolation and other stuffs they didn’t even dare to imagine.
Yet. There was Hawks; bringing Todoroki home, hoping to get… what? To prove something right? To finally know the truth?
And what had he got, anyway?
Hawks couldn’t help but feeling a little sorry but Dabi. Which was unnecessary.
Hawks nodded. “Okay.”
*
“The effect will last only a day,” was what Eraserhead had told Hawks, when they and Recovery Girl checked on Todoroki.
That, and, “Want to take him to his room?” was something Eraserhead had asked Hawks.
So. There he was. In Todoroki Shouto’s room. The guy was surprisingly odd for his age. Tatami and futon? Really?
Well. Not like Hawks could complain anyway. He stared at the sleeping Todoroki, curled up in his big futon. (Big, for now. For a few hours later, it wouldn’t be as big.)
Hawks pulled out his wallet.
“Here you go, EndeavorSucks666.” He whispered, as he put the money in Todoroki’s fist. “You won.”
*
When Todoroki opened his eyes, it was already bright outside. He was bare under the blanket. His hand balled into a fist. He blinked, trying to erase some sleep from his eyes and brain. He… couldn’t remember how did he even get to his room.
He opened his hand and found some money. His eyes widened.
Then, he laughed.