ICARUS - Hawks x Reader

THIRTY THREE: Nowadays

"Mmhmm, can't argue with that." I hummed, trying not to stare at the unsightly scar that tore straight down over his left eye. When I had first seen it after the Kyoto incident I had cried for him. Now, it just made me feel sick to my stomach. "How's Shoto and the others? Still passive aggressively slurping their soba?"

Pouting, the number one leant back, crossing one leg over the other.
"On the occasion. Shoto has simmered down, but Natsuo is still a work in progress. I'm choosing to just give it some time and effort." It was kind of strange how that one event had affected us in such different ways. He had seemed to mellow out, whereas I had hardened up.

"Well, keep at it. I'm glad to see you're working so hard for them." I nodded in approval, leaning on the edge of his desk and poking at the Newton's Cradle that sat there, setting it off in a constant, annoying clicking.
"Was there a reason you decided to pay me a visit today, (Y/N)? You've been stopping by rather frequently lately, and I get the feeling you want to ask something of me."

Ah, shit. Caught red handed.

"Before we get to that..." I held up my finger to signal him to wait before pulling my satchel around to my front, opening it up and digging around before pulling out a big paper bag. "I got us the usual." It had become a ritual over the past month and a half to stop by, not only at Endeavor's, but Best Jeanist's, as well as UA High, to see Tokoyami and his classmates. I'd always bring food along with me, and I wasn't sure why. I felt that maybe it could fill a fraction of the void that Hawks had created by being out if the picture so often.

"This is one habit I don't particularly mind." Endeavor's lip twitched upward a little as I handed him the bag, and I finally sat down in the seat across from him. As he handed me my share of the onigiri, I finally began to speak.
"Enji, did Hawks ever mention anything strange to you before Kyoto..?" The red-headed hero paused mid-bite, hurrying to chew and swallow before wiping at his mouth.
"He was always strange. You'll have to elaborate."

Sitting forward, I took a bite of my own.
"Like, anything suspicious? Or maybe something about feeling under the weather? I really don't know, myself...I just can't shake the feeling that something's not right..." The embodiment of hellfire pondered over my question for a while as he ate, occasionally glaring at the clinking balls that sat between us.
"Nothing comes to mind. Why don't you just ask him yourself?"

Don't you think I've tried that?

"That's the thing...I have before, but he just lies to my face. At least I think he does." I murmured, trying not to let myself sound too dismal about the situation. "Plus, you know how it is, being so high up in the ranking charts. It's near impossible to find the time to really talk about this kind of shit when he's out of town so often."

Brushing rice crumbs from his lap, Endeavor tented his fingers under his chin, reminding me of a B-grade move villain.
"My advice..." He started, catching my eyes with his striking shade of blue. "is to kick his puny ass until he starts talking."

Naturally.

My response was a genuine chuckle as I stood up, scooting the chair closer to the outer side of the desk.
"That's easy for you to say. You've got the muscle to back yourself up." I laughed, readjusting my (F/C) satchel whilst he stood up to see me out.
"We both know he's a difficult little twerp, so I'd be willing to kick it out of him at your request."

"Enji, my dude, you sound like a bully for hire." I snorted, giving his bulging bicep a light punch. "I'll keep that in mind. Now, sorry to love ya and leave ya, but I have to go see a special someone."
"I am nothing like a bully..." He mumbled, watching me climb up onto the windowsill, activating my wings yet again.
"You kind of are, but nowadays you're more like that bully gone straight, turning on all the other bullies for stealing the dweeby kid's lunch money." I shrugged, smirking.

Endeavor walked back over to his desk, reaching out to grab hold of the shiny metal ball that was on the backswing, turning to glare at me with feigned annoyance.
"Buzz off before I kick you out myself."

Softy.

"Aight, aight...Later, Mr. Numero Uno!" I grinned a little too widely as I pushed off from the sill, beginning my trip to my next destination. It didn't take me long to reach it, and I landed with ease by the outer wall of one of the buildings. I still imagined the feeling of Hawks' guidance whenever I came in to land, but nowadays it just felt a little too bittersweet.

"(Y/N)!" I slapped on that smile again as I heard my name, turning around and opening my arms up to welcome the tight embrace that came my way.
"Hey, kiddo! How was school?" I planted a big, sloppy kiss to my little brother's forehead, making him scrunch up his nose.

"Not too bad, I guess. We had to start on Pythagoras theorum today and my brain kind of feels like soup." He said, wiping off my affection with his uniform sleeve. Blinking down at him, I shrugged.
"I don't even know what that is, but I'm getting sympathy soup brain from hearing the name alone."

I had started dropping by to see Suzu twice a week almost immediately after I was released from the hospital, having had a letter arrive to the agency addressed to me. It turned out that he had been really excited about learning of my existence, and he had gone behind our parent's backs to contact me. We only had about five to ten minutes together before his bus would arrive, but it was well worth it.

"How was work? Did you catch any baddies?" Suzu looked so eager to hear about my day, and for a moment I forgot about my troubles, until he continued. "How's Hawks? Is he back yet?"

Almost.

"It was pretty slow, really. Some weird vegetable villain tried to impale me with a parsnip." I laughed forcefully, patting his head. "Uh, he's due back today, if nothing comes up. I'll bring him along next time if he's not too busy..."

Suzu was about to say something else, but the familiar rumble of an engine from around the corner signaled our time being up, and he frowned.
"I wish we had more time to talk..." He whined, jumping into my arms for a lengthy parting hug. "It's not fair that I can't hang out with my own sister..."

"I know, Zu...but we'll figure something out, okay? Plus, when you're a little bigger, you can come and work with us! We have all the time in the world if you think about it like that, right?" I pulled back and cupped his chubby cheeks in my hands, feeling a touch happier knowing I had him in my life.
"Okay, but still..." Suzu tore himself away, fixing his the before waving and turning to race to the bus. "Love you, sis! I'll see you next time!"

"You bet, Zu! Love you too!" I called back, my arm slowly sinking down from my high wave as I watched him disappear, letting my smile drop back to its natural flat line. Just as I was about to head off over to my next planned stop, my phone buzzed in my pocket, and I tensed, pulling it out and swiping to read.

From: Hawks.

- I'm home Sunshine
- Are you still at the office? I can meet you there if you want?
- I really missed you ❤

Swallowing, I felt conflicted. I had missed him more than I could ever have begun to describe, but at the same time I wasn't exactly excited to see him. It only meant the confusion would be pushed to the front of my mental lineup, and that I'd risk getting too comfortable again, only to have him soar off without me all too soon. Huffing out a breath, I typed out my reply, shoving my phone back into the depths of my pocket and launching back into the cloudy sky.

To: Hawks.

- No, I'm not there anymore.
- I'm on my way home.

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***Lunch dates with Pyro Papi 😍🧡***