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Hawks sat on the rooftop, one leg swung over the side of the building while he looked over the city. He saw glimpses of people rushing past others, on their way to wherever they needed to be. The noise that rose from the street was that of drivers honking and yelling at one another for taking too long, despite the stoplights being the ones that stopped them in their tracks.
People watching was a pastime of his when crime was low and no villain dared challenge him in his sector. It was a game for him. He would make mental lists to look for specific things in the crowd and the satisfaction he felt when he spotted what he was looking for was indescribable. After all, the small joys in life keep people going.
He yawned and looked at the sky. The game does eventually get boring, especially when they put him on these long shifts.
The sky was starting to turn a collection of oranges and reds as the sun started to sink below the horizon. The minimal amount of clouds in the sky seemed to move at a snail’s pace; far too slow for him. He had to admit though that he enjoyed the peace the scene above him brought. The open sky was always his place to go whenever he wanted to; it’s not like too many people could find him up there. It was his place to be free.
His peace was broken by the sound of an all too familiar voice, and a hard slap on the back. “Hey dumb dumb, aren’t you supposed to be patrolling?”
“Rumi! I’m so glad you’re here! It was sooo boring up here.” The sarcasm that was dripping in his voice deceived the way too big smile he gave her.
She laughed, slapped him hard on the back a second time, before sitting down, swinging her legs over the edge.
“Just to let you know, if you fall I will not catch you.”
“Ouch, I’m wounded. It’s not like I can save myself or anything.” She looked out over the crowd nonchalantly before casting a glance in his direction. “Soooo birdy, whatcha doin?”
He gave her a look before returning his attention to the streets below. “Can a man not find peace these days?”
“Not your ugly ass.”
He smirked at that. “It’s not like you’re a prize either, Rumi.”
She gave him a pointed look. “Hawks I get more ladies than you do. Don’t even step to me on that.”
“Never said I was. I’m just saying though, I don’t actively look. You however try to scope out every single lady possible to make a pass at them or get them to question their sexuality.”
Rumi smirked at him. “Listen there’s few things in this world I like: carrots, kicking ass, and pretty women. Sometimes there’s a pretty man that catches my eye but that’s kind of rare.”
“Ahh yes, the three necessities of life.”
She punched him in the shoulder causing him to yelp and clutch his arm. “What’s up with you? You’re usually like 10x more talkative. Or at least have a decent comeback.”
“Well, maybe I’d like talking to you if you didn’t hit me every three damn seconds.” He was still rubbing his shoulder. “Had I not perfected balance, you probably could’ve punched me off this roof.”
“You have wings Bird boy, you’d be fine.” She looked at him once more. “Now are you gonna tell me what’s up?”
He looked at her, both eyebrows raised. “Rumi, we have never asked each other what’s wrong. Plus you’d just laugh.”
“I already do laugh at you, that ain’t gonna change.” She watched his expression go unchanged as he just looked at her. “But fine. If it makes you feel better I won’t laugh. Just tell me.”
He looked away from her and breathed a deep sigh. “I think I got a crush on Endeavor’s kid.”
Rumi felt her eyes grow wide as shock set in. “The 15-year-old?!”
He looked back at her. “Obviously not the 15-year-old! I’m talking about his daughter. The one that’s the same age as me. Rumi you asked if I was stupid but damn I think you just proved you’re stupid.”
“Well, what the hell am I supposed to think when you say “Endeavor’s kid”? He has like 3 of them. You could have said his daughter dipshit.”
He put a finger up, about to say something, but dropped it immediately when he realized she was right. He breathed another loud sigh before casting his gaze back up to the sky, then back to Rumi who was still looking at him with a smug expression on her face. There was a moment of silence before her voice broke it again.
“So what made you crush on the ol’ Number 1’s daughter? I thought you were still hanging around that one dude.”
“Nah he dumped my ass for a more “stable” guy or whatever. He didn’t like how much I had to work I guess.”
“Or you didn’t like him that much.” He cast her a pointed look prompting her to explain. “Listen, man, I didn’t want to say anything but, it’s like a cycle with you. You find someone that you maybe like, go wayyy too fast when dating them. Then when you realize you don’t like them that much, you start working more and more, putting distance between you guys so that they get fed up and break it off. Then you’re not seen as the bad guy.”
Hawks wanted to say something that denied that claim but he found himself agreeing with her again. “I...guess you make a valid point.”
“Yeah, I know.” She gave him another glance; he looked like he was sulking. “Dude, how much do you actually like this girl? And if you give me some generic ass reason I will kick you off this building.”
He gave her a pointed stare, before running a hand through his hair. “I kept running into her everywhere. The first time it was at Endy’s office, she was dropping something off and I was like ‘dang she’s pretty cute.’ But didn't do anything much after that. Then I saw her again like a week later on her way home and dropped by to say hello.” He took a deep breath. “And she chatted with me like a normal ass person! She even teased me back! No hero shit at all.”
“So you fell for someone because they treated you like a person? Dang dude your standards have lessened these days.”
“Rumi, you don’t understand. I like separating hero life from personal life. It’s the one thing I got these days without the Commission breathing down my neck.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I- just... nobody wants Hawks as a person, they want him as a hero and I get that. I’m a Top 10 or whatever but I want to be just me sometimes an-and Fuyumi let me have that even though it was just a moment. I... don’t know much about her but it’s the first time I’ve felt compelled to learn more about somebody beyond a superficial level.”
Rumi raised an eyebrow when she cast a glance at him. “I am impressed, you sound like you’re genuinely interested in this chick. I’ve never heard you talk about someone like that before.”
“That’s because I’ve never had a reason till now. It’s just confusing though! Even more so than when I asked Jeanist to explain sexuality to me.”
Rumi cringed at that. “Are you sure that was confusing? If anything, it looked like it was just awkward for the both of you. I’m like 90% sure I have never seen you look that uncomfortable since.”
“Dudes hella intimidating for no damn reason. I swear to you it’s the stupid collar; like what are you hiding man? Are you like secretly ugly and just don’t want anyone to know, hella long neck?” Hawks shook his head and ran another hand through his hair. “But on the plus side, he was able to tell me that it is okay and possible to be attracted to both genders. And that choosing to date the opposite gender doesn’t invalidate your sexuality. ”
“I mean yeah. Anyone who tries to say otherwise is just hella stupid.” She cast a glance back in his direction, before turning her eyes back onto the street below her. “Oh, and off-topic though, but is he still dating that one chick you told me you caught him with?”
“Yeah, or at least I’m pretty sure. I had to drop something off at his agency a few days ago and when I walked in, she was there working on designs or some shit with him. Poor lady activated her quirk, jumping away from him if that helps paint the picture.” He paused. “Hell, I think she was even wearing his merch too.” Hawks shook his head before turning his gaze back to Rumi. “But anyways why do you ask?”
“Oh because that would mean Jeanist even gets more ladies than you.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Really? Are you kidding me? I thought we were having a cool friend moment and then you go and ruin it with that?”
She punched him on the shoulder, lightly this time. “I’m just teasing stupid, lighten up.” She turned away from him to glance at the city before turning back to him. “But dude if you like this chick, and it genuinely sounds like you do, just get to know her first. Don’t rush into dating immediately like you usually would.” She waved a hand at him. “Plus then it would give you time to know if you actually like her so Endeavor wouldn’t immediately turn your ass into extra crispy chicken for hurting his daughter.”
He groaned. “Why did you have to bring up Endy now? I’m gonna have to sneak around him just to hang out with her.”
She shrugged, putting her gaze back to him. “Not like it’s my fault you chose to make heart eyes at his daughter.”
“I know but still. I don’t want to think about that. I like being alive for the most part.”
“You chose the dumbest way to do that then. Endeavor already doesn’t like you too much and now you go and form a crush on his daughter.”
Another groan came from him as buried his head into his hands.
Silence settled between them again. Rumi noticed the sky had darkened more during their conversation, the bright oranges were dulling while dark blues and purples started showing up. The stars were already peaking but as the sky got darker they got brighter. She could never understand why Hawks liked it so much. It was empty and cold. But then again she could just chalk it up to not having wings and preferring to walk and run places.
The silence was disrupted by Hawks this time. “Do you think she’d wear my merch?”
“Excuse me?”
He looked at her. “Do you think she’d wear my merch?”
Rumi gave him a look before slapping him repeatedly on the arm. They weren’t hard hits but they were enough to get him to flinch away from her. “How dumb can you be bird boy? Did you just ignore what I said earlier about actually getting to know her first?”
“Hey! I’m just asking for future reference if things go well! Damn! Why are you so mean and violent?”
“Stay in the present first stupid. Get to know her and after a while then you can start asking shit like that.” She gave him one final smack. “And I’m not mean, this is just the only way you’ll listen to advice that YOU asked for.”
He gave her a look. “I didn’t ask you shit! You just gave me your advice.”
“Well, who else were you gonna talk to about your crush? Endeavor?” She shook her head and stood up. “Hawks, you’re a decent person. Annoying and ugly sure, but-.”
He looked up at her. “Gee thanks Rumi.”
She smacked him lightly on the head. “Let me finish.” Another pause before she continued. “You sound like you like her a lot and I don’t want to see you blow this. Just try to befriend her first and see what she’s like. Don’t be more stupid than you already are.”
And with that, she gave him another light smack on the head and gave herself a running head start to leap to the next roof. He watched her jump from roof to roof until she eventually disappeared into the evening before turning back to look at the sky above him. What she said made sense and it would avoid him being fried chicken for a while.
He shook his head. If Rumi’s making sense then he’s lost it when it comes to thinking about Fuyumi. This was one of the first times he didn’t feel like getting to know someone was a chore. From their brief interactions, he found himself wanting to learn more and more about her. He paid attention to the way she laughed, how her eyes lit up when he asked about her students, and how she would tease him for not liking to walk. Her laugh could be the sound of angels arriving and not to mention she’s one of the prettiest people he’s ever laid eyes on. Never had he ever thought about one of his other romantic interests like this.
He started forming a semi plan in his mind. When their paths hopefully crossed again, he would ask for her number and ask if she wanted to get a coffee or something to just hang out. It would be simple and so unlike himself but it would be worth it to spend more time with her. He was 90% sure a part of him was already in love with her but he wasn’t going to throw what Rumi said about his history to the wind; It wasn’t inaccurate.
He cast his eyes down to the city below, looking to resume his game from earlier.
He, for the first time in his life, was considering slowing down. A chuckle escaped him at the thought.