Chapter Text
Quiet footsteps rang out from the man’s shoes. His feet carried him about without a thought. The cool breeze of the night brushed his hair into his face, making him huff in frustration. He was soon atop the roof of a random building, looking out at the city below him. Lights sparkled all around him. The sun hadn’t risen yet, so the city was alive purely from lights. The buildings reached high towards the clouds and dared to reach them. It was an ever-growing city, always building new things, always improving the old. The city was always alive, everyone rushing to get to their destination. Some didn’t notice anything around them but themselves. He looked down towards the street where cars raced by with such speed that he wondered how a city could have such a high-speed limit. From above, everything and everyone was small. Cars looked like toys, people looked like flies. How he would give to stay up here forever. He sat down on the ledge of the building, dangling his legs. He was dangerously close to falling off, but it didn’t bother him one bit. If he came crashing down to the street, the world would still continue. People would mourn and then move on with their daily lives. Villains would still run and take over the streets. Who would care?
He threw himself off the roof, taking a nosedive towards the ground. People didn’t lie when they said free-falling almost moved in slow motion. Everything in your life did flash before your eyes. He got closer and closer to the ground, the twinkling lights of the city zooming past him. The small toy cars became lifesize and the people too. Some citizens looked up but none looked worried. Then he let out a lighthearted laugh. Long crimson feathered wings caught him and he hung there in the air. Adrenaline coursed through his veins as he looked at how close he was to the ground. How close he was to becoming a splat on the sidewalk. He let out another laugh and smiled widely, waving at the people around before he shot back up into the sky,
Life was rushing by for him. Being a full-time hero took up most of his time. He worked, ate, and slept. That was his life. There wasn’t time for relationships. He didn’t even speak to his family anymore if they were even still alive. He landed back on the roof, knowing he didn’t have any more time to waste. Ruffling and flaring out his long crimson feathers, he stretched. What he would give to just fly around every day without getting tired of course. Tucking his wings close to him, he walked down to the ground through the building. He knew he who he would be greeted by and he knew the man wouldn’t be pleased with his late arrival.
His eyes widened still when he saw his higher up. The number one was waiting for him with not a pleasant air to him. It was strange to be working with the man that he had idolized growing up. His idol was nothing like he thought he was, always frustrated with someone or something. The man rarely, if not never, had a pleasant air about him. He knew he was screwed but he walked over to him anyway with nonchalance. His hands were in the pockets of his baggy pants as stood by the man. Enji was his name. He stood tall, with a resting face of resentment. He was a man with hateful eyes and short, dark red hair.
“And where have you been?” Enji growls out, not even looking him in the eyes. The man ran his fingers over his beard as he glared off somewhere else. Enji avoided eye contact with him, probably to reinforce the fact that he was below him. “Hawks. I’m expecting an answer.”
Hawks. That’s the hero name he was going by. The wings were a big influence obviously for such a name. He went strictly by his hero name because if no one knew your name, then no one could come for you outside of your job. Though, there was no way for the number 2 hero to conceal his identity. In reality, he didn’t know if he had a name. He couldn’t help but long for a name, so he could at least have the option of revealing it or keeping it under wraps.
“I just flew in. Don’t bite my head off, Enji.”
“It’s Endeavor to you.” Enji spat back at him. Hawks just nodded, shrugging. It was going to be a long day if Enji was going to be in such a foul mood. “And you should’ve been here earlier. Isn’t your whole trademark speed?”
“Yes. I’m only two minutes late. I apologize though.” Hawks huffed and ran a hand through his blond, shaggy hair. “Can we just get going?”
The day wasted away as they patrolled the surrounding areas. Nothing on a bigger scale occurred. There were small cases of normal day citizens being harassed by small villains, causing crime simply because they were bored and had nothing better to do. Abilities only fueled the people, including people who didn’t really care about the villain and hero society. People just wanted something to do. They wanted to feel powerful.
Upon their arrival back to the hero agency, his handlers informed him of a new “case.” He truly never would get a break, would he? Even if he did get a vacation, he would probably not know what to do with himself. He didn’t know how to sit back and relax, as much as he wanted to. His thoughts were always racing a mile a minute. But the other part of him loved the thrill of never having a moment where he was bored. He never had to spend time to think about his life or his emotions. He could just push them all away and keep going.
“A double agent?” Hawks mumbled upon hearing about the new case.
“Yes, for the league. You’ll gain access and get us some information.” One of his handlers answered him without hesitation. There was no question in him taking this case. Hawks just nodded, knowing it was best if he didn’t argue. He wasn’t scared to put his life on the line anymore. That’s what this whole job was about. He just nodded and half-listened to the rest of his briefing for the case. After what seemed like hours, he was leaving. He needed to speak to the number one again.
He pushed the door closed as he left the meeting room. He had his own hero agency but it still didn’t feel like his own. He saw it as just something the Hero Commissioners allowed him to have. He walked through the lifeless building, keeping up his carefree and joking facade as he passed sidekicks. Everyone adored his relaxed persona, it was part of being the winged hero, Hawks.
The tall redhead from before interrupted whatever he was thinking about with a shout. “Hawks. It’s about time.” Enji glared down at him. Hawks huffed and walked over to him, smiling cockily up at him.
“Relax. Not all of us have all of the time in the world on our hands” He smirked. “Some of us have to do actual work.”