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Hawks always has an eye on Endeavor.
No mater where they are, but especially on the job, he's always watching the man.
Maybe it's still the fanboy inside of him. Maybe it's some bird instinct. Maybe it's just his instinct to always watch the man who saved him. Most likely, it's probably to be sure he can back him up at a moment's notice.
No matter the reason, his eyes are always tracking Endeavor, or at least some part of him is. He sees every punch the man deals and recieves, he's used to it even; he's fought on the battlefield with Endeavor before—often, in fact—and Endeavor often gets injured. It's part of the job, and they understand this more than anybody.
So he's not sure why it happens.
The villain punches Endeavor.
He stumbles, spits blood, and dazedly falls back into position, but he's off, and the villain is already swinging again.
Hawks' senses narrow to just his sight, and he's seeing through a veil of pure rage. He pins the villain he's fighting with a few (probably too sharp) feathers, and then he's flying to Endeavor as fast as he can, shooting feather after feather between the two to separate them and handicap the villain.
He can hear the Commission now; never let feelings get in the way of the job; never let your anger get the best of you; you must keep up appearances for the public.
He feels his feathers bristling with rage and his talons digging into his fists, sharp and tight enough to draw blood as he holds one of his swords to the villains throat.
"Do not test me today. Get on your knees with your hands behind your back and fucking stay there."
They've got some sort of strength quirk or drug in them, but they seem keen to surrender at the sight of Hawks glaring up at them with narrow, predatorial eyes and pressing his blade into their throat.
They slide easily to their knees with their hands behind their back. Hawks keeps them there with a feather.
Another villain gets his blind side and douses his wings with acid.
Or, almost does.
Hawks whips around and punches the villain in the face hard enough to slam their jaw shut. A few drops of the acid that had bubbled up from their throat get on his wings. He hisses, but is too overcome with fury and protectiveness to bat an eye at his own pain. He swipes them off their feet, rolls them over, and pins them with a feather.
"Don't you fucking move," he snarles. He can feel himself bristling and panting, overwhelmed with anger. He wants to finish the job, he wants to hurt them, but there's eyes on him everywhere, watching his every move, and he knows his limits.
Still, they were planning to kill Endeavor.
Endeavor.
"I've got him," a rumbling voice states, and Hawks hears a threat before he hears the voice behind it, so he whips around and puffs up defensively at the person behind him.
Endeavor.
Hawks must have had a particularly murderous expression, because the man quirks a flaming eyebrow at him and huffs smoke.
"Endeavor," he whispers and relaxes, as if the name itself washed away all his problems. "Sorry, okay," he says quickly, feigning nonchalance as he lifts the villain by the jaw and passes them to Endeavor. "Acid comes from their mouth, so I recommend keeping their trap shut."
"Noted. Are you alright?" the man asks.
Hawks grins. "Aw, Endeavor, don't worry about little ol' me, I'm just peachy!"
He pulls the strong villain up with his feathers and walks the villain to the police line, where they take the villain in. One of the other pros must have already retrieved the villain he'd been fighting before he went berserk.
Hawks steps aside to let Endeavor through. The man mutters, "Watch their mouth," and then turns to Hawks and motions his head in a sign to follow him.
And Hawks does, because he's Endeavor.
They make their way out of the zone to the medics. Luckily, they were able to redirect bystanders and other civillians before the fighting and anyone who was already injured was taken care of. Now it was just them and a few other pros.
"Are you certain you're alright?" Endeavor asks again. "You looked..."
"Sexy?" Hawks supplies teasingly. God, his fucking wings hurt.
Endeavor puffs smoke. "No, feral." His expression softens (as much as a face with a scar like that can). "And your wings..."
"I'm fine, just need a checkup and I'll be back at it," he says easily.
"I think you need a few days off, preferably longer. Your feathers are burned by god knows what, Hawks. You're seriously injured. You'll be useless if you push yourself too hard without giving yourself time to recover."
Tell that to the Commission, Hawks thinks. "The real question is, are you okay? That villain really packed a punch."
He almost bristles again at the memory. What is wrong with him today?
Endeavor glances at him, still concerned. "I'm fine."
And that's all Hawks expects to get.
"If you need anything..." Endeavor continues. Hawks looks up at him, and he looks flustered, like he's not used to offering help when he's literally a hero. "Don't be afraid to call me." He says it like a question, as if he's not quite sure that was what needed to be said.
Hawks beams. "Sure thing, Ende-"
"Enji," Endeavor interrupts, and that's caught Hawks off guard. He stares up at the man, his pupils big and confused. "We've uh- been... partners, long enough. First name basis."
That was fucking awkward, Enji thinks.
I could marry him, Hawks thinks, and gets an imaginary lecture from the Commission.
"Ah- sure thing, Enji," Hawks corrects with a flirtatious lilt. He's silent for a long moment until he realizes Enji is expecting his name. "Er- everyone just calls me Hawks," he says quickly. Technically it's the truth; no one who knew his name is still around to call him by it, so.
Enji nods.
They split off at the medics zone.
Endeavor shows up to work the next day.
Hawks does not.
Which is all good in Enji's opinion.
But Hawks stares at the news the entire day, itching with the anger that's having his feathers puff up and bristle.
He already preened and disposed of the dying, dead, burnt, and otherwise injured feathers, but he's still aching, and being in defense position for several hours isn't exactly comfortable.
He watches Enji get beat up on, again, and is desperate to be out there and defend him. In all honestly, he's always felt this way, but it's never been so... much. He's never been unable to control himself the way he is now.
He cradles a pillow and pleads for this to be a quick fight so Hawks can call the man. He did give him the offer.
At 5pm, just after Enji is patched up and sent on his way by some nurses, his phone rings.
He picks it up immediately.
"Hawks, are you ok-"
"Please come over," Hawks interrupts. "I know it's getting late and I know you're probably exhausted but-"
"Text me where to be and I'll be there."
Hawks doesn't even pretend he wasn't camping at the door, just opens it and lets Enji in.
"Are you okay?" they ask each other at the same time.
"I'm fine," Hawks says quickly just to usher Enji's response. "You're not hurt too badly, right?"
He checks him over with a few feathers, searching for notable irregularities.
"I'm fine, Hawks. Are you sure you're okay? You've been off recently."
When Hawks finds nothing wrong, he finally relaxes with a groan. Everything softens. "I don't even know, to be honest," he whispers as he stretches. "It's like..." and now that he's trying to explain it, it's exceptionally embarrassing. He flushes and his wings contract into his body. "Well... I guess everytime... I see someone I care about in danger, I get protective, like... like a bird or something, I guess. I go into this sort of defensive rage that doesn't stop until I know they're safe. Like... yesterday, with um... with you."
He doesn't look at the man, instead flexing and relaxing his wings.
"It's... it's never happened before, this isn't... it's not an issue, I don't think. I just. Needed to see you."
"Hawks-"
"I lied," he says, and looks up to find Enji watching him, startled by his interruption.
"About?"
"My name is Keigo... Takami. I don't know if you remember..." he mumbles.
Enji blinks at him, gears turning behind his eyes. "Takami, like..."
"The villain. My dad."
Keigo swallows as Enji regards him. There's a different look in his eyes, and Keigo doesn't know how he feels. "He" being either of them.
"I don't want to unpack everything onto you, so just know that... you're my hero. Which may be why I'm acting this way, although it doesn't explain the suddenness of it. You've always been my hero."
Enji breathes smoke. "Keigo," he says, and it's unfamiliar but Keigo loves it. He almost preens. "I'll keep that in mind. Do you... want me to stay?"
Keigo's wings shiver, and he nods. "Can I, um... I know this is very sudden, and a lot of... emotion, I guess, but can you hold me?"
Enji breaths even more smoke and Keigo thinks he sees a flame lick Enji's cheek. "Let's sit," he says.
Keigo leads him to the couch and sits. Enji sits next to him and pats his lap.
Keigo grins. "I'm not a dog," he teases as he climbs into the man's lap. He curls against his chest and his wings automatically form a shield around their bodies.
"No, you're a bird," the man replies, and Keigo shivers when he can feel the words rumble through the man's chest. He shivers more when Enji pets his wings, almost like elaborating.
They're walking a fine line between coworkers or friends and, well... more. They both must know this. Neither must care.
"I..."
"Hmm?" Enji hums.
Keigo sighs into the warmth of Enji's body, his wings sagging. "Nevermind," he breathes.
He drifts off before his brain can shriek at him to do otherwise.
He wakes up warm.
This makes it hard for him to actually wake up and process that that's weird.
When he does, he also establishes a heavy arm that wraps around his waist and up his back until the palm is flattened against his spine between his wings and a large, firm body pressed against his front.
He leans his head back and opens his eyes to find Enji sleeping soundly next to him. His face is soft and relaxed, save for the scar extending through half his face from the Nomu way back when.
Keigo smiles. This is all he's ever wanted.
His wings wrap around Enji, keeping him close. Keigo curls back up against his chest and lets himself drift to sleep again.