Work Text:
There aren’t many things that the Commission allowed Hawks to control. His training, his diet, his hero name, his appearance, the name of his agency, hell, the decor in his apartment had all been chosen and controlled by them. One of the few things they left to him, outside of a few of their agents who kept office in his building, was who he hired.
Sure, they sent him reams of resumes of presumably pre-approved applicants, but they never explicitly told him that he had to select from those lists. So when he could, Hawks would do as he wished when it came to staffing.
He hadn’t meant to primarily hire people with mutant quirks. Honest.
Or accidentally build a family. Really.
I — I
It all started with Fujiwara Nao.
Or, rather, it all started when Hawks was interviewing for a secretary. They’d be front and center at his agency, fielding phone calls and walk-in visits from civilians and heroes alike, so they needed to fit certain criteria. Level headed and efficient, but also pleasant and able to soothe even the most harried of people.
Also he needed someone to help schedule the other interviews so the agency could get up and running. Hawks may be the man too fast for his own good, but he was also 18 and horrible at time management.
His interviews with the Commission approved applicants had been… fine. Technically, he was sure they’d be excellent at their jobs. Efficient. Clinical. But if he was to make anything of this agency his, he needed more than technically excellent.
Sighing, Hawks opened his office door to where the remaining applicants were waiting, “Fujiwara Nao-san? I apologize if I read the kanji wrong…?” Hearing a scrape of a chair, he looked up and blinked as he realized who was walking towards him.
He had been so stressed and tired from the day so far, that he hadn’t even registered the mutant type quirk holder patiently waiting to be called. They vaguely reminded him of Big Red Dot over in Singapore - shit, that’s racist isn’t it? Quirkist? - tall with a shaggy black mane surrounding their almost fully lion face. Bowing their head slightly to Hawks, Fujiwara gave him a calm smile, “You read it correctly, Hawks-san. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
How can his smile be so calming?? There’s so many teeth!
Despite his almost hysterical thoughts, Hawks smiled at them and motioned into his office. After taking his seat in his backless chair, he smiled at them, “Now, Fujiwara-san, before we begin, a quick question if you don’t mind?” At the easy nod, Hawks gave a soft hum, “Your pronouns? Mine are he/him.”
They gave a bright laugh, their mane shaking with each huff, “Oh- I wasn’t expecting that, my apologies, Hawks-san. People usually assume with my mane… they’re he/him, as well.”
The interview was excellent, as far as Hawks was concerned. Fujiwara had tons of experience as a secretary, having worked in Tokyo for some years before moving back to Fukuoka. When Hawks asked why he had left Tokyo, Fujiwara gave a soft laugh and rubbed his neck, “My wife and I are both from Kyushu. I grew up here, she’s from Chikugo. We realized we wanted to raise our kids here, so we packed up and moved.”
The hint of Hakata-ben that slipped into Fujiwara’s voice only endeared Hawks more to the man.
As they wrapped up, ten minutes longer than Hawks had spent with any of the other applicants, he couldn’t help but laugh, “It’s odd, Fujiwara-san, usually I’m nowhere near this relaxed around people with a feline mutant quirk-”
It didn’t take seeing Fujiwara's suddenly closed off expression for Hawks to know he’d fucked up. Sitting up and waving his hands, he could feel his feathers puffing up in anxiety, “Not like- I didn’t mean- Because of my Avian mutant quirk-!”
It took a minute, sharp brown eyes studying him before Fujiwara relaxed back into his seat, “I hadn’t considered that, Hawks-san. My apologies for assuming the worst of you, but I’m sure I don’t have to tell you the type of assumptions I deal with regularly.”
Hawks nodded slowly, his lips pursed, “Still I should have chosen my words better…”
A heavy paw waved away his words, the man smiling at Hawks once again, “To answer your point, it’s probably because of my quirk. When it was registered, they insisted that it be called some lion pun, Pride’s Guidance, I think? I just call it Soothe.” Folding his paws, he gave a soft hum, “Generally, I can level out erratic emotions and let people think clearly. If I can concentrate and talk to someone for about two minutes, I usually bring someone down from a full panic attack.”
In a few seconds, scenarios play out quickly in Hawks’ mind; panicked citizens becoming coherent in their reports, prideful heroes calming down and working together, anxious interns and sidekicks feeling safe at the agency. With an excited grin, Hawks stood up, “Fujiwara-san how soon can you start?”
“Oh- Uhm- In two days? My daughter starts kindergarten tomorrow and I promised to walk her to her first day-?” Fujiwara was clearly startled, his ears and tail twitching as Hawks’ grin only grew.
“Excellent, no problem. You start in two days then, your contact information is on your resume, right?” At the man’s nod, Hawks just bounced on his toes excitedly, “When do you need to get her into school?”
“9:30?”
Nodding, Hawks shifted some papers on his desk, “Then, in two days, you can come in… 10:15? 10:30? Whatever is the easiest time for you to get in after dropping her off.” Finding the packet he had been looking for, Hawks moved around the desk and handed off the papers to Fujiwara, “I look forward to working with you, Fujiwara-san.”
Accepting the papers, the man slowly grinned back at Hawks, “I look forward to working with you as well, Hawks-san.”
--
Over the next few days of sorting through applications, setting up interviews and getting paperwork prepared in advance, Hawks learns more about Fujiwara (“ At least call me Nao-san, Hawks-san .”).
Nao went to Todai and studied business organization but found the formalities of “traditional” office work stifling. Todai was also how he had met his wife, back before they went to grad school. It was over pizza one afternoon that Nao brought out his phone to gush about her and their daughter.
Clicking onto the gallery, Hawks immediately noticed the folders outside of the standard camera roll. Wedding , My Firecracker , and My Heart’s Pride . Clicking into the second one, Nao brought up a picture of a woman also with a mutant quirk. Her purple skin was lightly scaled around her eyes, bright red, clearly happy to see the person behind the camera. Purple horns hooked over her black hair, fangs clear in her open mouthed smile.
Unabashedly and unapologetically everything the Commission told him the public would hate and fear.
Blinking, he looked up at the fond smile on Nao’s face, “... She’s beautiful, Nao-san.”
“We met at a mixer our friends had set up. She challenged me to a drinking contest, if you’d believe it. We ended up matching each other drink for drink.” At Hawks wide stare, Nao laughed brightly, “There’s a reason I call her My Firecracker. Miyako-chan… she never wants to be underestimated.”
That lunch, Hawks learns so much about Miyako that he almost felt like he’d actually met her properly. As well as their daughter, Aya, an energetic four year old that Nao adored with his entirety.
II -- II
Next came Shibuya Hisoka.
Rather, Nao insisted that the next person Hawks hire on be a medic for the agency. The older man had given him a concerned look as he explained, “Even if you can go to the Commission’s doctors, it’d be far better to have one on staff that you and your sidekicks will be able to go to. You’re in a dangerous line of work, Hawks-san, I’d rather we not need them and have them than the opposite.”
There was little Hawks could do but agree when Nao radiated “concerned dad” energy like that.
Hiring a medic was a whole different process than getting a secretary. Hawks couldn’t just go on the feelings he got off a person, they needed to have the right credentials to tend to hero injuries. Ideally, someone who had some knowledge of avian biology but he could always work on that later with them.
As with the last round of interviews, the Commission approved applicants were fine. They had all gone to the right schools, gotten the right grades, taken the right supplementary courses supplied by the Commission. Everything was technically fine about them.
Except for the side eyes they gave Nao as he held the door for them. Or the clinical way they spoke to Hawks that reminded him of cold medical tables and accusingly tired reminders that “ Everything is for your own good, Hawks .”
It didn’t help their cases that the friendly and warm Nao actually growled lowly at one of them as they left.
Hawks’ lips pursed as he looked over the last civilian application. He had also been… fine. But had no experience with the differences of mutant quirks and their effects on biology, and had just stared blankly at Hawks when he mentioned the dangers of torpor in the winter. His head barely twitched up as he heard Nao open the door.
“Hawks-san, here’s the next applicant. Shibuya Hisoka-san,” Nao’s calming voice helped release some of the tension in Hawks’ shoulders as he waved the applicant in. The light clip of heels- No, those weren’t heels, hooves? - pulled Hawks gaze up to a familiar woman settling into the seat before him.
“Shibuya-senpai-?” Shibuya had been his senpai at Shiketsu, in the third year gen ed course when he was a first year. He wouldn’t have known her at all if she hadn’t also apprenticed under the school’s nurse that shared year. That and her mutation.
Her once long pastel green hair was cut in a short undercut, her deer ears and antlers on proud display. He didn’t have to look to remember her fawn legs that end in cloven hooves. He remembered the chill that would go down his spine when he heard her hooves in the nurse's office, a sure precursor to her lecturing him for getting hurt or over extending himself.
As he sank further into his chair, her smile grew into a sharp grin, “Ah, Hawks-kun, good to see you remember me. That saves us time then, no?”
“Of course I remember you, Shibuya-senpai, I still hear your lectures in my dreams…”
“Good, then maybe you made less problems for sensei.” Even as she said it, Hawks could see she was unconvinced by her own words.
Gulping, Hawks shuffled some papers, desperately scanning her resume, “I thought you were going to be a doctor, Shibuya-senpai? I’d never doubt your skill, but 20 is definitely young to have a doctorate.”
She hummed as she smoothed out her skirt, “It is. My Quirk lets me test out of certain classes, and my time with sensei let me into an expedited program. Currently I’ve finished pre-med early and have an EMT certificate.” Sharp pink eyes met his as she smirked, “But I don’t need to remind you of my skill.”
Shibuya didn’t, in fact, need to remind him. Her quirk had been explained to him on his first trip to the school’s nurse’s office: Diagnosis. From studying someone for half a minute she knew all their physical ailments in order of urgency. If she did that as well as talk to them for an additional two minutes she could also get an idea of their mental health. It had been quite the shock when Hawks had gone in for a twisted wrist and she started questioning him about his bruised ribs.
The interview was short and to the point after that, explanations of what she had done since high school, and her credentials outside of what he already knew. As they wrapped up, she leaned forward and froze him with a sharp look.
“Hawks-kun, let me be blunt for a second.”
“When have you ever needed my permission for that, Shibuya-senpai?”
“Shush. As I was saying, out of everyone I have seen out there waiting to be called, and who have already left, I am your best option.” As he frowned she held a hand up to him, “Think about it, Hawks-kun. I have experience specifically with you . Outside of a cursory check up so I know what I’ve missed in the last two years, I know your medical history and how to care for avian physiology. You and your future sidekicks will not be able to hide injuries from me, and I’ll be able to find ones you all don’t even know you have.”
Standing up, she smirked down at him, “So are we going to pretend that I’m not your best option or are we going to get to the point, Hawks-kun?”
Running a hand down his face, Hawks let out a slow sigh, “... When can you start, Shibuya-senpai?”
“I’ll come by tomorrow and see what your medical facilities need, pleasure working with you, Hawks-kun.”
“I’m in your care, Shibuya-senpai.”
--
Hawks hadn’t planned on getting hurt three days into Shibuya’s employment. Even if his agency was barely functioning yet, he was a licensed hero. So when the alert had gone out about a villain he’d dropped everything to go and help.
It wasn’t his fault the villain had a wind quirk that ended up wrenching his wing in just the wrong way.
Shibuya was cursing and lecturing him just as he remembered as she tended to his wings, “This is why I can’t stand you hero types. Rushing in with a half cocked plan and no regard for your own safety. How in the hell are you going to save anyone if you’re in a stretcher yourself, idiot?”
Rubbing his eyes, Hawks groaned. He was used to these rants from Shibuya but his back hurt which meant his neck hurt and soon his head was going to hurt too, “If you hate hero types so much, Shibuya-senpai, then why work at a hero agency?”
Sharp eyes narrowed at him as she popped his wing back into place, her attention immediately moving to his neck as she ignored his squawk, “Because it’s your agency, you moron.”
“...What?” Sure he and Shibuya knew each other, but he never would have described them as close. If anything, he was pretty sure she was only ever annoyed by him.
“How many mutants break the top fifty, Hawks-kun? Singapore’s got Big Red Dot, sure, and Gang Orca’s moving up. But that’s not enough when you consider how many people have mutant quirks and get mistreated for it.” She looked up at him steadily as she applied a salve to his neck, “You’re a hard worker, and you care about people.
“Do you know how many hero course students said thank you to me, back in Shiketsu? Not a lot. You know what you said to me every time I saw you, even if it was just for a band aid, Hawks-kun? Thank you, Shibuya-senpai! Every time, without fail.” Sitting back, Shibuya sighed as she rubbed her temples. “I hate heroes and their egos, but I’m not gonna let some half assed medic who doesn’t know the difference between coverts and primaries take care of the one good hero I know.”
“Shibuya-senpai…”
“Ugh, just call me Hisoka, Hawks-kun. We’re not in school anymore.”
“Hisoka-kun. I- I’ll make sure to be the type of hero you’re proud of, promise.”
“Disgusting, get the fuck out of my office and go rest. I’ll know if you don’t, I can and will sic Nao-san on you.”
Despite her words, Hisoka’s smile was fond as Hawks left her office.
III -- III
Kimura Yasu hadn’t exactly been part of the Commissions plan for Hawks.
After Nao and Hisoka, the hiring process had been simple and to the point. Sidekicks steadily were added, mostly from pre-approved lists from the Commission. A year had passed and Hawks was rather proud of his agency.
That is, until Nao sat him down with a tired look on his face. Hawks was immediately on edge, the only time he’d seen the man this tired was when Aya had gotten a stomach bug that had kept the family awake for days on end. “Is everything alright, Nao-san? Are Miyako-san and Aya-chan ok? You know you can take whatever time off that you need-”
Nao chuckled and waved a hand, a soft smile dissipating Hawks’ worry, “Everything’s fine at home, Hawks-kun, don’t worry. No, I wanted to talk to you about my workload.”
When Hawks gave a confused nod, the man continued, “As you become more popular, and take on more cases, I think it’s time you consider getting a personal assistant.” Folding his paws, Nao smiled, “I’m fine at the front desk, handling everything like that. But your personal calls, media appearances, even liaison between agencies. I think it’d be better for you to find someone specifically for that.”
Hawks chewed his lip, looking over the man. “...And you’d stay on, right? You wouldn’t go anywhere, Nao-san?”
At that, a boisterous laugh left Nao, “You couldn’t get rid of me or Hisoka-kun if you tried, Hawks-kun. And I’d help the transition, of course.”
“... Well, alright then! Let’s put out a call for a personal assistant then!”
They didn’t need to go through a deluge of Commission approved applicants this time, but that didn’t make the process any easier. The main difference a year made was Hawks work smile, that shone as the newest applicant walked in despite his exhaustion.
Maybe I can sneak a third coffee past Hisoka-kun after this interview…
Nao smiled from the door as the woman took a seat, “This is Kimura Yasu-kun, Hawks-san.” With a bow of his head, Nao closed the door and left Hawks and Kimura alone.
Just like Nao, Kimura’s mutation was obvious, all but screaming “Fox” loud and clear. Fennec fox, specifically if her tan fur and large ears were anything to go on. She met his smile with one of her own as she folded her hands over her lap, “Before we begin, Hawks-san, I feel like it’d be remiss of me to not mention this.” At his curious head tilt she bowed her head slightly, “Two weeks ago, you saved my family from a villain attack at Ōhori park. The aquatic villain?”
Nodding slowly, Hawks frowned, “Yea I remember that… He took people hostage on the bridge. They’re alright, right? I’m sorry I was so busy, I probably didn’t see them, just sent my feathers…”
Kimura’s smile warmed as she shook her head, “That’s fine, Hawks-san. My little siblings mentioned your feathers grabbing them. Same with my father. I was out of town visiting a friend, and if I had to come back to find out they’d been hurt or worse…” Shaking her head she let out a small huff, “Well, that’s neither here nor there. I don’t need to worry about what if’s because you saved them. I just wanted to say thank you, Hawks-san.”
“Is that why you applied, Kimura-san? To say thank you?”
“Mm, yes but no? You saving them, it definitely made me more inclined to work for you. And then seeing you put out a call for personal assistants… It felt like everything coming together. Saying thank you in person felt like a nice perk on top of all of that.”
Their interview flies by, Kimura explaining her familiarity with media contracts and schedule keeping. Even going as far as to name drop employees, sidekicks and liaisons in various other agencies across Kyushu that either owe her favors or who’s personal numbers she has.
Wrapping up, Hawks felt warm as he grinned at the woman. She was obviously good and passionate about the job, grounded. He also felt pretty sure she’d get along with Nao and Hisoka. Gathering some papers together, he hummed, “One last question, Kimura-san. Would there be any accommodations we’d need to make for your quirk? This has no bearing on the decision process, but if we send you an offer and your agree I’d rather get started on that before your first day.”
Throughout the interview, Kimura had been quick and clever, answering with minimal pauses. But now she stopped and stared at him wide eyed, like he’d grown two heads. “... Kimura-san?”
“I- oh- My apologies, Hawks-san… it’s just, no other job has ever even offered? At all? But I guess with Fujiwara-san and you…” Embarrassment was often hard to read on people with quirks that covered them in fur, but Hawks watched as her ears twitched against her head and she covered her mouth. “... Uhm, chairs with enough room for my tail. And uh. Uhm. A quiet room? I know it’s a hero agency but- Uhm- With my ears I get overstimulated easily-”
Hawks’ hero smile dropped into a small reassuring one, “Those are all very reasonable asks, Kimura-san. My feathers pick up vibrations so sometimes I get overstimulated as well.”
Her smile was bright as she nodded, “Yes- Of course- Thank you for your time, Hawks-san.”
As they stood up, Hawks shook her hand, “It was a pleasure meeting you, Kimura-san.”
Three days later, Kimura accepted Hawks’ job offer.
--
Kimura was sitting on his desk, flipping through papers as Hawks flew in from the balcony. In her short time with the agency, she had already grown desensitized to most of his theatrics. Without looking up, she waved one of the packets at him impatiently, “About time you came back, Hawks-chan.”
Huffing, he grabbed the papers, “It’s Hawks-chan today?”
“Mmm, Nao-san and Hisoka-san call you -kun, but I feel like it doesn’t match us, you know?” Finally looking up, Kimura grinned at him, “What do you think? Hawks-chan sound good?”
Sitting down, Hawks playfully shook his head, “But if I call you Yasu-chan then it’s suddenly a completely different connotation, Kimura-san.”
Laughing, she tapped his head with her papers, “Just call me Yasu-kun or Yasu-san, Hawks-chan. You could have asked like a normal person.” Once he stuck out his tongue at her, she snickered, “Anyway, what you have there is a revised media contract. For photoshoots and interviews.”
Humming, he looked over the papers, “Give me a summary, Yasu-kun?”
As he read, she flipped through her own packet, “For interviews I added a clause that questions about grooming and partner preferences in regards to your mutation are completely off the table.” When he looked up and blinked at her, she clicked her tongue, “And for photo shoots, there are regulations now about how they can photograph you and your wings to keep the fetishizing to a minimum.”
“Fetishizing....?”
She rolled her eyes at his confusion, “C’mon Hawks-chan. You can’t tell me you don’t get annoyed about people constantly shoving their hands into your wings. Hisoka-san has told me the amount of times she’s had to help you preen broken feathers just from photoshoots that weren’t careful enough.”
His fingers nervously tapped at the paper, he could feel a stress grip broiling under his skin, “It’s not… I mean…”
Leaning forward, Yasu cupped his hands, not even blinking as they latched down on her fingers. A soft smile met his worried look, her tail swishing slowly, “If you really object to the changes let me know, ok Hawks-chan? But otherwise, let me help you, ok?”
“... Alright, Yasu-kun.”
Her smile brightened as she gave a small squeeze to his hands, “There we go, Hawks-chan.”
IV -- IV
Ueda Takashi was what Nao and Yasu called Hawks’ stray.
By Hawks’ second full year as a hero he was quickly climbing the popularity ladder, and in turn his fans were far more active online. The Commission made sure there was plenty of merch available for his fans, posters, plushies, figures, what have you. But there was a hole that Hawks and even the Commission didn’t know how to fill.
Social media.
Even going to Shiketsu, Hawks hadn’t been allowed to have any social media accounts since the Commission was sure they’d take away from his focus on training. Which meant he had no idea what to do with a twitter or an instagram or whatever line was? Hisoka insisted he didn’t need to worry about line but he kept hearing about it and no one could explain to him why.
Sure, Nao, Hisoka and Yasu all knew about social media, but their workloads were already full and he didn’t feel comfortable adding “teach your boss who’s younger than you what the fuck a retweet is” to their jobs.
It was one morning, as Yasu handed him his morning coffee and she held up her phone at him, “Hey, Hawks-chan, you heard about this new twitter?” At his pleading look over his coffee, she laughed and took a seat on the desk, “There’s a new account, it’s called Hawks Watch .”
“Hawks- what?” Hawks frowned, sipping his coffee.
“Yea, yea, they update with pictures and stats about you. C’mere, look.” Holding out her phone, Hawks leaned forward to see what Yasu meant.
Hawks Watch!! @hawkswatch
Pro Hero Hawks sighted assisting EMS workers bring in recent villain victims to Wakahisa Hospital #ProHeroHawks #FukuokaProud #ThankYouHawks [ 3 Images attached ]
Hawks Watch!! @hawkswatch
Even Pro Hero Hawks enjoys a bucket of KFC after a hard day's work! #ProHeroHawks #KFC [ 2 images attached ]
Hawks Watch!! @hawkswatch
Head over to Instagram @hawks_watch ! There I’ve updated my tally of Pro Hero Hawks’ stats for the last half month! #ProHeroHawks #FukuokaProud #herostats
Blinking, Hawks looked up at Yasu with a frown, “... And this is… good, right?”
Laughing, she pulled her phone back, “Yes, Hawks-chan, it is good! Whoever they are, they’re doing all this PR for you just cause you inspire them. Honestly, if I ever meet this person I wanna give them a hug, they don’t even have your press release form but all their pictures are to a T!”
Humming, Hawks sipped from his coffee, nodding slowly. If Yasu approved of them, then far be it for Hawks to take issue.
Over the course of the next few days, as he patrolled, Hawks kept an extra eye out for people taking his photo. Of course, he was almost always being photographed in some capacity. But hopefully, if he kept an eye out for repeat faces, maybe he’d learn who was behind Hawks Watch.
It finally clicked five days later as he helped the police load a villain into the patrol car. Amongst the usual crowd of fans all calling his name or cheering, there was a familiar face off to the side. He could be wrong, of course, but if not… he had an idea how to meet the elusive twitter account owner.
Once everything was squared with the villain situation, and he’d signed enough autographs, Hawks gave a wink to the crowd and flew off. High up in the air was one of the few places he could have a semblance of privacy in public, so when he turned abruptly he felt his grin widen as he finally caught the moth mutant flying several meters behind him.
They stuttered in the air, their wing beats turning frantic having been caught. Holding up his hands, Hawks flew closer, “Hey, it’s cool.” At their panicked look, he gave them a small reassuring smile, “Promise I’m not mad, or think you’re a stalker. How about we land and we can talk, ok?”
Nodding, the moth person landed with him on a roof, both straying from the edge of the roof. Shoving his hands into his pants, Hawks inclined his head to them, “You obviously know who I am, could I have your name?”
“I-I uhm- Ueda. Ueda Takashi. It’s uhm- and honor to meet you, Hawks-san!” they had four arms, one set of hands wringing together nervously as the other set fidgeted with a camera and a phone.
“Nice to meet you, Ueda-san! Now, correct me if I’m wrong but, am I right in assuming you’re also Hawks Watch?” At the startled noise and nervous stammering, Hawks chuckled and held up his hands, “Calm down Ueda-san, I’m not mad or affronted or anything. If anything I’m flattered! If you don’t mind my asking, what made you make a twitter about lil’ old me?”
At that, Ueda paused, their hands stilling as they looked at him. “... A year and a half ago, you uhm… you saved me and my class. Someone with an earthquake quirk had attacked my school and we weren’t able to get out… But you stopped them and saved all of us!” Their nervous expression gave way to excitement as they took a step closer, “And then-! Then when the police were getting an update from you, I was nearby with an EMT, I heard a bit of hakata-ben in your voice- and you mentioned being back home-”
Blushing, Ueda seemed to realize how excited they had gotten, their wings twitching behind them. “Well it was just… seeing someone from Fukuoka and also with a mutant quirk… I wanted to share how amazing I think you are! I graduated three months ago, so I’ve only just been able to be super active with Hawks Watch but… ah I guess I’ll have to stop once I get a job…”
Humming, Hawks rocked back onto his heels, “Ooor, what if Hawks Watch was your job?”
“... Huh?”
“Well I would definitely rank that in my top five interviews I’ve ever held for a job! You’re clearly passionate, and know your way around twitter and instagram.” Letting out a slow breath, Hawks gave them a wry smile, “Look, I’ll level with you Ueda-san. I don’t know much about social media and stuff. I’ve been told I need a better online presence, but I just don’t know how. So, how’d you like to be the official Social Media Manager for my agency?”
Chewing their lip, Ueda gave him a long look, “... And it’d be, like… a real job? With pay and stuff?”
“A full real job, you’d have a desk and everything! We could even expense whatever upkeep you need for your camera- Ueda-san please don’t cry! I can’t tell if this is a yes or not-!”
--
Official (!!) Hawks Watch!! @hawkswatch
Some of you may have noticed I’ve been quiet the last couple days, as well as the name change. Well, ya boi’s got some news! Drum roll, please!
Official (!!) Hawks Watch!! @hawkswatch
I am OFFICIALLY working for Fukuoka’s own Pro Hero Hawks! We’ve gone legitimate, bay-be!
Official (!!) Hawks Watch!! @hawkswatch
You might be wondering what that means for us, but Hawks-san has assured me that I have full creative control as long as I listen to Yasu-san, his PA, about media release stuff!
Official (!!) Hawks Watch!! @hawkswatch
She hugged me when we met though, so I think we’re gonna be ok?!
Official (!!) Hawks Watch!! @hawkswatch
I have my own desk!!!! And look at this chair!!!! [ Image attached: a standard office desk setup with additional peripheries for cameras and editing. Next to the desk is an office chair made to accommodate insectoid wings as well as layered armrests that can be folded away. ]
Official (!!) Hawks Watch!! @hawkswatch
It also means I can get some sweet behind the scenes shots as well ;) Don’t worry, Yasu-san approved before I posted this! [ Image attached: Several pictures of Hawks sitting on an examination bed drinking a cup of coffee as Nao and Hisoka stand before him. Hawks’ wing is held out to Hisoka as she works on it, her face tight in the middle of a lecture. Nao stands to the side rubbing his temples, a clearly disappointed father look on his face. ]
Official (!!) Hawks Watch!! @hawkswatch
[ Video attached: Hawks can be heard from behind the camera, Hisoka in front of them with her arms crossed, “Hisoka-kun, look, I’m resting! I was going to bring Takashi-kun out for a lunch break! Y’know be a good boss!”
The woman’s eyes roll as she gently moves the camera and Takashi out of the way, “Don’t hide behind an 18 year old, Hawks-kun. That’s just sad.”
Takashi’s voice pipes up from behind the camera now that Hawks and Hisoka are in frame, “I’m gonna be 19 in a couple of months, Hisoka-san!”
Hisoka gives the camera a soft look, “That’s great, Takashi-kun. Make sure to remind Yasu-chan, so we can all get dinner to celebrate.” Her gaze sharpens as it lands on the hero, “You can go get lunch with them another time, Hawks-kun. Go. Rest. Before I tell Nao-san.”
“... Yes, Hisoka-kun,” The last frame is on the hero’s defeated slump of his shoulders as he walks off. ]
V -- V
Yoneda Isamu was not exactly Hawks’ choice, but he couldn’t be mad about the man’s appearance in his life.
He was 21 and his agency was fully staffed. Sidekicks, interns, and his friends. It had been enough time, and Hawks was willing to admit that Nao, Hisoka, Yasu and even Takashi had all become his friends as well as employees. Miyako and Aya visited the agency often to see Nao, Miyako clicking her tongue as she handed an extra bento to Nao for their “wayward son” as she called Hawks. She had even made sure he knew he had a standing invitation to their New Years celebrations.
Hisoka would drag him out for drinks, joining him whenever Rumi made her way down to Kyushu. She’d shove all the food his dietician insisted he never touch onto his plate, and watch him until he acquiesced and ate it all.
Yasu’s family and Takashi’s friends would even visit, telling him about the movies they’d seen, or the local festival he had had to patrol and not enjoy. Takashi even got to be less nervous around him, joking with the hero and teasing him over how little he knew about certain “obvious” things. Usually quickly followed up by an easy to follow explanation.
They were his friends. Hell, maybe even his family, not that he had a frame of reference. So when he walked in from the balcony into his office and Nao, Hisoka and Yasu were all waiting there, he barely bat an eye. Flopping down in his chair, he grinned at them, “Aww were you waiting for me? You’ll give me a big head, thinking you all care so much about me.”
No one laughed, Nao’s face pinched tight, Hisoka’s tense as Yasu chewed her lip.
“... guys…? Everything alright? You know if anything's up with your familys you can just go.” Sitting up straighter, he looked between the three of them, “Takashi-kun’s fine, right?” His gaze landing on Hisoka, his grip tightening on his armrest, “Hisoka-kun, at least tell me if something happened to Takashi-kun.”
Waving a hand the woman sighed, “Takashi-kun is fine, Hawks-kun.” At his probing look, she sighed and tugged on her ear.
Yasu finally spoke up, leaning towards him and taking his hand, “Hawks-chan, we’re all fine. Aya-chan and Miyako-san are fine as well.” At his relieved sigh, she gave him an affectionate smile, “Oh Hawks-chan…”
Finally Nao spoke, his arms crossing, “... Yasu-kun overheard a voicemail on your direct line while you were out, by accident. From the Commission.”
Yasu holding his hands suddenly made sense as he stress gripped her hands, which meant he couldn’t fly away from them. Swallowing he looked rapidly between the three of them, “... What did you hear?”
It was Hisoka that spoke, her eyebrows furrowed, “That your appearance appointment was moved up. Since they saw you molting ‘early.’”
Hawks really wanted to rub his temples, but his fingers were still locked around Yasu’s fingers, “... That makes sense. The weather has been weird recently so my feathers have been falling out more. They’re most likely going to pull them all out early and have me stay home for a few days so the public doesn’t have to see my bare wings.”
Silence prevails in the office, the only sound a low growl from Nao. His paw slammed on the desk, his lips curling over his fangs, “What else are those bastards doing to you, Hawks-kun.”
Hawks knows he’s not supposed to disclose Commission secrets. That he should tell them all to drop it, but he’s so tired . So he tells them, a little bit, of the kid he once was. About training and sensory deprivation, being trained out of torpor as much as possible, of his one freedom in the form of Shiketsu high.
By the end, Yasu’s tearing up, her hands clutching his as tight as he clutches hers. Nao’s pacing, his paws flexing at his sides. Hisoka is the only one still staring him in the eyes, her lips tightly pursed. After a long moment of eye contact, she nodded sharply, “Alright then. I’m assuming there’s nothing we can do about your contract with the Commission?”
Once Hawks shook his head, she clicked her tongue, “Leave it to me. Give me some time, but I’ve an idea. Trust me, alright, Hawks-kun?”
“...Yea, I trust you, Hisoka-kun.”
It’s a few weeks later, his feathers fully healed under the careful watch of Hisoka, when the Commission contacts him to let him know there’s been a change to his handler and that the new one would come meet him soon. With a groan he rubbed his temples, another suit to tell him how he could be doing better. How he was always failing.
It was Yasu who opened the office door, “Hawks-san, your appointment with the Commission is here.”
Looking up, he frowned as Hisoka walked through the door with his new handler. That was odd enough, but he had never seen a Commission agent with a visible mutation other than himself. Sharp horns curl over the man’s dark hair, silver eyes smiling as the suited man bowed.
“Hawks-san, I am Yoneda Isamu, your new Commission Handler.” Looking up with a grin, Yoneda winked, “I’m in your care.”
--
It turns out that Yoneda was someone Hisoka knew from foster care. Except whenever they said “foster care” it was coupled with a long pause. Yoneda had a simple illusion quirk that let him change his features. Such as hiding his obvious mutations from the Commission.
He explained he had worked his way into the Commission for a “cozy office” job, so he’d never had to worry about anything like “foster care” again. And when his old friend Hisoka had reached out, he’d pulled some strings to be given the ever rotating position of Hawks’ handler.
Yoneda had given him a rueful smile, “I can’t stop everything I’ve seen in your file. I’m just, essentially, your manager. But things like your forced molting and other… trainings. As long as I report that I’m conducting them…” He shrugged and leaned back into his chair, “Well, they never have to find out, do they?”
Hawks pursed his lips, looking over at the man, “...That’s a lot to risk for a stranger, Yoneda-san. Especially against the Commission.”
He shrugged again, “Hisoka-chan saved my hide plenty of times. Time to pay it forward, you know?”
“... Yea, I’m starting to understand it myself, Yoneda-san.”
+1 -- +1
Hawks is 22 when he’s put on the mission to infiltrate the LoV. He’d really been looking forward to Tokoyami coming back to intern after he got his provisional license too, but he couldn’t in good conscience have the kid around.
Which meant he had to explain to Yasu and Nao why Tokoyami wouldn’t be returning. Especially since Yasu had already started the paperwork.
“I just don’t get it, Hawks-chan. You liked him, everyone in the office enjoyed him and Dark Shadow’s company. Takashi-kun was really looking forward to showing him the bakery that makes that apple cake they like!” Yasu was looking at him like he had just personally stabbed her cat. Nao didn’t look much better, the disappointment evident on his face.
Sighing, Hawks rubbed his face, “It’s… complicated, Yasu-kun. Hopefully he’ll still be interested in coming on next year but…”
It was Nao that caught on first, leaning forward and clasping his paws, “... What is the Commission having you do, Hawks-kun?”
Yasu looked between them quickly, her gaze settling on Hawks as she leaned forward, “Whatever they’re telling you, just tell them no! If it’s so bad you can’t even have Tokoyami-kun come back!”
Rubbing his face, Hawks sighed, “This is… bigger than me and what the Commission has done in the past, Yasu-kun.”
She looked ready to go on, a snarl waiting on her muzzle as Nao’s paw landed on her shoulder. Looking over Hawks slowly, the man sighed, “Remember that we’re here for you, Hawks-kun.”
Of course he’d remember. Part of the reason Hawks hadn’t fought the Commission was to keep this haphazard family of his safe .
--
His league contact, Dabi, is everything and nothing like Hawks expected.
He’s fire and danger, and completely unhinged. Fire and smoke rolling off him at the slightest provocation. But he’s warmth and sighs, quiet nights in warehouses where Hawks doesn’t have to be on at all times.
Which should be bad, Hawks shouldn’t feel as calm around Dabi as he is around Nao, Hisoka, Yasu, Takashi, and even Yoneda. They’re his family and Dabi is a villain. A villain that had just kidnapped a child, had almost kidnapped his intern. And yet-
They’re on a roof and Dabi’s smoking, sighing into the stars. Neither of them trust one another, but it's in these moments when Dabi is more like a fireplace than an inferno that Hawks mouth runs off without his input, “You led that job, right? The one at the U.A training camp.”
Forest fire eyes glint at him in the dark, Dabi taking him in quietly, “...What about it?”
Hawks’ wings flex, shifting as he chews his lip, “Kidnapping doesn’t really seem your whole… bag, yknow?” And it’s true, in the time Hawks had known the villain he had done a lot of evil things. Asked for Best Jeanist’s dead body, tried to murder Endeavor on live television with a nomu, had threatened to burn Hawks’ wings off at the slightest provocation.
But he never went after a child. Hell, he’d even seen Dabi stop what he was doing to shoo a kid away to safety.
Dabi clicked his tongue, and for a second Hawks was sure he wouldn’t answer. It wasn’t unusual for him to just ignore the questions he didn’t like. Instead, he let out a sigh and ashed his cigarette, “... It’s not. My thing, that is. Those hero kids, or whatever, got themselves into this shit but-” The man made a disgruntled sound and glared at Hawks.
The hero raised his hands, shaking his head, “But you wouldn’t fuck with them until they were outta school.” Hawks had found, at one of their early meetings, that Dabi was more at ease if Hawks gave in to his hakata-ben instead eastern japanese.
Dabi shrugged, relaxing a bit, “... More or less. They’re idiots, but they’re kids.” Groaning, he eyed Hawks for a minute, “Keep your beak shut about this, Bird. But… haa, I had to talk the boss down in numbers. Wouldn’t go down t’ zero so we settled on the angry kid and Quoth the Raven…”
Hawks bit his tongue, now was not the time to get into a fight over Tokoyami, no matter how much he loved the kid. Except, Dabi gave him a long look again and sighed, “... Raven kid is yours right? Sorry he uh… got caught up in alla that.”
Dabi had a vague Shizuoka-ben, that he tried to cover up with more western accents. But even still there was a genuine lilt to his apology that Hawks couldn’t help but smile at. “...Apology accepted, Dabs.”
They go on like that, for a time. Quiet talks, carefully shared information, missions that walk a tight thin line of legality. Somehow they all lead to heated hands slotting onto his hips as his own dig into ink black hair, desperate kisses hidden in the anonymity of night.
--
“And how, exactly again, did you get hand shaped first degree burns on your hips again, Hawks-kun?”
“.... I fell, Hisoka-kun?”
“... Onto a fucking heated metal statue, Hawks-kun!?”
“Yea, sure.”
“... I’m going to kill you-!”
--
It wasn’t supposed to go this way.
Hawks wasn’t supposed to get attached to Dabi, hell Hawks wasn’t supposed to get attached to anything other than being a hero.
Hawks wasn’t supposed to find Dabi half frozen to death, burnt and bleeding in an alleyway. Shaken and hurt after some battle that he couldn’t even properly articulate in the state he was in.
Hawks wasn’t supposed to be flying at a breakneck speed over the Fukuoka skyline carrying an A Rank villain, praying to whatever gods would still listen to him that please don’t let my boyfriend die .
Whatever gods there are answer him, his balcony door is still open and unlocked. Which means Yasu hasn’t left for home yet.
Which means Hisoka definitely hasn’t left for home yet.
As he lands he shoots two feathers ahead of him, one going through the air ducts to find Hisoka the other at a closer distance to open any door in his way.
“Hawks-chan what are-! Is that-!?” Yasu’s already standing, staring at him and the barely breathing - Oh gods he’s so still, so cold, keep him alive - villain in his arms.
“Yasu, is Hisoka still in-!?” At her wide eyed stare he leveled a soft growl, “Yasu-!”
“I-! Yes-! She’s in her office-!”
“Good. If they’re not already, either lock the front door or tell Nao to.”
The run to Hisoka’s office is seconds long, but too many seconds too long. The woman startles as he rushes into her office, pink eyes blinking at him as he places the shivering body on the bed, “Hawks-kun what’s going on-?!”
“Hisoka you have to save him!”
Unlike Yasu and the questions that paralyzed her, Hisoka takes one quick look at Dabi before clicking her tongue. “... Alright. Get the fuck out of my office and let me work. Get Nao-kun, he hasn’t left yet.”
“I’m not leaving-”
“I’m not repeating myself, Hawks. Get the fuck out of my office and let me do my gods damned job.”
The click of the office’s lock rings like a death knell behind Hawks.
--
Apparently, Hawks’ family had been planning on taking him out to dinner. For all his hard work becoming number two. So they were all in the office waiting for him.
The false calm of Nao’s quirk is the only thing keeping Hawks from stress gripping Yasu’s hands to nothing. Takashi’s voice is a quiet din in the background as they explain the difference of retweets and reposts to Yoneda. Softly in Hawks’ ear, Nao tells him about Aya and how first grade is going for her.
When Hisoka’s door opens, Hawks is on his feet before a thought even crosses his mind. “How is he?”
She sighed as she scrubbed a hand through her hair, “Stable. I won’t be able to do much more until he wakes up, but I have him on IV.” Waving him in she shook her head, “Cmon, I know you won’t answer jack shit until you see him yourself.”
Dabi’s breath is ragged, but slow and deep enough that Hawks accepts that the man is indeed alive and well. Crumbling beside the bed, he pulled the IV free hand into his grip, pressing his forehead against the limp limb, “Oh Dabs…”
Yoneda’s sigh pulled some of his attention away from his boyfriend, “So, in order to get you to date, all we needed to do was put you in a covert operation? Good to know, Hawks-san.”
At everyone’s pointed looks, Hawks grimaced, “...I was sent by the Commission to infiltrate the LoV. Dabi was my contact… We uh… got entangled, I guess you could say. I found him like this and panicked.”
The quiet was broken by Takashi nervously clearing their throat, “Oh, uhm… were we not supposed to know that?”
“... Huh?”
“Oh well… uhm… I’ve been hacking and deleting any evidence of you being anywhere near Dabi? I thought you were just hooking up though… I didn’t realize it was a mission.”
Yasu’s brow rose slowly at Takashi, “And Hawks-chan hooking up with a villain was your… first thought. And you were cool with that, Takashi-kun?”
“I-I mean… we’ve been lying to the Commission with Yoneda-san so…”
“Why’ssit so fuckin’ loud….?” Dabi’s slurred voice immediately pulled Hawks’ attention away from… whatever Takashi was getting at. Cupping his cheek, turquoise blue eyes blinked blearily at Hawks, “Hey-there, Pretty Bird. Y’look like y’ve seen a ghost.”
Sniffling, Hawks shook his head, “More like a zombie, Dabs.”
Clearing her throat, Hisoka shot a pointed look at Dabi, “...Long time, no see, ‘Dabi.’”
Yoneda snapped his fingers, realization bright in his eyes, “Ooooh I was wondering how I recognized him!”
Dabi’s eyes focused on Hisoka and Yoneda, a groan escaping him as he head fell back, “Of course the bird knows you brats…”
“Consider this a courtesy, ‘Dabi,’ doctor patient confidentiality or what have you,” Hisoka leaned forward as she checked the man’s vitals, “You tell me what Hawks here knows, and I’ll play along for now.”
Another groan as Dabi’s eyes shuttered closed. After a pause, he sighed, “Say my name, Pretty Bird.”
Nervously, Hawks glanced between everyone before letting out a small chirp, “...Touya.”
Yoneda was nodding as Hisoka clicked her tongue, “Isamu-kun and I met Touya when we were on the streets. It was about two years, but I’d remember the migraine I got every time my quirk registered him anywhere.”
Yoneda hummed as he leaned against a bed, “Hisoka-chan got out first, getting a scholarship from Shiketsu’s nurse. I got out next, used my quirk to get into an acceptable foster home. Hisoka-chan would patch me and Touya up after the fights we’d get into. Or in his case, his quirk hurting him.”
Nao shook his head, “While I’m glad we’re finally figuring out why Hisoka-kun is the way she is, you as well Yoneda-kun, can we get to why Dabi-san’s in the state he is? I’ve never seen Hawks-kun this panicked before.”
Dabi frowned at Hawks and mouthed ‘Dabi-san?’ to him, to which Hawks just gave a small shrug, “That’s how Nao-san is, I dunno.”
Shaking his head, Dabi let out a small hiss at Hisoka as she double checked a burn, “Careful, brat. I’m barely held together as it is.” Looking over the rest of them, he looked lazily at Hawks, “.... They all know about your double agent shit, pretty bird?” At Hawks’ panicked look, he shushed the hero, “You’re a bad liar, dove. I joined the League cause I thought it’d get me closer to killin’ Endeavor. Then they had me kidnap kids, but it got leveled out from gettin’ to fuck up that yakuza asshole.
“Then we fuckin’- started joinin up with the Meta Liberation Army and Re-Destro fuckin’ shit. But that has shit all to do with gettin rid of hero ranks, and fake heroes, or killin’ my piece of shit sperm donor. So I tried t’ walk and they sicked this ice fuck, Geten, on me. I got away but all I really could do was send Hawks my location.”
As everyone processed the villain’s words, Yasu finally sighed and cracked her neck, “Well. Alright then, what’s it gonna be, Hawks-chan?” When he met her eyes, her grin was feral, “Who’re we takin’ down first? The League? Endeavor? The Commission? Just say the word, boss.” Everyone else nodded along to her words, determination in their eyes.
As Hawks felt his eyes well up, Dabi’s rough laugh vibrated in his ear, “You got a pretty scary family there, song bird.”
“Yea… Yea I do, don’t I?”