Work Text:
“He’s still human-!”
“And our primary hero for important missions.”
Hawks sat uncomfortably in a chair in the Hero Public Safety Commission’s main office.
He had been summoned for a new mission only a week after being rescued from one that went horribly wrong, and Dabi wasn’t having it.
With how many times Touya had to wake him from nightmares, soothed him back to sleep with words of affection and comfort, saying again and again, “I promise you’re safe now,” he wasn’t about to let him go to the commission alone.
Touya had even turned down the HPSC’s offer to provide a therapist, finding one himself for Keigo, with Touya speaking of suspicions that they’d just have one write him off after a day as good and stop there.
Keigo wasn’t ok.
Not when loud sounds fluffed what few feathers he had and had him swift to investigate compared to before.
Any hysterical laugher, on what rare cases that was, from the tv had him lost in his own world for a bit.
He was weary of keeping their knife block out, insisting it be ‘hidden’ in a kitchen cabinet.
His physical injuries weren’t all healed, either.
Touya was still tending to some, carefully cleaning and covering them in the mornings, before bed, and some around noon.
It came as no surprise when Dabi insisted on accompanying Hawks.
They both knew Hawks' sense of duty would have Hawks reluctant to argue and easy to convince that he was well enough to take on hero work again.
He just didn't expect Dabi to take the reigns on the matter like he had.
“If these missions are so important," Dabi almost growled, "then find someone else for a while! I’m sure plenty a heroes would be fine with doing whatever it is you want done!” He glared at the woman before him, yet her expression didn’t waver.
The two men on either side of her were another story, both looking uneasy.
No one could blame them. Not when the hotheaded eldest of the Endeavor was before them, small flames starting on the shoulders of his specially-made hero uniform while he glared a fiery hell at them.
Endeavor was by all means intimidating, but he had more control of his temper than his eldest, especially on things he cares more about.
Dabi’s work has had him neck-and-neck with Hawks some years for ranking, too, alongside his charm, so he wasn’t weak or entirely out of control.
But Keigo’s well-being, however, happened to fall under his easy-press button list.
Dabi already knew more about his husband’s treatment under the commission than they likely wanted, so he wasn’t a fan of theirs as-is.
“There is no ‘someone else’ option.”
“Then make one.”
Hawks didn’t know what to say or do.
The fact that he was seated wasn’t even his decision.
He had aimed to remain standing, but Touya had gently coaxed him into the seat.
He was knowingly between a rock and a hard place right now; his work, and his husband with a psychology degree.
So Touya knew exactly what he was talking about from both caring for Keigo the past week and his studies.
“If he doesn’t take proper care of himself after that kinda shit, he could be left with long-term trauma-“
“He wasn’t trained for trauma and breaks. He was trained to be capable of enduring, and carrying out his mission.”
“Then his mission now should be to rest and recover.” Dabi walked over to place a hand on each of Keigo’s shoulders. “He isn’t well enough to work as of right now. And I can inform you, alongside his current therapist, of when he is.”
He really did have his father’s stubbornness.
A dangerous combination with that temper.
“I’ll be leaving with Hawks now. Unless you wanna try to detain me, then explain that to the media? So the public eye, alongside Endeavor.” Dabi shrugged casually. “Oh, and cross fingers I don’t leak details on the hostage situation you sent me on to save Hawks.”
“You’re really something, hotshot.” Keigo was, by Touya’s orders, back in his sky blue pjs with little cartoony chicks on them, seated on their couch.
“Someone’s gotta take care of ya.” Touya handed him a can of coffee from the fridge before sitting beside him with his own soda. “Now, let’s get that next episode rolling.”
Keigo cooed happily as he snuggled up against Touya.
As Touya rested an arm around Keigo’s shoulders, he couldn’t help but be reminded of how Touya combed through his feathers when he had more. How he’d call them soft and pretty, and joke about how unbelievable it was that something like that could be so easily turned into weapons-
“Don’t hold back on me now, Hawks! I see those slight twitches when I pluck ‘em! C’mon, I wanna hear your pain-!”
Keigo winced, with what little of his wings he had flicking themselves a bit in protest.
“You ok?”
“I, yeah.” He hadn’t noticed how he was clinging to Touya’s shirt until Touya spoke, loosening his grip to avoid tearing through it with his talons. “Sorry, just.” He took a moment to continue. “I think it was one a those memory pain things again. From the… The plucking.”
Touya lowered his arm to Keigo’s waist, mindful of his wings as he did so. “We’ll watch an episode then, and talk over lunch.” He wanted to give Hawks a moment to make sure he could relax again before discussing it.
“‘k.” Soon, then.
For now, they snuggled on the couch, Touya combing a hand gently through feathery blonde hair as they watched the little different-colored cartoon chicks as they worked together to figure out where the grey one left their favorite hat this episode.