Chapter Text
In Endeavor's Main Office, an unusual sight unfolded-- one you wouldn’t expect in a place as rigid and disciplined as Endeavor’s Agency. Seated seiza-style on the floor in front of the imposing central desk were three interns: Hawks, Dabi, and [Name]. Each wore a different expression-- Hawks appeared uneasy, Dabi wore a smug grin, and [Name] stared blankly into the distance, lost in thought. The tension in the room was palpable.
Endeavor, the Flame Hero, loomed over them, his fiery glare fixed on the trio.
“Let’s address your recent failures,” Endeavor growled, his voice a low rumble that demanded attention. “Hawks-- engaging in unauthorized fraternizing with admirers? You jeopardized the mission for your own amusement.”
Hawks shifted, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by visible discomfort.
“Dabi,” Endeavor continued, his glare narrowing. “Your refusal to cooperate with your teammates has crippled team cohesion and effectiveness. And the property damage-- completely avoidable if you had let [Name] contain your flames.”
Dabi met Endeavor’s fiery stare with unbothered defiance, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“And you, [Name],” Endeavor said sharply, flames flickering more intensely around him. His disappointment was evident. “For someone raised by All Might-- even if adopted-- I expected at least a shred of his work ethic. Your lack of situational awareness is disgraceful. You should be capable of managing yourself without relying on others.”
[Name] remained unmoved, their calm demeanor only stoking Endeavor’s irritation further.
The flames around him flared hotter. “Do any of you understand the consequences of your actions? This isn’t a playground! Lives are at stake, and your incompetence is unacceptable!”
The three interns sat in silence, the weight of Endeavor’s words pressing down on them.
“Well?!” Endeavor’s voice barked, breaking the silence that had stretched on too long. “Do you three have anything to say for yourselves?”
Hawks shifted his gaze between Dabi and [Name], hesitating before slowly raising his hand as if to ask a question. Endeavor fought the urge to roll his eyes. “What is it, Hawks?”
“If anyone should be blamed here,” Hawks said slowly, “it’s Dabi.” Dabi shot him a sharp side-eye. Hawks, usually the type to stay out of drama, couldn’t keep quiet any longer, especially with Endeavor’s wrath focused on him. “I was just asking the civilians for directions because Dabi kept running off without us. One thing led to another, and they wanted photos with me. I couldn’t exactly say no.”
“Aw, boo-hoo,” Dabi cut in, a mocking smirk tugging at his lips. “Poor Mr. Birdbrain, upset because the ladies couldn’t keep their hands off him.” Hawks glared at him, but before he could retort, Dabi interrupted again. “Besides, the property damage wasn’t that bad.”
Endeavor’s gaze hardened at Dabi’s dismissal.
“It was Airhead’s fault for not being able to keep up with me in the first place,” Dabi added casually, throwing [Name] under the bus.
Endeavor’s flames flared to life, licking the edges of his desk as his anger reached a boiling point. “Enough!” he bellowed, his voice shaking the room. “If you refuse to follow orders and work as a team, you have no place here.”
Dabi’s smirk faltered just a bit, but he quickly masked it with an exaggerated eye roll, muttering under his breath, “Whatever.”
Endeavor’s gaze shifted, now focusing intently on [Name]. “And you,” he growled, his tone darkening, “if you think daydreaming is acceptable in my office, you’re mistaken.”
[Name] blinked slowly, turning to look at him, seemingly unphased. “Huh?”
Endeavor’s flames sputtered, caught off guard by their utter lack of concern. “Did you even hear a word I just said?”
“Something about situational awareness,” [Name] replied nonchalantly, scratching their head. “Look, I wasn’t relying on anyone. Dabi’s flames are... a lot. I’m working on it.”
“WORKING ON IT?!”
Without warning, Endeavor grabbed Hawks by the face with his left hand and [Name] with his right, then, in one swift motion, slammed their faces directly into Dabi’s skull.
The sound of impact echoed through the room, followed by a cacophony of pained yowls. Hawks crumpled to the side, clutching his head with one hand while his wings flapped wildly in an attempt to stabilize himself, his feathers zooming out of control. “Ow, ow, ow!” he howled, his feathers ruffling in panic.
Dabi’s body folded like a wet noodle as he staggered back, gripping his skull as if it were going to explode. “WHAT THE HELL, DAD?!” he groaned, knees buckling.
Meanwhile, [Name] was flailing in the air, crying out in exaggerated distress. “This is abuse!” they shouted between kicks, their legs spinning like a windmill. “I’m seriously going to have a concussion!”
Endeavor stood over the three interns, watching the chaos unfold with a cold, unwavering gaze. The room was filled with the sounds of groaning, wing flapping, and the occasional squawk of protest. The intensity of his earlier anger still lingered in the air like the remnants of a firestorm, but the flames around his body had simmered down to a mere flicker.
He crossed his arms, watching them writhe on the floor with a mix of annoyance and what could almost be interpreted as... disappointment?
“Alright, enough.” His voice was still low but controlled, like the calm before the storm. “You’re all fine. Stop acting like you’re going to die.”
Dabi, still clutching his head, groaned and slowly sat up. “Fine? I feel like my brain’s about to melt.” He glared at Endeavor, his tone half sarcastic, half pained. “You can’t just slam people’s faces together like that! What are you, a villain?”
Endeavor’s fiery gaze narrowed, but his expression softened ever so slightly. “Maybe you’ll think twice before burning everything you see to the ground.” He didn’t give Dabi a chance to argue further before turning to [Name], who was still kicking the air and wailing melodramatically.
“I swear, if you don’t stop flailing-- ”
“I’m going to be permanently concussed!” [Name] wailed, dramatically clutching their head like it might fall off. “This is what happens when you treat us like human bumper cars! How are we supposed to get anything done when you keep slamming us into each other like this?! How are we supposed to work like this?”
Endeavor sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You’re all impossible.”
Hawks, who had slowly managed to straighten himself up, gave Endeavor a pointed look. “This is what happens when you don’t take a breather before laying down the law, boss. You’ve got a temper, y’know?” He rubbed his head with a slight wince, his usual smug grin returning. “Not that I’m complaining, but someone could use a vacation.”
Endeavor shot him a sharp glare, but it lacked its usual fire. He let out another frustrated sigh, clearly not ready to fully admit that maybe, just maybe, he’d overreacted. But it was hard to stay angry when they were all looking like a group of mangled birds after a bad flight.
“Alright, alright,” Endeavor muttered, turning away as if dismissing them all. “Just... get it together. And next time, pay attention. No more excuses.”
The interns slowly picked themselves off the floor, groaning as they straightened up, rubbing sore spots where their faces had collided. They shot each other tired, half-exasperated looks.
“Yeah, yeah,” Dabi muttered, dragging a hand through his feathers. “You don’t have to tell us twice.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the way he handles things,” [Name] muttered under their breath, a pout forming.
Dabi stretched and gave Endeavor a lopsided grin. “Well, that’s one way to get our attention.” He raised an eyebrow, adding with a shrug, “You should try a hug next time, though. Might do wonders for your temper.”
Endeavor’s flames flared up again—just a little, just enough to remind them who was in charge. “Out. All of you. Now.”
They didn't need to be told twice. The three interns hastily made their way to the door, eager to escape the aftermath of their fiery mentor’s wrath. Hawk decided to ease the tension by suggesting they go to a local ramen restaurant. As the door slammed shut behind them, a tense but somewhat relieved silence settled in the office.
Endeavor exhaled deeply, his flames flickering down to a soft glow. "I need a vacation."