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“A single person with a single conviction has the power to change the world. There are no true Heroes.” Dabi ground his foot into Hawk's back. “I plan to make Stain's will a reality.”
Blue flames roared to life and Dabi's manic smile widened. “See ya Hawks. Your life is another thing I don't care about.”
The roar of the inferno drowned out Hawks’ surroundings, and blue consumed his vision before he knew no more.
“Damnit Luffy, how the hell did you throw us into a fucking whirlpool two minutes in?? ” Callisto dragged her hand down her face as her raft sped through the water. “Hope he’s alright.”
Humming under her breath, she spotted a strange shape in the distance and frowned. “What’s that?”
She slowed down as she got closer and realized it was a man in a boat; an unconscious, badly injured man, and his slowly sinking boat.
“Ah, jeez…” Callisto quickly made some space on her raft and hauled the man onto her raft. His boat sank almost immediately afterward and she quickly looked him over. A pair of large, burned red wings sprouted from his back and singed ash blond hair clung to his forehead. She moved the tattered remains of a black and gold shirt and her brow furrowed. Everything about his injuries suggested he’d been in an intense fire, but apart from his hair and wings, the rest of him looked relatively unburnt. Beat to hell, but unburnt. It was bizarre, but at least it’d make it easier to heal him at least.
“Did you get attacked by a dragon or did your ship get attacked?” Callisto blew a breath through her nose before getting to work. Under her limited healing magic, his burns, cuts, and other injuries slowly disappeared, but his wings were still in bad condition. At least they now looked like they had a better chance of healing. As she waved her hands to rid herself of the pins and needles, she realized she had another issue. “Fuck, how am I going to move you around?”
She wrinkled her nose when she spotted a spare coil of rope and sighed, “Sorry, but can’t have you falling off the raft into a Sea King’s mouth.”
The first thing Hawks registered was that he was alive and not a burnt chicken nugget. As consciousness made a slow appearance, he sluggishly took stock of himself and realized that the pain he should have been in was missing. Salt hit his nose and the movement under him told him he was on the water.
Saltwater? How did he get here?
He tried to move, but realized he’d been tied up. His heart sank a little, but he banished the emotion as soon as it appeared. Whoever tied him up had left his wings exposed at least so he wasn’t totally defenseless. Opening his eyes a crack, he discovered he was on a clearly handmade raft and somewhere in the middle of the ocean. From his limited vision, it didn’t look like he was anywhere near land, and with his wings in their condition, flying wasn’t an option. If he’d been caught by Villains, he could begrudgingly admit they did a decent job. It wasn’t enough to keep him down, but it was a good attempt. Humming dragged his attention to the front and his eyes landed on a pair of large, white, black-barred wings attached to a dark-haired girl. A quick up and down told him she couldn’t be any older than 18, and alone. That was dangerous for several other reasons.
The humming stopped and she turned around, walking over to crouch in front of him. Through barely opened eyes, he observed doll-like features, wide eyes, lightly tanned skin, and faint scars. She frowned as careful eyes looked him over. “Still not awake, huh? Don’t want to drop you off just anywhere, but I don’t know how he’s gonna react if I just…show up with you.”
Was she in trouble? Her tone didn’t convey fear, but the faint threads of concern were there. He heard her stand up and a wave of cool air washed over him. The girl huffed, “Damn, someone really tried to fry you. It’s taking forever to get your feathers back. I’ve only gotten a third of them back so far.”
Now Hawks was curious. Dabi had destroyed most of his feathers with that final blast before presumably killing him. Even if he’d miraculously survived, his wings had been too damaged, yet this girl said she had a third of them healed. She moved back toward the front of the raft, and started humming again.
Callisto was pretty sure the man was awake. For all intents and purposes, he still looked unconscious, but she would’ve missed it completely if it wasn’t for the minute breathing change. Still, that didn’t exactly tell her what to do about it. She supposed her best bet would be continue on as there was only so much he could do in the middle of the ocean. Tapping her foot, she sent a jet of air behind them and the raft sped forward. It wasn’t the same as flying, but the rush was similar enough. The raft bounced along the waves and she squinted at the sky. Shells Town had said that Luffy and a green-haired swordsman named Zoro had headed south east, and Orange Town told her Luffy, Zoro, and a ginger-haired girl had headed further south-east toward the Gecko Islands.
“At least it’s something.” Callisto ran a hand through her hair and glanced back at her passenger. “…Probably should secure you better so you don’t go flying off.”
The raft slowed to a crawl, and she fully turned around, only to stop in surprise at golden eyes staring back at her. She blinked, “Uh, I see you’re awake.”
“Hello, miss.” Hawks smiled winningly at her. “Nice day out, isn’t it?”
“Pft, sure. If you count getting dropped into a rickety boat in the middle of the East Blue.” Callisto snorted, cocking her hip. She looked him over, “You're chipper for someone that almost got turned into roast chicken.”
“Can’t please everyone.” Hawks shrugged. The effect was lost as he was still tied up. “This seems a bit like overkill.”
“It was either that or you go flying into the mouth of a Sea King.” Callisto shrugged.
Despite her words, the ropes abruptly fell and Hawks stood up, rolling his shoulders to remove the stiffness. She turned forward again, seemingly unconcerned about having him at her back, “I’m Callisto by the way, you got a name?”
“You can call me Hawks.” Hawks braced himself as the raft suddenly picked up speed. “Not worried about me at your back?”
“Sure, but we’re in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the East Blue, the amount of clothes between us wouldn’t make for a good sail, and even if they did, I doubt the wind would push you fast enough to escape a Sea King. And considering all that, there’s also the matter of if you know how to navigate.” Callisto shrugged. “Granted they aren’t as big here as they are in the Grand Line, but they’d still make a meal out of you.”
Sea Kings? East Blue? Grand Line?
There was no East Blue or Grand Line on Earth, and as far as he knew, nothing carnivorous that was big enough to eat a full-sized adult human in one go, never mind have size classifications. “Where are we anyway?”
Callisto gave him a confused look. “I just said, East Blue. I guess if you want to get technical, we’re south of Orange Village and heading toward the Gecko Islands.”
“That’s not ringing any bells for me.” Hawks replied.
“…” Callisto’s brow furrowed a little, “You’re…not from around here, are you? I get not knowing about Gecko Islands or Orange Village, but everyone knows what the East Blue is.”
“I guess you could say that.” Hawks said cheerily. “That a problem?”
He hadn’t exactly expected her to sus that out as quickly as she did, and while his posture stayed relaxed, his eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
“Ehn, nah.” Callisto shrugged. “It’s a big world, isn’t it? There’s probably a lot I don’t know either. Since we’re gonna be sailing for another few hours, got any questions?”
Hawks blinked, thrown by the disinterest. He pulled himself together and the smile came back. He wasn’t about to throw away a free offer of information. “Sure, but before we start, mind if I ask you something?”
“Mm, sure. Shoot.”
“Do the names Shigaraki, Dabi, League of Villains, or All For One mean anything to you?”
Callisto fell silent, looking pensive. Her brow furrowed and she tilted her head. “Uh…I know ‘Dabi’ means cremation…I think? I don’t know what a Shigaraki or All For One are…sounds like something out of a comic. Same with League of Villains. Sorry.”
“Really? What about…ReDestro or the Meta Liberation Army? Anything there?”
“Nope.” Callisto shook her head.
“Ah, don’t mind then.” Hawks’ thoughts whirled, sliding the pieces into place. He fell silent and studied Callisto as she turned back to the front.
Judging from Callisto’s non-reactions to the biggest Villains of their time, two possibilities came to mind. The first possibility was that Callisto had been living under a rock the whole time, but that seemed unlikely. Even for someone avoiding the Hero Circuit news, the odds of completely missing the ruckus around the League of Villains and the Meta Liberation Army were small.
The second possibility seemed even more unlikely, but given his circumstances before waking up and the information Callisto had provided, he was dead. Dead, and sent elsewhere for some reason. Unfortunately, he had no way to communicate with Death so he didn’t have much choice, but to accept the current hand he’d been dealt.
“Hawks?”
He broke out of his thoughts as Callisto waved a hand at him and smiled disarmingly, “Sorry, sorry. Got lost in my thoughts. What can you tell me about the world?”
“Mmmm…to start with…” Callisto paused before launching into an overview of the world.
Devil fruits, the four oceans, the Grand Line, Red Line, World Government, and Gold Roger; it was a lot of information. Callisto even outlined the marines’ hierarchy for him. “Sorry, it’s probably a lot I just threw at you.”
“Ah, it’s fine, it’s fine.” Hawks waved a hand, mentally sorting it away. “But for a civilian, you know an awful lot about the government and it’s inner workings.”
“Ah…yeah…” Callisto faltered and looked back to the front. The smell of blood and gunpowder briefly filled her nose, before the ocean breeze whipped it away. “It’s…not something I like to think about too much.”
A pang of empathy went through him, and his keen eyes picked up small mannerisms that he hadn’t noticed before: her stance, the easily accessible weapons at her side, and the easy confidence at turning her back on him. He wondered if she’d gone through the same thing he had. Deciding to pursue that at a separate time, Hawks changed the subject, “So, who are we meeting up with?”
Callisto’s face brightened and her thoughts shifted from its previously dark spot, “We’re meeting up with Luffy! He’s gotten some other people into his crew from I’ve heard so I’m hoping we have an actual ship by the time we meet up with him. From what the last village said, he and the others were headed to Gecko Islands. Hopefully, he’ll still be there.”
She trailed off, wrinkling her nose a little. Luffy never stayed still unfortunately which made trying to find him impossible sometimes. Shaking her head, she tapped her foot again and the raft sped up. “You’re welcome to stick around if you want, but we could probably drop you off at the next big town if you don’t.”
A grin suddenly flitted across her face. “I think he’ll like you a lot.”
“I’m sure I could find a way to make myself useful.” Hawks shrugged, spreading his arms out. “I’d hate to hitch a ride and not help out.”
He supposed he shouldn’t be too surprised; falling into debt immediately in his new start wasn’t how he’d wanted it to go, but that was how the world worked.
Callisto blinked and laughed, “Oh, it’s got nothing to do with how useful you are. He’ll like you and want you to join cause you look cool. And since we’re traveling together, he’s gonna claim you as a friend.”
“…Friend, huh?” Hawks blinked, thrown off kilter for the second time in the conversation. It gave him a bitter taste, as the last person that called him ‘friend’, he’d stabbed him in the back. From the little time he’d spent with Callisto so far, she seemed like a kind and relaxed person, and he hoped that this wouldn’t end the same way.
The rest of the trip was spent in amicable silence, occasionally punctuated by Hawks peppering Callisto with questions about the world. Callisto answered as best she could although some things she didn’t have the answer for. Hawks seemed pretty nice, albeit odd, but she supposed she couldn’t criticize, growing with Luffy and Ace. They finally reached Gecko Island the following morning and Callisto squinted as the coast came into view. A large black mass also came into view and she blinked as a large ship with a cat head swam into focus. “The hell is that?”
“Looks like a pirate ship.” Hawks chirped. “A pretty beat up one at that.”
“Out of our way, girlie!” A pirate shouted from above. “Move it or we’ll blast you!”
“Yeah, absolutely not.” Wings sprang from Callisto’s back and she missed Hawks’ surprised expression as she shot up and swung her kusarigama around. “Gale shot!”
The Strawhats watched the Black Cat Pirate ship sail away into the distance when the ship suddenly exploded. Nami screamed in shock as a massive wind suddenly rushed up the coast and she tightened her grip on Luffy’s hat.
“W-Wh-What was that?!” Nami shouted, “What happened?”
“More trouble?!” Zoro slid down the hill, hands on his swords.
The trio stared nervously as a figure on a small fast moving boat appeared through the chaos. As the stranger got closer, they saw two figures on a raft. The woman had dark haired dressed in an asymmetrical hemmed red jacket, a two toned corset top, torn pants, and knee high boots. The man wore a black and gold shirt with baggy pants and two large red wings stuck out of his back.
As her raft beached on the sand, Luffy's face split into a wide smile and he raced down the beach.
“LIIIIIIIILYYYYYY!!!!”
“Eh?”
“Lily” looked up in alarm as Luffy launched himself at her and he flew past into the shallows as she ducked.
“Luffy, what are you doing?” Callisto asked exasperatedly.
“Shishishi, I wanted to say hi,” Luffy laughed, holding onto his hat, “Where’d you go? Did you get lost like Zoro? Eh? Who’s that?”
Luffy had noticed Hawks who waved at him. Callisto said, “That’s Hawks. Picked him up on the way over here. And I didn’t get lost, we got separated after that stupid whirlpool.”
“Whoooaa!! So cool!! He’s got wings like you!!” Luffy’s eyes turned into stars as he bounced around Hawks. “Can you fly? Can you fly me around? Oh, you should join my crew!”
Hawks blinked, smile turning bemused. Callisto hadn’t been wrong when she said Luffy would want him to join. Purely off the basis of being cool-looking.
“Luffy, focus.” Callisto chided, “And who’s Zoro?”
Luffy’s eyes lit up and he pulled Callisto and Hawks over to the other two. “They’re my crew! I’ve got a navigator and a swordsman so far!”
Callisto noticed the other two people; a green-haired man with three swords and a haramaki, along with a ginger-haired girl in a yellow miniskirt and a white and blue striped shirt.
Luffy dragged the unresisting Callisto over excitedly, “Oooy!! Guys! Lily and Hawks are here!”
“Who’s Lily?” Zoro asked. “And Hawks?”
“She’s my childhood friend, Hawks is her friend, and our new crewmates!” Luffy wrapped his arms around Callisto’s shoulders. “And she’s-!”
“Nope, don’t say it.” Callisto said, clapping a hand over Luffy’s mouth. She nodded, “I’m Callisto, nice to meet you.”
“Yo,” Hawks nodded, rolling a shoulder and eyed the three new people.
Luffy was full of smiles, laughter, and a childish energy that was oddly infectious. It was clear how close Luffy and Callisto were as Luffy never let go of her hand and dragged her around. Callisto on her part, didn’t object as Luffy chatted her ear off and nodded in an indulgent fashion.
Zoro had a stern and serious appearance and struck Hawks as someone that was highly battle proficient. The three swords seemed strange, but he doubted Zoro would carry them around if he couldn’t use them. Zoro had also clocked Hawks as someone to be wary of as his hand had never drifted far from his scabbards. However he seemed to be following Luffy’s lead, and simply keeping an eye on them.
Nami was a bit of a puzzle. She was hiding something, but as he had limited information, he couldn’t pin point what. Despite her outfit, he guessed she was quick on her feet, less of a front line fighter, but probably tougher than she looked.
“I’m Zoro,” Zoro eyed her curiously, “You take that ship out?”
“Wasn’t interested in getting shot by a cannon,” Callisto shrugged.
“I’m Nami,” Nami smiled,
“Nice to meet you and what happened to you?” Callisto eyed Luffy’s injuries. “You piss off a cat or something?”
“Yeah,” Luffy shrugged, falling onto his back, “I need a steak.”
“Of course you do,” Callisto sighed, sitting down next to him.
The four sat in silence and Zoro eyed Callisto’s weapons. A katana and a kusarigama hung from her waist and an ornate bow was slung across her back. They looked well-cared for and Zoro wondered how skilled she was.
“See something you like?”
Callisto caught his eye with a grin and Zoro refused to look away.
“You’ve got some nice weapons.”
“Thanks, been using the bow and kusarigama since I was a kid.” Callisto ran a hand over the katana’s sheath, “Haven’t a chance to learn the sword yet; there wasn’t a swordsman back home.”
“So Callisto, Hawks, what-?” Nami broke off as another voice interrupted them.
“Oooy!”
Callisto looked up to see a boy with a bloody bandanna running over to them. “Who’s that?”
Usopp grinned down at them, “I owe you guys. Without you…”
He broke off as he registered Callisto and Hawks, and he blinked, eyeing her nervously, “Uhhh, who are you two?”
“I’m Callisto, and this is Hawks.” She replied with a wave, “We just got here, nice to meet you…?”
“Eh? Oh, uh, I'm the Great Captain Usopp.” He puffed out his chest and winced.
“Nice to meet you.” Callisto said cheerfully, “I'm this guy's childhood friend.”
“And I’m the stray bird she picked up.” Hawks grinned.
“Oh. Right.” Usopp cleared his throat. “I'd like to ask a favor.”
As the Strawhats chatted, Luffy wrapped his arms around Callisto's shoulders and grumbled, “I'm hungry.”
“Listen first, and then we'll get you food.” She chided.
Luffy pouted, but relented.
The gist of it was that Usopp wanted the crew to not say anything about the Black Cat Pirates. Callisto supposed that made sense, Syrup Village was pretty remote and there were plenty of islands closer to the Grand Line that would attract roving pirates' eyes. The crew headed to a restaurant to recuperate and as they ate, Nami asked, “So, what was that attack earlier?”
“It's not a Devil Fruit if that's what you're wondering.” Callisto shrugged. “Been able to do this since forever.”
“And, what can you do?” Nami asked Hawks.
“Not much.” Hawks hummed. “I can fly like Callisto here, and I can use my feathers as weapons.”
He neglected to mention he could use them to listen or sense things. Better to keep that under wraps for now.
“Finally got it out.” Luffy pulled the fish skeleton out of his mouth. “Ugh.”
“You need to work on your fish bone eating technique.” Zoro snorted.
“Hate to break it to you two. But normal people don’t eat this part.” Nami scolded.
“How’s the chicken?” Callisto asked.
“It’s good.” Hawks finished the last of it and pushed his plate away.
It felt odd being able to take his time, and he kept expecting his phone to go off at any second. Except, he didn’t have a phone anymore, and the HPSC was definitely not a thing here.
Callisto pushed her plate away and hummed, “Shall we get going then?”
The restaurant door suddenly opened with a ding, and a young woman approached them. “I finally found you! You four need a ship right?”
The young woman was Kaya, one of the people Luffy had saved by driving off the pirates. The tale was a strange one, but Callisto wasn’t too surprised. Her eyes widened and the others oohed as a caravel waited for them by the shore.
“I present to you, the Merry Go!” A man with sheep horns proclaimed.
He gave Nami a run down of how it worked and Luffy beamed, “What a great ship!”
“I’ve stocked it with everything you might need at sea.” Kaya said.
“Thank you! You’re sure adding insult to injury, Miss Kaya!” Luffy said happily.
“Try ‘adding icing to the cake’, moron.” Zoro said exasperatedly.
Hawks flew up to the railing and carefully balanced on it. A smile spread across his face at the thought this would be home for the foreseeable future.
“WAHHHH!!!”
Everyone looked up the hill to see something rolling toward them.
“What’s that?” Callisto asked curiously.
Hawks moved over to get a better look. “Looks like that Usopp kid from earlier. Think he’s rolling down cause of that pack.”
“We should stop him.” Zoro said, “He might damage the ship.”
Usopp rolled down the hill, stopping abruptly as he crashed in Luffy and Zoro’s feet. “T-Thanks…”
As he exchanged goodbyes with Kaya and Merry, Callisto shrank her raft, and loaded it onto the ship. She patted it, “Don’t want to leave this behind. How’re your wings doing?”
Hawks flexed them experimentally. The meal earlier had helped, but his feathers still weren’t back yet. “Better, that chicken helped.”
“Chicken fiend, huh.” Callisto snorted. “Guess we’ll have to stock up.”
The crew waved goodbye again and as they set sail, a foreign sense of excitement welled up inside Hawks. As he took in his new ‘crew’, his mind whirled with possibilities
A new world.
A new life.
And just maybe…finally time to find himself.
As his thought mulled around, Luffy rolled out a barrel, brandishing a glass, and a wide grin on his lips. “Here’s to a new ship and new friends!!”
“Kanpai!!”