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The cell is cold and dark and somewhere underground. Enji can do something to help with the first two without much effort, of course. There's less he can do about the third for the moment, given the locked door and the fire-proof wards woven into the walls.
"Fancy seeing you here," Hawks drawls from one corner, and Enji sighs.
Well, at least he's in the right place. It would have been nice if he'd managed to find it on his own instead of having to be tossed in here by the League of Villains, but—
Latey, Enji's been having to come to terms with the fact that he falls short in far too many areas.
"Considering I came here looking for you, it's not all that surprising," he says bluntly. He lets a flame dance across the palm of his hand, because the wards allow that much at least, and Hawks comes into view—curled up against a wall with his wings hanging limply at his side and blood on his face.
"Aww, I didn't know you cared so much, Number One," Hawks says brightly. He coughs, the sound rattling around in his chest, and Enji frowns. "Unless, you know, the Safety Commission sent you here to take me out for blowing my cover."
Enji's frown deepens. "Why would they do that?" he asks sharply, and then, when Hawks doesn't answer: "I came here on my own."
For a moment, the look on Hawks's face is a little surprised. Then it smooths out into a smirk. He shivers, but the smirk doesn't slip.
As aggravating as that smirk usually is, Enji finds he's glad of that. He hadn't been entirely certain what he'd find in this cell.
Hawks coughs again, and Enji moves, crouching down next to him. His frown turns into a scowl as he drops one hand onto Hawks's shoulder to transfer some heat.
He peers at the cut on Hawks's face. It doesn't look like it will need immediate attention. He's more concerned about the shivering.
"It's too bad," Hawks says. He's still shivering, and he leans instinctively into Enji's hand. "They were hoping you'd come, you know."
"Why would they think I'd come for you?" Enji wants to know. Sure, they've done a team-up or two before, and they're the number one and two heroes, but everyone's always known Enji prefers to work alone.
And these days, everyone thinks they know that Enji doesn't give two shits about anything but his name.
"Ah, well, you see—there's a tiny possibility that I might have refused to kill you," Hawks says.
Enji scoffs. "As if you could," he says, and then he narrows his eyes. "What do you mean, 'refused to kill me'?"
Hawks grins. "They gave me an ultimatum, big guy—kill you to prove my loyalty, or, you know, be exposed as a fraud."
"I thought that's why we faked Best Jeanist's death," Enji says. "To prove your loyalty."
Hawks lifts one shoulder in a half shrug. "Looks like it didn't completely allay their suspicions, huh?"
"That still doesn't explain why they thought I'd come for you," Enji says.
Hawks looks away, his eyes a little shifty, but finally he looks back at Enji. "What the hell," he mutters to himself under his breath. Then, speaking louder, his voice meant for Enji this time and not just himself: "Guess they thought maybe my big 'ol crush was reciprocated and you'd come play the knight in shining armour."
Enji stares at him for a long moment before deciding that he really doesn't have the emotional capacity to think about this right now—especially when Hawks's words send a desperate little twist of longing through his chest.
"You shouldn't have done that," he says. "You should have told them yes and we'd have figured it out."
Hawks rolls his eyes. "Always a critic," he complains lightly, and then he tilts his head in curiosity. "So how did you get thrown in here?"
Enji shrugs uncomfortably. "Their security seemed to be above adequate, so I took the fastest route."
Hawks blinks, then blinks again, and then tips his head back against the wall and starts laughing. "Please," he wheezes. "Please don't tell me you walked right up to the door and yelled at them to hand me over until they brought you right to me. Actually, please do tell me that's what you did, because it sounds amazing."
"Since you insist," Enji says stiffly.
"Oh my god," Hawks sighs contentedly. He looks up at Enji, who's practically towering over him even like this. "Now that's one way of breaking and entering. I wish I could have seen that." He coughs again, but at least his chills seem to be lessening. There's some colour coming back to his cheeks in the firelight dancing over his face. "Now please tell me you have a plan."
"Of course I have a plan," Enji says, offended. His plan had been to find Hawks and get out, though Hawks doesn't need to know that.
"Let me guess," Hawks says. "Your plan was to find me and get out. You know, I'm actually touched that you just barged in here to rescue me."
Enji glowers at him. "Are you telling me that you don't think the number one and two heroes can find their way out of a measly cell?" he demands.
Hawks chuckles, but the look on his face when he looks at Enji—
Enji doesn't have the emotional capacity to think about that right now, either. Maybe later, when he's got Hawks out of here and patched up and looking a little less like he's on the brink of collapsing.
"I'd never be so bold," Hawks says, and Enji grunts his approval.
"Now," Enji says, casting a glance around the cell. "Tell me everything that happened."