Chapter Text
Takami Keigo.
The last time Hawks had said that name, he’d been about to die, crushed under rubble and feeling pretty iffy about his life choices.
Ochako’s eyes widened until they looked like they’d fall out of her head. Hawks didn’t really think a lot about his name anymore. He wasn’t much for that kind of deep philosophical thinking.
“It’s a secret, so don’t go telling all your little friends, “ He knew she wouldn’t. Ochako chewed her lip, considering. She looked better than she had than when she’d been dead, but not by much. It was just sad, the sight of such an energetic, cheerful girl, a hero hopeful just as dedicated and hardworking as the rest, alone and confined to a hospital bed.
“Takami…Keigo, “ she tried it out, looking dumbfounded.
Hawks didn’t even consider himself as Keigo anymore. Even the other heroes referred to themselves by their hero names even when they were off duty sometimes.
Heck, he still didn’t know Edgeshot’s real name. It helped maintain the image that heroes were mythic, larger than life, able to inspire confidence, even awe.
That was the reason why All Might had led a double life and Hawks didn’t really feel some tragic sense of loss, using his hero name.
He was Hawks. And that was all he needed to be.
None of the commission would be pleased that Ochako now knew his true identity, but what they didn’t know couldn’t hurt them.
“It’s so normal, “ Hawks laughed. Ochako was an even bigger fan than he’d guessed originally. Her disappointment that he didn’t have a secret girlfriend was hilarious, but she also seemed sad, like she was hoping he actually did have a life somewhere.
“What were you expecting?” Ochako shrugged, still looking overly serious.
Kids these days. It really didn’t seem like they were only six years apart in age. With those cheeks, even with the white hair and pallor, she could easily pass for a preteen.
“Can I just call you Hawks?” He laughed again.
“You actually have to. It’s a secret for a reason, “ he waggled his eyebrows and she blushed. Hawks was glad to see it. She was definitely affected by her recent experiences, but she was still the same person at heart. Her name really did fit her.
Footsteps, coming down the hall, stopping right outside the door. Hawks concentrated. The build and stride pointed to a trained fighter, male in his thirties. Ah. Eraserhead, come to visit one of his hatchlings.
Hawks had mostly been amused at the stoic man’s concern. Eraserhead didn’t even bother to hide his dislike for Hawks, it was refreshing in a way. Hawks pondered who he could tell about the underground hero’s incredibly huge soft spot for his students.
Midnight definitely already knew. The dominatrix had seen through him like it was nothing.
“Aizawa-sensei!” Ochako’s eyes lit up like lanterns.
Hawks bit back a grin. He really shouldn’t but it was too good an opportunity to pass up. Needling the cranky teacher had been the most fun he’d had in ages.
“Uraraka. Hawks, “ the neutral tone he used didn’t fool Hawks in the slightest. Eraserhead approached them, pointedly plonked a chair down as far away from Hawks as possible while still being able to converse with his student.
Ochako didn’t suspect a thing, smiling happily like the child she was. Hawks had only seen her alone or surrounded by psychotic criminals, but it seemed like the more people she was around the happier she got.
“I’m glad you don’t have any serious injuries, sensei.“
Right, they’d fought the Nomu together briefly. Hawks was immensely glad that the doctor wouldn’t be able to produce any more while he was in jail, though he doubted that they’d eliminated all of them. But that was for the police to worry about.
“I wish I could say the same to you, “ Aizawa acted like Hawks wasn’t even there.
Hawks started out by taking out another Hawks official handkerchief and wiping away a spot of pudding on Ochako’s round cheek. She jumped and blushed. Aizawa didn’t say anything, but Hawks could literally hear his blood pressure going up.
“I’m a lot better now, “ Ochako lifted her arm and flexed, grinning. Hawks fluffed up the pillows behind her back, rearranged her bedclothes. She still didn’t catch on, thanking him with wide eyes.
Aizawa knew exactly what he was doing, of course.
“Hawks. Could I speak with my student alone for a moment, “ Whew. Hawks almost wanted to check if his eyebrows were still intact at that dead-eyed glare. They let a guy like this teach little children?
Or maybe that was the point. If your teacher was scarier than the average villain, then the real world would be a cinch.
“Oh, of course, my bad. I’ll just slip out and stretch my legs then. Be back soon, Ochako, “ he pinched her chubby cheek and ruffled her hair.
None of the anger that had erupted at his casual use of her first name showed on that perpetually sleepy face. He considered giving her a hug, but Eraserhead looked pretty rough as it was. He felt a lot of pity for the guy, having your best friend resurrected as a villain sounded like a nightmare.
“See ya Hawks, “ it wasn’t the forlorn way she watched him leave, back in the villa, that he’d had to pretend didn’t tear at his heart.
Instead Ochako was smiling at him like she’d miss him because she enjoyed his company as a friend. Once she made it as a pro, she was definitely going to make a killing with the toddler to preteen demographic.
Hawks didn’t have time to eavesdrop or mess around any more. He immediately called the commission and relayed all the information he had obtained. No jokes this time. Dabi had already assaulted one of the prison guards, breaking his arm in two different places.
Hawks knew the guy was insane, he just wished he knew what he was planning. Also that whatever it was, it didn’t involve Ochako in any way.
Hawks didn’t get his hopes up. The kid would be in trouble, one way or another, her relationship with Midoriya Izuku guaranteed that.
At least Toga was in jail and so heavily restrained that it made a few of the guards uncomfortable seeing a relatively normal looking teenage girl like that.
Shigaraki Tomura. Hawks wasn’t the strongest hero, his back wasn’t broad enough to carry some epic destiny of a battle against evil that would determine the fate of the world. But they all had their part to play, even Ochako, and they were going to bring him down no matter what it took.
—
“Thank you for coming to visit me sensei.”
Uraraka’s wounds had all healed thanks to Recovery Girl. The only issue left was the damage done to her genes.
Aizawa pondered who might be able to help with it. No one came to mind. The doctor’s brilliance was only matched by his megalomania. As it so often did, intelligence and the propensity to commit evil acts went hand in hand.
And Hawks was no exception.
Yamada would say he was being dramatic, but Hawks’ smug attitude put his teeth on edge. Hawks might think his attachment to Uraraka was completely harmless, but he didn’t know Uraraka the way Aizawa did. She had compassion for a lot of people, but most especially heroes. Peculiar, when she was aiming to become one herself, but Aizawa wasn’t concerned about her reasons for being the way she was.
What he was concerned about was the way she trusted Hawks completely and utterly, even deferring to him as if he was her direct superior.
It was to be expected, he supposed. Hawks had been the only one not actively trying to kill her, and Uraraka had always been drawn to reclusive and shy people.
No one would ever use that word to describe Hawks, but Aizawa had read up about his past. It made more sense, his attachment to Uraraka, now that Aizawa knew that he’d been raised without any personal relationships.
Still, that didn’t mean Hawks hadn’t manipulated her and was even now manipulating her.
Uraraka was a people person, just like Shirakumo had been, but she was maybe even more naive and simpleminded than him. She fidgeted and glanced at him, making it plain that she wanted to ask something but didn’t want to hurt his feelings.
“Sensei, can I ask you something?” Aizawa nodded. He already knew what she was going to ask.
“You called Kurogiri by another name…” Aizawa considered the pros and cons of telling the truth.
It was standard procedure not to go blabbing around about sensitive information involving criminals, though that didn’t stop a lot of heroes from doing it.
Uraraka had had more contact with the members of the League than anyone had so far without being killed. She was a treasure trove of secrets, and the heroes weren’t the only ones who would want to exploit it. There were plenty of people the League had pissed off who would have no qualms torturing a young girl for information.
Then there was his personal reluctance to talk about something from his past to one of his students, but he discarded that consideration.
“Yes. Kurogiri is a Nomu formed from the corpse of my friend from high school, “ Uraraka reacted predictably, mouth dropped in horror, eyes glazed with tears.
Even her time with the League didn’t seem to have changed her all that much.
“That’s horrible, “ she was weeping openly now. Midoriya was probably the most emotional member of the class, but Uraraka wasn’t so far behind him, especially during such a period of extended turmoil.
Aizawa placed a hand on her shoulder, but she started crying harder. Aizawa didn’t consider himself to be particularly compassionate, and even more than that he placed little to no stock in things like appearances.
But objectively, the sight of a young girl crying for another person’s sake while wearing hospital clothes caused a certain amount of distress to anyone with a normal level of social sense.
“I’m sorry, sensei. I didn’t know, I can’t even imagine something like that, “ No, she wouldn’t.
Not even Aizawa, with all his pessimism and his years of taking on some of the worst cases out there, ones that wouldn’t even be submitted to heroes like All Might or even Hawks, had imagined the depths of depravity the doctor dwelled in.
“You should be proud. It’s thanks to you that the doctor is in prison and no one else has to suffer the same fate, “ her already large eyes widened to an absurd degree. Aizawa could relate only too well.
It was difficult if not impossible, to feel proud of yourself under the crushing weight of tragedy, of missed opportunities.
Still, even if she couldn’t feel a sense of accomplishment yet, Aizawa could feel proud of her in her stead. She’d been through a tough ordeal and was still willing to keep fighting.
It was a strange echo of the way Hawks had started out, wanting to rescue people from disasters only to find himself where the fighting was most intense.
Nothing Aizawa could do about it, it was her choice and he was her teacher, not her father.
Sixteen was still too young to lose a parent, especially in such a cruel way. Hawks might feel some sort of responsibility toward Uraraka, some illogical notion that he could have prevented the death of her father, that drove him to want to protect his student from further harm.
Completely irrational. The best thing the number two could do for her would be to leave her alone altogether.
Aizawa knew it wouldn’t be that easy. It never was, and Hawks was as persistent as he was cunning.
“Still, having to fight your own friend…it’s too painful, “ she was looking down now, not crying but eyes still full.
Aizawa didn’t bother to assuage her guilt. That would take time, both for her and Midoriya.
Guilt might be the most irrational emotion of all, but as long as one didn’t wallow in it, it could be effective, push someone to improve. Already Midoriya was running around like a headless chicken, no doubt trying to catch up to Hawks, who for all his faults, was the fastest hero alive by far.
“Don’t worry about it. Just focus on recovering. The class atmosphere could use a boost, even after that battle your classmates are being unusually gloomy, “ Uraraka laughed like it was startled out of her. Her eyes crinkled up and her white hair was still fluffed up from Hawks’ successful attempts to get on his nerves.
For a second Aizawa saw another child, with a bandage over his nose and that same thoughtlessly cheerful grin. He blinked and the image disappeared.
“I can’t wait to get back and see everyone again, “ Aizawa weighed the benefits of professionalism against the costs of emotional fragility. From what he’d observed she was the most tactile member of the class. Uraraka rubbed her eyes sheepishly. Very well then. He wrapped her in a hug.
Thankfully she didn’t start crying again.
“Thank you sensei. “ Aizawa didn’t say a thing.
It was only too clear that Uraraka thought nothing of Hawks’ attention, maybe even that they wouldn’t see each other again. She wasn’t unintelligent or even unintuitive, but she also had no idea what she was dealing with. It was his duty as her teacher to shield her from harmful influences.
She wouldn’t see Hawks as harmful in any way, but Aizawa was only too aware that someone could be a truly heroic idealist, while still causing untold damage if left unchecked. All Might himself, more a figure of fiction than an actual human being, had caused chaos, however unintentionally.
Hawks could play up his attachment to Uraraka as a joke all he wanted. Aizawa wouldn’t let that get to him. He also wasn’t so lacking in self-awareness as to pretend his own feelings were not a factor.
He sighed deeply, and Uraraka started patting him on the back.
Every day his decision to not have children of his own grew more and more rational.