Work Text:
You’d known each other well, once upon a time. By the time you were seven you’d traded bits of your chicken for extra chunks of potato on curry days. You’d given each other more than your fair share of bruises, but the way he’d flutter his wings when the two of you shared blankets to combat the chill of your rooms always made you forget it. He’d try braiding your hair sometimes, and you’d run your fingers through his until he’d fall asleep so you could pull it into a hundred tiny ponytails.
You’d continued to roughhouse well beyond that, always forcing each other harder just to soothe each other’s wounds afterward. “Good bonding”, they’d called it. “Excellent potential for future prospects.” You’d whispered a wish to team up with him when you’d both gone pro. The way the light had caught the gold in his eyes made them brighter when he’d smiled back. He wasn’t scared when you spoke, even when you accidentally used your quirk. Maybe it was because despite how he tried to weaponize his feathers, they always remained soft against your fingertips.
You were thirteen when the two of you became suspicious in the Commission's eyes. You spent too much time together, matched one another’s energy a little too well. When your handler had found the two of you sleeping in a pile of blankets in your room one morning, the dam finally broke. The two of you were separated, kicking and screaming, while your handlers tore your rooms apart.
You’d still sneak around, when you could, offering casual brushes of your fingertips on arms or a slight, soft press of apology after sparring, but the second you opened your mouth you’d find yourself hauled across the room. In a fit of rage you’d once used your quirk on a handler, but the resulting punishment hadn’t fallen on you. Keigo had limped into breakfast the next morning. You became a model trainee.
You remained imperfect strangers as you graduated. Even though you’d both planted roots in the same city, you’d managed to avoid interacting often. When you couldn’t avoid it, you’d played along with his jovial attitude, complimenting his teamwork, speed, and agility when asked about why you’d teamed up. When the questions turned to why you weren’t teamed up— “I wouldn’t want to slow Hawks down—he’s so fast after all!” you’d said.
It had only gotten more awkward when you’d been roped into a streetside interview with him. “You seem to do well when teamed up with mutant types, Alpha!” You’d laughed.
“Thank you, I suppose,” you’d responded. “But my quirk should be compatible with all quirk types.” The reporter had only stepped closer.
“Your quirk is classified as an Emitter, right? Help us get to know you better!” You’d laughed again, canines flashing.
“That’s right, I have an Emitter-type quirk. My voice can force your body to comply with my commands,” you’d offered, shifting slightly as Keigo’s wing brushed your side.
“Wow! That would totally be useful around kids!” Your smile gained an edge. “How did your parents react? Does it run in the family?”
“I wouldn’t recommend it,” you’d said sheepishly. Keigo’s feathers brushed against you again. “All I do is control your body—I can’t make you want to do something.” You scratched your neck slightly, the neck of your bodysuit slightly too hot. “My parents saw some good potential in it—my mother is also an Emitter and my father has a Mutant-type quirk—”
“Oh my god, Persuasion and Wolf, right? Weren’t they an old hero team? You must’ve gotten some of Wolf’s mutation—” You’d laughed.
“They dabbled as sidekicks.” You offered what you hoped was a warmer smile. “Perhaps that’s why I seem to work well with Mutant types.” Keigo had thankfully interjected himself then—a speech on the value of quirk compatibility within the herowork industry. When his feathers brushed your arm again, you didn’t lean away. Keigo jolted as you patted your coat pocket. You pretended not to notice.
You were called together again after your old handler reached out. You were hardly surprised to see Keigo in the meeting room with you—he was intelligent and incredibly effective—but the two of you together made something in your chest twist. You were offered a mission brief, something neither of you were particularly able to decline, before being sent on your way.
Keigo flew you there. The wind had roared in your ears and threatened to cut through your hero suit, but you found yourself uneasily fond of the warmth of his embrace. The two of you landed as quietly as two bodies would allow. “Pretty neat, huh?” Keigo whispered, eyes studying you as your hands sought the electrified batons on your utility belt.
“You’ve gotten stronger,” you said quietly. You avoided Keigo’s gaze. “Let’s go.”
You could feel the hair on the back of your neck rise as you pulled your face mask up. Keigo’s eyes were flat when you met them. It was better this way.
The last time you’d seen that expression so close to you must’ve been the day you were surprised in your room. You could still remember it now—you’d been exhausted from a joint sparring session the day before that had gotten out of hand. There’d been a moment during the fight when a fellow trainee had almost successfully snuck up on Keigo. You could see it again, the frost spreading across extended fingers. You’d launched yourself at that arm with everything you had, your teeth sinking halfway into a bony wrist as your arms had thrown punishing force at her head.
It had taken two adults to pull you off and when you’d landed forcefully, head slamming into the ground, you’d found Keigo standing over you. One of his largest feathers was razor sharp in his hands, shaking as he pointed it at one of the handlers that had your muzzle. His wings were as wide as he could get them, eyes flat and cold before he helped you to your feet again. He’d snuck into your room later that night after your “extra training,” pulling the muzzle off your face and massaging the skin where it had cut in so deeply your skin had bruised. You’d held his hands to your chest. He’d started growing slightly taller than you—his wings were getting broader. You traced some of the feathers as they curved around you.
“Keigo?” Gold eyes snapped open. “I love you.” His arms wrapped around you, pulling you tight against his chest before he pulled one of his feathers and offered it to you. You’d reached for it gingerly, pulling it close before running your fingers up the vanes as he shook slightly. His voice was a whisper.
“I love you.”
It wasn’t the building infiltration that was difficult. You’d commanded silence and bound those who you’d captured on your way down. It was the getting back out that had become difficult. You’d managed to free whoever this was that the Commission had set their sights on—probably an informant—and with Keigo’s quirk he’d been shot off to safety. It was the sheer number of grunts you had to work through thanks to the informant’s outrageously loud voice that made you grind your teeth.
You’d worked through a fair number of people, but the second the little electric type had shown up, you and Keigo had swapped targets. Your batons weren’t anywhere near as useful, but you were at least able to withstand the lightning that raced up your skin. If it had sparked anywhere near Keigo’s wings, you were sure it would’ve caught fire.
You’d managed to subdue him, voice and all, when a heavy impact shot off near your head. The wall showered you in dust. Your eyes narrowed slightly before you threw out a command. “Freeze!” A mutant-type. Fuck. It wasn’t like you could casually void all six of her arms, and having to keep several people still at the same time was taking a lot of your concentration. Keigo finally walked into your peripherals.
He had his fair share of bruises. The black eye was almost complimented by the split in his lower lip. You took note of the odd depletion of his feathers. “Getting rusty?” Gold eyes watched as you slowly rose to your feet. Your legs ached and your shoulders begged for a heating pad.
“I had a lotta extra work with all the slack you gave yourself,” you replied. You could hear the near-silent huff Keigo offered in return. You gave one of your shoulders another roll as if it would magically undo the hurt from its temporary dislocation earlier.
Something scratched concrete. Your head snapped up. Your legs had never moved so swiftly. Even as you opened your mouth to throw another command, you knew it wouldn’t be voiced in time. Your hands shoved into Keigo’s back hard before pressure hit your chest. You swayed in place for a moment, brain blank, before you looked down. Red was staining the fabric of your bodysuit. Your knees slammed into the ground. “H-Haw—” Your mouth went dry as fire spread from what you could almost certainly identify as a gunshot wound. Your ears were ringing.
Keigo’s eyes were wide as they met yours. Gold flattened to unforgiving disks. Your lungs felt wet. “H-H—” A cough interrupted you, forcing your hands to the concrete. You could hear his footsteps grow farther from you. Dread pooled in your stomach as your elbows bent and gave way. You forced one of your hands to attempt putting pressure on the wound. Your mouth filled with copper.
Red wings caught your gaze, spread wide as they could go. The feathers you could see looked wickedly sharp. Something heavy hit the floor. Boots came back your way, footsteps urgent. Red had splattered across the black toes of his shoes. You gave a grunt as your body flipped. “No, no, no—you gotta stick with me, kid.” Keigo’s words dropped like glass. The pressure on your chest increased. You gave a yelp.
“Ha—” Your voice relaxed into a sigh. “Sorry—”
“None of that.” Keigo’s voice was sharp. “No apologizing. You’re getting out of here with me—” One of your hands made its way up to his face. Your thumb wiped at some blood near his jaw. It smeared yours instead.
“ Hawks ,” you forced out. Gold eyes narrowed. You briefly heard a walkie flare to life. “ Keigo.” You grasped your coat pocket desperately.
“Don’t leave me!” Your vision went dark.
Your throat felt like the Sahara with your next inhale. Pain shot through your chest. Your exhale begged for mercy. A gentle pressure kept pressing at your palm, slowly working up to your wrist before moving back down. A similar weight worked through your hair. You shifted into it despite your lack of thought. “You in there?” A familiar voice—you didn’t often get those upon waking. “You gave me a scare, hon.” A hum rumbled past your lips. Your brow furrowed. “Let’s see those eyes.”
It took every ounce of will to peel your eyes open. You’d never seen so much gold in your life. “There we go—” The pressure on your hand gave you a squeeze. You did your best to squeeze back.
“Hawks.” Your voice felt like sandpaper and sounded fried. You must’ve overused your quirk. “Where?”
Keigo’s eyes drifted to the door. “Couldn’t avoid the old medical unit,” he murmured. Your body shifted and pulled a gasp from you. “Not so fast—”
“Can’t be here,” you croaked. “I’ll get you in trouble.” Keigo laughed. “ ‘m serious. Last time—got you in trouble, too.” Gold eyes narrowed as your tired eyes searched his face. “Can’t have my weakness getting you hurt again.”
“Nobody could ever say you’re weak.” You closed your eyes. “Eyes open, lovely.” You gave a sore huff at that, leaning into Keigo’s palm as it fell from your hair to your cheek.
“Punished for my anger. Punished for my weakness,” you mumbled. Your eyes were barely open as you spoke.
“It wasn’t your fault.” The hand in yours squeezed. “It wasn’t our fault.” Your eyes burned.
“Still sorry.”
“Me, too, songbird.” The door clicked open. For a moment, you were the scared teen caught too close. Your body jerked again, this time pulling a choked gasp from you before a heavy thwap snapped closed around you. Red flooded your vision before you caught a glimpse of Keigo’s face again—cold, flat—lethal. The promise of violence in his eyes sparked something that ran warmth in your blood. Your hand found its way to his face again.
“Hawks.” Keigo’s eyes didn’t move from the figure beyond his wings. A low hiss escaped his mouth. Your thumb stroked his skin. “Keigo.” Gold eyes dropped down to you, something heated hiding behind the concern that rose to the forefront.
“I’m taking Alpha as soon as it’s safe,” he said suddenly. You’d never heard him address someone so coldly before. Exhaustion clouded your brain. You’d be better soon. You’d be somewhere else soon.
The next time you woke, your pain was less pronounced. You could smell something familiar in your pillow, something warm and calm. Maybe if you focused more you could place it, but it must be from so long ago—
The warmth around you shifted. You could place arms, if you focused. Legs, too, so there must’ve been a torso—it shuffled closer. Something soft rested heavily along your back as if to keep you from rolling over. “Anyone home?” The voice in your ear was honey and cinnamon.
You gave a soft hum. “C’mon, can I see your eyes?” You grumbled this time.
“Later,” you murmured. “Tired.” A quiet noise answered you, lilting and gentle. You leaned into it. “Did you get in trouble again?” A huff.
“No.” You cracked an eye open. “No, lovely. We’re fine. Nobody’s in trouble. Let’s just focus on you getting better.”
You opened your eyes fully to realize your hands were halfway up Keigo’s shirt. “Hawks—”
“Keigo.” You tried to pull your hands back, only to find them held in place. “It’s always been Keigo with you.” You licked your lips.
“Keigo,” you said. “I don’t know how to keep Keigo safe except with Hawks.” One of Keigo’s hands gripped your jaw, tilting your head to meet his gaze.
“It’s not your job to keep me safe, Y/N.” You gave a sigh. “We aren’t kids anymore.”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t miss when we were.” Keigo gave a huff at that, a hand stroking your hair.
Silence swallowed you before a quiet “please don’t push me away again” brushed against your ears. A hum rose in your throat. Your hands were stroking his back before you’d even realized it.
“I’m sorry,” you whispered. “I didn’t want them to hurt you. I thought I was protecting you.”
For a few moments, all you heard was breathing before Keigo’s wing tried to pull you in closer. “They said the same to me.” You closed your eyes.
“Do you think…” You pressed your forehead to Keigo’s chest. “...do you think it’s safe?” Keigo gave a hum.
“We’re both heroes. We can protect each other.” You felt Keigo’s arms tighten around you.
“Do you think it’s worth the risk?”
“You are always worth the risk.” For a moment, your spine stiffened. Then it laxed, heat rising to your face as your eyes watered.
“You aren’t scared?”
Keigo’s voice was practically down against your ears. “Of you? Or of the Commission?” You didn’t answer.
“You are worth every risk I’ve ever taken,” he whispered. “The Commission can try to run our lives, but in the end—we still have free will, don’t we?” You tightened your grip. The tears you’d been struggling to hold in spilled over.
“I missed you,” you whispered. “I missed you. I missed you—” Red, soft and warm against your skin. Keigo pressed his lips to your forehead.
“I missed you, too, songbird.” Keigo’s voice was small. “Don’t leave again. Please don’t leave again.” Your fingers dug into the knotted muscle of Keigo’s back. “You always have a choice, I just—”
You felt your body grow more relaxed with the heat trapped by Keigo’s wing. “I’m choosing you,” you whispered. “I’m still choosing you.” Keigo’s body shuddered.
“Can you— do you remember—” Your lips quirked into a smile.
“How could I forget, pretty bird?” It took a second for your throat to cooperate, but slowly, the notes hit air. It had been so long, would Keigo—
Keigo’s voice wove around yours, soft humming that rose and fell like little waves. For a moment, you were still kids nestled in blankets, too safe in each other’s arms to care about anyone else in the world. For a moment, you were running your fingers through crimson feathers, hands smelling like nutmeg, while cautious nails scratched at your scalp.
Your mind was set as exhaustion made you pliant against Keigo’s form. You’d choose him again. This time would be different. This time you were ready. This time you both could stand your ground. Keigo’s hands ran through your hair gently. If it was together—you could both keep the Commission in check.
It was different now—before you had just been kids with nowhere to go. You were stronger. You were smarter. You could feel his thumbs pressing gently at your jaw, your nose, your cheekbone, as if remembering the ache you’d felt in those blankets, and the warmth that followed. “I found something in your coat.” Keigo’s voice was hushed and hesitant, a faint edge underlying his words. “I went through it in case you had any medical supplies on you—”
You looked up slightly. Keigo’s eyes were watering. “You took care of it,” he whispered, voice like glass. “I could still feel it.” Your thumbs brushed away the tears that spilled over. “You still—” His voice finally broke.
“Of course I would,” you whispered back. Keigo pulled you in tighter.
“You still want me?” Your lips curved upward.
“Always.” You rested your head against his collarbone. “I love you, Keigo. I never stopped.” You could feel every one of Keigo’s feathers vibrate slightly.
“I love you.” You felt his voice more than you heard it. “I love you. I love you.” He continued as you fell asleep, until you’d grown lax in his arms.
From beyond his wings, an old red feather sat on your nightstand.