"You were late for your patrol today, Hawks."

"They wanted me to stay the night. If I had said no then they would've been suspicious." I look down at the people in the city.

"I asked you to infiltrate not to become friends."

"And I am. I'm getting closer to them, I've learned more information." I land on one of the buildings. Crouching down on the ledge, I slowly take a closer look. Everything seems fine today.

She pauses on the other side. "We have a meeting in 15. Don't be late this time."

"Yes ma'am." I barely get the sentence out before she hangs up. I sigh before rubbing my face. The day is only starting.

I'm about to get up when I see a familiar hair in the crowd. I look down at my phone. I have some time before I have to leave. I jump off the ledge and start to follow him. He's going in the same direction as the building anyways, I could make it there when I need to. I don't want to say hi since it'll start a conversation that may last long, but I think I may have to.

He's swaying a bit as he walks. Accidentally bumping into people as they pass by yet he doesn't even give them a second look. There's something wrong. I can't put my finger on it, I don't know why he's like this. He's not this kind of person.

I go to check my phone a second time. I don't have much time left before I have to leave.

When I look back at him he's walking into a street full of traffic not even caring about the car the rushes towards him.

"DENKI!"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Today has been so weird. I swear it's a dream. It has to be. They wouldn't do that to me, right? T-they're my friends and they love me. We're a class. We can tell each other anything. Momo said so and Momo doesn't lie. She wouldn't have said anything she never meant. She cares. They care. It was just an accident, they didn't mean to. I'll come back on Monday and everything will go back to normal. Jirou will make fun of me for my terrible jokes, Mina will talk to me again, Sero will stay up at night with me, Kirishima will drag me to the gym, and Bakugou- well he's Bakugou. This is fine. Everything is going great.

But

Where am I?

This isn't the house. I should know. I'm on a different couch. It's not the school's. The library would've been filled with books and this place has none. It's small, bland, and honestly boring. There's a doorway across from where I am and I'm guessing that's where the kitchen is. The only things that stand out are so..... random. There's random kids' shoes in the corner and a lot of children's pants and shirts on the floor. They're not even the same size, some of them look small enough to fit a newborn while the others are big enough to fit a 12 year old.

"where... am i?" I didn't mean to say it as loudly as I did, but that's what it came out as.

"You're at my apartment." The voice comes in from the kitchen. I recognize it immediately which just confuses me more. When he comes out he's wearing an apron with a lot of hand prints on it. "Don't ask. Ethan made it for me." Mr. Sho must've too since it says 'kiss the bird' and I know Ethan can't write that well.

"Why am I here?" I stare at him which makes him frown. He crosses him arms while continuing to look at me.

"I saw you walking around town aimlessly. You didn't look okay. Almost got hit with a car." He unties the pink apron before getting one of his feathers to bring it back into the kitchen. This apartment is really small for a pro hero as highly ranked as he is.

"I'm not- " I look to the side before continuing. "okay that is." I begin to rub my arm. I almost got hit by a car? Why can't I remember that? And why is this the second time this has happened?

"Care to share what happened that got you like this?" He looks at me.

"No."

"Understandable. Coffee or tea?" He walks back into the kitchen and I can see him pour water into a kettle before placing it on top of the stove. He looks back at me once he's done.

"Water."

"That wasn't an option I gave you but okay." He walks to his fridge and takes out a water bottle. I watch as he comes back to hand me it. He holds it in front of me for a minute before realizing I wont take. He shrugs before placing it on the floor next to my foot. He starts heading back into the kitchen but I stop him halfway.

"They think I'm the traitor." I see Hawks stop. When he turns around his eyes are slightly wide.

"The UA traitor?" His expression morphs into pity and I hate it. It makes me mad. It makes me want to cry. It's not fair.

"I-i don't know why." I sniffle. "I brought my siblings over and my class thought they were spies. They think that I go home every weekend and report back to the league what happened. They thing I am willingly hurting them. S-s she said that it's my fault he got kidnapped. I'm the reason why they all have nightmares!" I can feel the tears roll down my face as I remember everything they told me earlier.

"That's bullshit. You're not some villain. You're far from it." Hawks sighs before sitting down in front of me on the floor. He hands me the water bottle and this time I take it.

"T-that's not what they said. They have evidence. They have proof!" I cry harder. I have no way of getting out of this. I'm going to get expelled.

"I can't sit here and watch you cry like this. We have to inform your teachers or the staff, the principal maybe." I watch as he takes out his phone. The panic starts rising because what if they expel my friends instead? What if they get in trouble for the things they said? It's not their fault. They were just paranoid. They had to put the blame on someone.

"Don't!" I stumble off the couch to grasp his wrist. Hawks looks down at his wrist before looking at my arm.

"Denki did they-."

"It's fine. I'm fine. It's a little bruise. Just please don't call the school. I don't want them getting in trouble." I know what he saw. He saw the slight tape marks. He saw the bruise Ei- Kirishima left. It was my fault. I should've known they were uncomfortable around me. Kirishima did the right thing. I'm in the wrong. I'm always in the wrong.

"Denki they hurt you over some theory they made up. I've said it before and I'll say it again 'teenagers suck'." I laugh at him and he chuckles in return.

"I just don't know what to do. I left my bag in the dorms which means I've left my homework and can't do it. Aizawa-Sensei is going to kill me. I'm already behind in class. This will make it worse." It's true. The only class I'm not doing horribly in is English. Even then It's not the best I could be doing. Aizawa is probably done with my shit and missing assignments.

"No he won't. I'll make sure he doesn't kill my favorite kid." He lightly shoves my shoulder.

"But they're going to tell him I'm the traitor." They're going to tell him and Shinsou. They're going to hate me. All of them.

"There are some people in your class with common sense. Like Endeavour's kid and that boyfriend of yours." He thinks for a moment. Todoroki didn't seem like he fully agreed, but I don't know if he stopped them or not.

"He'snotmyboyfriend and besides they probably already told him. When I left they looked ready to." Even though Bakugou didn't get Shinsou that doesn't mean anyone else didn't. Iida probably got Aizawa since he was so persistent about it earlier, he must've went to tell Aizawa when I left.

"That's just their side of the story though. Even though you're only one person, yours is entirely different. You know you have to hear all sides of an argument before coming to a logical agreement." He retorts. He always finds a way to respond. He always has an answer.

"And what if Aizawa believes him? If that happens I'm screwed."

"He wont and he currently doesn't. I know so myself. He would've never made me your mentor without checking if you weren't the traitor first. Him and Nezu checked through all your files beforehand. There was nothing suspicious regarding the league or any sense of a traitor. But don't tell them I told you that. Aizawa would talk my ear off!"

"So you're saying I wont get expelled? I'll be able to stay at the UA?"

"Damn kid what did they say to you? You got yourself thinking you actually are the traitor. You know I will have to inform Aizawa about this. This is serious." He sighs before pulling my hand off his wrist.

"p-please don't get them in trouble. i think it was all just a misunderstanding."

"It wasn't. You know that." He looks at me before reaching for the water bottle. He opens it and pushes it towards my mouth. "Drink this. All your crying left you dehydrated. We need to talk about a few things and I'd rather you not pass out on me." I take the bottle away from him to take a few sips before handing it back to him. He looks down at it before saying, "Good enough."

"What did you want to talk about?" I fiddle with my fingers as I wait his answer. What could he possibly want to talk about?

"So, siblings?" He finishes the rest of my water.

"Yeah. Five."

"That's not including Ethan.... who are they?"

"They're my foster siblings. They're all younger than Ethan except one is the same age, I think." I cross my legs like he does. If I was to tell anyone that I'm sitting down on the floor of the third ranked pro hero with said pro hero, no one would believe me.

"Foster siblings?" He raises his eyebrow. I never talked about them to Hawks before.

"My dad watches them. Well I do, but he's their guardian." I lay my back on the couch's legs.

"You're dad huh? He's not too great of a person. How'd he manage fostering six kids?"

"Don't know. I think I was too young to understand it really." I remember when Haru came, he was the first one out of the kids. Then came Sumie, the twins, and lastly Koji who came a year ago. There was no warning, no conversation as to why, they just came. One day they'd come with someone and then they just started living here. They all looked to horrible when they came. Koji didn't understand a thing we were saying. The twins always kept themselves far away from everyone else. Sumie wasn't used to the constant check ups I'd give her and she even yelled at me to leave her alone. Haru just came. It was as if he knew it was going to happen so he accepted it as soon as he walked through the door.

"Interesting. Then you met Ethan a while ago and yet you care for him as much as you do for them."

"Yeah, I met Ethan a few months ago, but I love him so much. It's adorable how he doesn't understand some things like cars." I chuckle.

"Wonder how I feel. Did you know he's terrified of automatic doors? He screamed when we went through one at the mall." He runs his fingers through his hair as he recalls the memory. "I've never taken care of a kid before and he's never left his house. How could you possibly think me watching over him was a good idea?"

"You're having fun with him though." I smile.

"Yeah but now I have clothes that don't even fit him." He points to the onesie in the corner of the room and I laugh. Seeing a confused Ethan with an equally confused Hawks trying to buy clothes is hilarious. "Anyways, not the point. The point is you're overworking yourself. You need to take a break from your jobs." How does he know that I'm working? Did I ever tell him?

"I haven't been working enough. I don't take care of the kids enough. I'm not home as often as I need to be. I'll need to stop working on week days, so I could find them new parents." I stop fiddling with my hands to look at Hawks. "They're going to get adopted soon." My voice wobbles.

"They're? What about you? Where will you go?" He rests his chin on his hand. He calls two of his feathers over that brings two cups. He takes one of them then hands me the other. I watch as he slowly drinks his before taking a sip of mine. It's tea. Why'd I think he couldn't cook.... He just seems like the guy to have multiple chefs and maids. It's odd to see it differently.

"I'm going to stay with my Dad."

"Dad huh? He's been treating you nicely now? Calling him Dad and all." He laughs before taking another sip. I tilt my head in confusion.

"I've always called him Dad?"

Hawks looks back at me before chuckling again. "Okay kid." He always leaves me confused. Hawks always seems to know things that I don't. Even when he met Ethan I felt as if he knew something that I didn't piece together. But the thing is he won't tell me. He'd rather leave me guessing on what it is. He does this with training too until he has to give Present Mic a report on how it went. He's always keeping me guessing. How much does he really know?

"So why are you getting them adopted? I thought you loved them. If you love somebody shouldn't you want them to stay with you forever or is that considered selfish nowadays?" He frowns at his cup.

"The kids aren't safe with me. I love them, trust me I really do. But if I love them that much then I should be able to realize that they would be better off in another family with stable income, loving parents, and a happy life. They need someone who can support and take care of them. They need a home."

"homes are overrated. it's not what helps a person. it's a family that does."  He furrows his brows. I look at him confused because this isn't like him. He's usually cocky. Always confident and boasting. Even though he helps me, I've never seen him like this. It's nice.

"I haven't experienced it yet. I thought I had one before, but it's broken. All my families are broken." It's true. Even though I love the kids, what we have isn't considered a family. They all had families before they came here and now they're stuck with me. I wish I could give them better.

"It's something else kid." He sighs before looking up at the ceiling fondly. I watch as his wings untense. "I was confused at first, hella confused. But fuck, if I don't love it now." He smiles a bit before looking back at me. "What's on your mind? What's wrong? Tell big brother Hawks."

"Hahaha. I was just suppose to go home today. They held me up at school so now I'm late. My Dad is going to be upset with me." I laugh. I didn't show up. Dad is going to kill me. He finally let me out of the house. I'm breaking his trust again. He won't let me leave for weeks maybe.

"He can't and won't do anything to you." He hands his cup over to his feather before looking at me. "I won't let him."

"He can do whatever the hell he wants. He's my Dad. He owns me."

"Then you'll just never see him again. I'm fine with taking care of two traumatized kids. You'll stay with me until you find your siblings a new home." 

"I wouldn't mind adopting you." 

Why does it seem as though they want me around?

"'You don't need to do that. My siblings stay at a library with Ms. Aiko, they'll be fine. Plus I'll be staying in the dorms."

"Yeah sure, as if I'd let you go back there unless it was necessary. If you couldn't tell I'm not very fond of your class right now." He leans in to whisper the last part before pulling back while smiling. "Yeah so you're staying here until you find people to adopt both them and you."

"I don't know who could adopt them. I can't find anybody who's willing." I don't even know where I'd start. We never had a social worker, we were just brought to Mr. Akagi and lived with him. I know Aiko is willing to adopt, but I can't just give her the responsibility over 5 kids. 

"I know a few pro heroes in mind. They'd love to have a little kid around. Trust me, I've heard them whine about it." He'll find people to adopt the kids? All of them? Why?  I haven't done anything for Hawks yet he's done so much for me.

"Why do you care so much about this? Why do you care so much about me and my siblings? Aren't I just making your life harder? You're a pro hero, the 3rd ranked one at that! You need to be out there fighting crime and what not instead of in here listening to some UA student's life problems."

He just shrugs. "My job is to help people. I'm helping you am I not? If I didn't, I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

"I'll be fine."

"No you won't."

....

"Listen kid, I know what you're thinking, but I don't want to see you getting hurt anymore. Not on my watch. You've already been through so much." He lays his hand on my shoulder and for the first time I can say that it's comforting.

"You don't even know the half of it." I snort.

"You're right, I don't. I probably don't even know a fourth of it, but I'm pretty sure you'll tell your big brother one day." He lightly punches my shoulder before standing up. He picks up his phone on the way up.

"You're just an oversized bird." I sniffle before wiping my face with my arm. I get up as well though I don't even know what I'm supposed to do now. Isn't Hawks supposed to be on patrol anyways?

"I've been told that many times recently." Oh I bet. I wonder if Ethan will actually call him by his name.

"I would've never guessed." I gasp. "They're not wrong though, you are just a bird."

"I'm not a bird! I'm a Hawk! My name is literally Hawks!" He whines. I bet he's had to say that every day to Ethan and Ethan probably got Mr. Sho calling him Bird too.

-Beep-

"Yeah yeah, keep telling yourself that. One day it'll come true." I snicker.

"Don't people just call you a Pokémon! You're not any better!" 

"Someone's jealous that Pikachu is cool and birds just poop on people," 

"I'll make you eat those words." He unattached some of his feathers before smirking.

"I thought you were supposed to help me not harm me more!"

"Consider it training." He laughs.

It's okay now.