Chapter 22

Me: I haven't updated Feral in a few weeks

Me: *Sees it hasn't been updated since the beginning of November*

Me, choking on my water:
ʷ ʰ ᵃ ᵗ

Third person pov

As things would turn out, the Number Two Hero really and truly was a piece of shit. Kit had deduced this all on his own by just looking at the guy's face for a solid minute, but the evidence of all his crimes sure did help. He was the definition of a flaming trash can. Kit wasn't having it. Izuku wasn't either. Tensei had some interesting rumors to share. Dabi's dislike for him and urge to bring him down, coupled with what happened with Hawks' brother... it was more than enough to get the ball rolling on The Chad Project. 

Things were busy even without the magazine to run. Izuku's workout schedule was steadily growing more intense as Kit introduced him to more and more ways to improve himself and his fitness. The workload at school increased, more so for Tenya and Izuku due to their desire to enter UA high. Kit had decided he'd only be doing online schooling so he could put more of himself into his company. Though Izuku sort of wished he'd at least try to come to UA with them, he understood and supported him just as Tenya did.

They hadn't seen Dabi much since that night where they initially discussed the Chad Project, but they received regular texts and emails from him. He was digging hard for dirty on Endeavor, and there were plenty of people out there willing to give it. Most even allowed their voices to be recorded, or in some cases for those with nothing else to loose, even their faces. All were tagged with dates and times, spoken out loud by whoever was being recorded and by Dabi as well. Full names, where and when the crime took place, and the exact details of all that went on. Dabi really knew how to cover his bases.

"Shoto Todoroki." Izuku said as they sat down with their lunch trays. Somei had surprisingly good food most days. Private school and all that. "I think he's going to be our best bet. There's not much information on Fuyumi and Natsuo Todoroki, and because they're older, they're probably less likely to speak. Shoto is the one really in the spotlight. If we want to get to Endeavor, we should probably go through him."

"I've met him before." Tenya noted. The two quirkless boys turned to look at him. "The Iida family is often times invited to hero banquets and balls. I went to them with Tensei plenty of times when I was younger, and he was at a majority of them. He always seemed distant."

"What if he's on his dad's side? It would suck ass if we got shut down before we could even start. Endeavor's legal team doesn't scare me, but there's some real shit they could pull if they find out about this early. We need to sort everything out and spring it out of nowhere. No prior mentions. This shit has to fly out of the left field and smack that flaming asshat in right in his ugly mug." Kit aggressively stabbed at his food as though to punctuate his words, his eyes narrowing. Tenya patted his back soothingly.

Things at Somei seemed like the least of their worries these days. Kit felt stresses, but in a freeing kind of way. It wasn't the same pressure his mother used to bring forth. This was different-- instead, there was a certain relief to it that he'd never felt before. He was surrounded by friends and doing something he wanted to do. Something that was important and would make a difference. They'd already started on the next issue of the magazine. They'd be bringing more awareness to the different types of cancers and illnesses caused by one's own quirk. They'd put up a notice on their site looking for models and people to interview and had received a wave of volunteers as a result.

At home, Masaru and Mitsuki gave him his space while still showing they cared. Katsuki was still very clearly scared out of his mind, but had come to tolerate Kit and co-exist without turning into a fearful, shivering ball. Now he just tensed up anytime Kit grinned too sharply. Kit almost-- almost-- felt sorry for the little shit. After hearing about everything he'd put Izuku through as a result of his phobia, it almost felt like the explosive blonde sort of deserved what he was getting. Call Kit crude for it, but he gave absolutely zero shits! It was funny to watch him tremble, and Mitsuki said he seemed to have toned down on the yelling since Kit's arrival. So basically there was positivity all around.

"We'll get him. We just have to be patient and take it a step at a time. This is a... it's a big thing." Tenya wasn't sure how else to put it. He shoved his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. "We'll need to communicate more with Hawks on this matter. I believe introducing him to the Magazine's audience now will help them better acclimate and understand the story."

"It's risky, but as long as Endeavor is left out of it, it should be fine. He's the youngest pro-hero and has somehow survived in an industry that's pretty cut throat; especially for newbies. We could interview him about that." Izuku suggested, shoveling some green beans into his mouth. His life had gotten a lot better since meeting Kit. He felt healthier and less tired all the time. He was happy, for once. He had two best friends and was a part of something that effected a lot of people. It was shifting the very balance of society. Their magazine had gained so many more followers since the change in subject and since the website went up. Izuku thought the craze would've died down by now, but they were still the hot topic on the street. They even had television shows contacting them looking for live interviews.

"We'll plan on that, then." Kit pursed his lips. "Did you ask Tensei to take selfies with civilians to stick in this issue."

"He's already on it." Tenya smiled. Kit grinned.

They finished eating and went about their day. Classes blurred by just as they usually did. Denise was at Izuku's house with Inko. For some reason, the woman had grown fond of the massive creature. No, they weren't sure how it had happened, or why. It just had and now she was trying to teach him to cook. It wasn't working very well. He'd smashed the microwave-- which Kit had replaced immediately-- and then had eaten an entire box of frozen hot pockets. Like, literally the entire sealed box with all the hot pockets still wrapped in plastic inside. Denise was a perplexing creature.

Tenya was finally acclimated to this whole relationship thing. Kind of. Not. It was complicated! He could hold hands find and getting a kiss on the cheek wasn't hard. That being said, anytime Kit tried to kiss him on the lips with anyone else around, he would turn redder than a fire truck and just about shoot steam out of his ears. Kit once again thought this was hilarious. The height of comedy, really. Tenya didn't share that opinion, but was glad to serve as a source of entertainment nonetheless.

The days rolled by. People were interviewed, pictures were taken, illnesses were documented. Life moved on in a steady roll that brought them right to the doors of Osaka General Hospital. Hawks was with them, standing in disguise. He could shrink his wings down and hide them in a trench coat. It made him look a little hunch-backed, but it wasn't too bad or noticeable. He certainly got by. He'd invited them here to day to meet Chad, despite the nurses saying he was a lost cause. Nothing more than a vegetable at this point. Hawks still wanted them to see who they were writing about.

Kit was quiet. More quiet than Tenya had ever heard him before. He held onto his tall boyfriend's hand tightly, with his lips set into a grim line and his brows furrowed. He seemed determined, and Izuku did too. They were respectfully silent as Hawks led them towards the elevator. The hero kept his voice light as he told them all about Chad and his old, crackhead ways, but there was a note of pain mixed in. A real strain that made it sound like he was struggling not to break down. It was clear just how much he loved his brother. It was obvious he'd do anything for him. Go to any length, even if it risked his career as a hero and his reputation.

"This is the place!" Hawks exclaimed weakly, throwing open the door to a small hospital room. It wasn't stark and white like most of them were. There were knick knacks all over the place. The walls were covered with, oddly enough, food wrappers. Taco Bell, Chipotle, Chicken Express, McDonalds, Popeyes, Cici's Pizza. Bags and receipts were tacked up, covering the bare walls. It made sense. Hawks had told them he used to be an Uber Eats driver, and had apparently adored his job before he landed himself in here. His love for fast food was something Hawks clearly hung onto. "Don't mind the walls. I just... couldn't stand the white."

"Hey, it's no bother." Kit spoke for the first time since they'd gotten here. Tenya was surprised to watch him recover a vast amount of his vigor, eyeing Hawks carefully the entire time. He was testing the boundaries to see what was okay and what wasn't. Hawks looked relieved to see someone else was speaking up. "Hey, Chad. It's nice to meet you. I'm Kit, and this is my boyfriend, Tenya. Gay, I know. Oh, and that's Izuku. He's a small bisexual."

"You're shorter than I am." Izuku's nose scrunched up.

"But my personality is bigger, so fuck off." Kit flipped him off. Hawks let out a laugh-- light and with less tension. "Anyway, we're here to meet the person we're planning on avenging. You're in a coma because Endeavor is a fucking dumbass who has little regard for public safety unless it directly effects his standing in the hero ranks. How he hasn't been arrested is a mystery."

"He appears to be a truly vile man." Tenya agreed. "Hawks requested we meet you and let you know what we plan to do. Hawks has given us permission on your behalf, but it's good that we get to see you and officially request your blessing as well."

Hawks felt teary-eyed as he watched the three teens talk to Chad like he was awake and alive and here. The nurses never talked to him. He was thin in his bed, and his blonde hair seemed limp and lacked the wave it used to. His stubble had grown out a little too much, making him look all the more like a corpse. It hurt to see his brother like this. Despite being quirkless, Chad had always been the strong one. He loved kids and could shoot a gun with terrifying precision. He took risks despite having what society deemed to be a detriment or disability. His quirklessness never got in the way. He took the bull by the horns, and he won almost every time. Just... Just not this time. 

And now he'd paid for it. And Hawks didn't really know what to do.

That's why he'd taken Dabi up on his offer. There was nowhere else to go. Chad was lying in this bed, and Endeavor was untouchable. Hawks had looked into it. He'd consulted with lawyers and news stations. He'd offered forth massive amounts of money, but no one ever bit. Here Kit was, not even wanting any payment or compensation. Just Chad's story. He wanted the truth to be put out there, and he didn't give a damn what Endeavor did. He wasn't scared and he couldn't be paid off. Yes, he was a teenager, but he was Hawks only chance, dammit! And looking at him now, that chance looked pretty fucking good.

"This reads his brain waves, right?" Izuku asked, drawing Hawks from his train of thought. The hero couldn't help but frown as he looked at the monitor displaying a fairly flat line. It had a small waver to it in some areas, but the doctors claimed that was only because the brain wasn't completely dead. If he could hear them, it would be pretty obvious. Hawks understood that, but he still liked to look at the little arches and dips in the line and pretend that was Chad hearing him. That it was Chad thinking. Or... maybe that was worse. Chad would hate to be stuck in his own head.

"Yes, definitely." Tenya answered so he didn't have to. "There seems to be minimal activity, however..."

"Minimal isn't nothing, though. Have you tried playing any music for him? Was he into that sorta shit?" Kit asked, raising a brow at Hawks. Hawks nodded. He'd tried just about every trick in the book. He'd gone on blogs, read about those miracles where people's relatives would jolt out of comas they were expected to stay in for life. After a month in a vegetative state however, patients were unlikely to recover. Chad was only alive due to the life support he was on. "Alright, well have you performed it?"

Hawks blinked, not quite understanding the question. Looking at Iida and Midoriya, they didn't seem to know either.

"I... I mean, I've played all his favorites. We must've circulated through his playlist about a million times. And that thing isn't short, either." Hawks couldn't help but snort. If there was something Chad loved more than food, it would probably have to be music. Most people who knew Chad weren't aware of just how many instruments he could play. "His favorite song was All Star by Smash Mouth. You know, that American song."

"If playing that shit didn't work, then that route is futile, Hawks." Kit cracked his neck, and then his knuckles. Tenya looked concerned. "You have to perform it."

Then, Kit fell into motion. Hawks blinked as the boy whipped out his phone. He didn't really know where this was heading, but he doubted it would do much. That didn't mean they couldn't try. They could attempt to get something out of Chad all they wanted. It wouldn't offend Hawks. The more the merrier. It was nice to see someone else believing in Chad. Even though Chad was strong, Hawks... Hawks had to admit that his hope had faded. He wanted Chad to wake up. Desperately, he did. That didn't mean he believed it would happen.

Kit knew the power of music. Music on its own was a force to be reckoned with. This fact was something he was still teaching both Izuku and Tenya, both of which weren't into it all that much. Tenya was obsessed with academics, and Izuku with heroes. Kit didn't really have an obsession outside of starting shit, but for him, listening to music had always been an escape. Letting Spotify cycle into unfamiliar territory was one of his favorite things to do. Before his mother was arrested, he'd just lay there and stare at the ceiling and listen through his earbuds. He'd soak up sad lyrics, and happy ones. Angry and morose. Melancholy and exciting. He'd dipped his finger into pretty much every genre out there.

He put on All Star by Smash Mouth. This one was a classic he'd forced Tenya and Izuku to listen to several times over, so he knew they had it memorized. They were smart and could remember even the most obscure facts. Kit turned the volume up as high as it would go. This seemed to alarm most people in the room. They seemed concerned that they'd get kicked out. Kit knew that was a possibility, but he also didn't really give a damn. They were trying a new type of therapy.

"SOMEBODY ONCE TOLD ME THE WORLD IS GONNA ROLL ME!" Kit, who feared no man and no evil, started to belt out the lyrics. It sounded more like shouting than it did singing. He waved to the startled Izuku to join in, and the green-haired boy hesitantly did. He was too afraid to go against Kit, and Tenya was too. He hesitantly joined in, glancing at the wide-eyed Hawks as though to ask permission first. The hero looked completely taken aback by their sudden dive into song. Kit was the loudest. Tenya and Izuku were clearly afraid to get into it. "I AIN'T THE SHARPEST TOOL IN THE SHED!"

Kit raised his brows at Hawks and gave a winning smile. The winged-hero laughed and stepped forward to join in, and that's all it took.

They screamed the lyrics at the top of their lungs. Kit somehow managed to get Tenya into it, and they ended up dancing across the room. They both knew how. Coming from upper-class families meant they'd been taught at a young age. Izuku and Hawks settled for doing weird wriggling motions and waving their hands about in abstract ways. It looked like dancing if you squinted. Hawks could breakdance and Izuku was now flexible enough to fall into the splits. 

A nurse came to the door to try and get them to be quiet, but she seemed to realize it would be futile when she heard the sheer volume of their shrieking. And then she glanced at Chad's brain activity monitor and let out a scream of her own-- this one more joyful and surprised. They all whirled to look at the screen, and Hawks' hand flew up to his mouth as Kit let out a whoop and gave a very stunned Tenya a kiss on the cheek. Izuku gawked.

It wasn't much, but clear as day on the monitor was a cluster of little spikes. The initial one was a lot bigger than the smaller ones that followed, but they were there. Their screaming had sparked something in his brain. They'd woken him up, even if it was just a little.

The song looped, and Kit made eye contact with a crying Hawks. The brunette teen gave a grin. Hawks couldn't help but give one back as a trio of doctors rushed into the room, flurried words passing between them as they realized maybe Chad wasn't as much of a lost cause as they thought he was.

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