#ghost hawks

Touya was settling into the white place, glad to be back to his real age, and VERY happy for his scars to be gone, when suddenly a newborn appeared in the room.

After getting closer Touya realizes he KNOWS that newborn, extra features or not.

“..... Keigo?” Touya asked in shock. “..... Oh, Birdy,” he says sadly after realizing what the age means for the Bird.

Touya leans down and gently picks up the baby, carefully handling his tail and wings.

“Relax, I'm not going to hurt you again,” the Flame User soothes when the baby starts fussing and trying to squirm away.

Touya places the trembling baby onto his lap on his stomach to keep his wings and tail comfortable.

“RELAX I said …. Look, am I attacking you right now?” Touya sighs, getting a shaky low coo. “Then breathe and calm down. I won't hurt you,” he promises, rubbing the baby's back to soothe him.

After a moment a vision of Keigo's life is shoved into Touya's brain, and from how the infant froze, the ex-Hero is seeing Touya's life as well.

“..... I'm gonna level with you, Birdy. I'm shocked you never truly joined us,” Touya admits.

Keigo bursts into tears after a moment of shocked silence.

“I know, Endeavor isn't all he's built up to be, is he? Saves an abused child while abusing and neglecting his own family. Ironic,” Touya laughed sadly.

Touya holds Keigo close and lets him cry the shock and betrayal out, noting with interest that Keigo cries like Shuichi does after noticing the tears aren't leaving the Bird's eyes.

“I have to say, your parents are real assholes. Your Dad would beat you and your Mom, your Mom didn't give a flying fuck about anything except alcohol, drugs, and watching TV. Your Dad becomes a murderer, only to be stupidly arrested for stealing a car. And what does your Mother do with her newfound freedom? Sells you to the Commission as a slave,” the Flame User rants, furious and sad at how similar the two of them are.

Keigo bawls louder.

“I’m sorry, Birdy, but you would have been better off joining us,” Touya maintains, hugging the distraught baby tighter in comfort. “Don't listen to assholes like your parents, the Commission, and my Dad. We had EVERY right to be born and exist for reasons other than to be weapons for assholes to use,” the Fire User said firmly, wishing he had heard this himself before becoming a Villain.

Keigo lets out a sobbing chirp, happy that someone finally told him what he wanted and needed to hear, but heartbroken that he never got to hear it in Life.

After a while, Keigo’s cries calm down into hiccups.

“Better?” Touya asks, rubbing the Bird's back to soothe the hiccups away.

Keigo lets out a watery chirp.

“Have you figured out why you're like this?” Touya asks, getting a low coo from the Baby.

“Well, when I got here, I was five years old. After a time, the only thing I could think of that made sense was that I was happiest at that age,” Touya answers. “And given what I just witnessed, my theory might be right.”

Keigo lets out a sad warble in reply.

“Though I was in my teens by a few minutes and you haven't aged a bit,” Touya mused, holding Keigo away from his chest to look at him. “... This is just a hunch, but have you accepted your life and death? Because while mine sucked I had no issue accepting it,” the Flame User asked.

Keigo lets out a mournful coo, giving Touya his answer.

“Then I have a feeling this will take a while,” Touya sighs.

Keigo whines and reaches for Touya with shaking hands.

“No, Birdy, I'm not leaving you,” the Fire User soothes, bringing the baby to rest against his shoulder, rubbing his back soothingly.

After a bit, Touya rests Keigo on his lap. The baby starts playing with his hands, kicking his feet, and wagging his tail. Happy to have his true features back instead of the human look the Commission had forced on him before.

Touya allows the Bird to grip his fingers.

“Does that tail get any bigger?” the Fire User asks, equally fascinated by the features he had never seen in life, running his fingers through Keigo's hair.

Keigo lets out a happy chirp.

“You look better with your full Quirk,” Touya comments, running his fingers through the Bird's feathered hair, getting a cheerful chirrup and his fingers squeezed in thanks.

“You certainly are fluffy, aren't you,” Touya laughed, gently running his fingers up and down the baby's back and along his sides under the Bird's shirt, noting that the feathers continued towards Keigo’s front. The baby twitches at the ticklish sensation and starts giggling.

“You're ticklish?” Touya asked with a grin, scratching gently at the baby's upper sides near his wings.

Keigo lets out a shrieking laugh in response.

“Bad spot?” the Fire User laughed, getting frantic chirpy cackles in response.

Touya finally eases up, smiling at the memory of doing this with Fuyumi and Natsuo. Now feeling bad he never did this with Shouto.

Keigo wiggles around, chirping happily.

“You weren't this sensitive in life, were you? Because of what they took?” Touya asks, growing somber, getting a sad chirp in agreement from the Bird.

“I both am and am not surprised the Commission stripped you of most of your Quirk. God forbid a Heteromorph be a Hero,” the Flame User huffed, getting a grumpy chirp in agreement.

“We need to talk, Keigo. I want answers,” Touya says, Keigo letting out a shaky chirp in agreement.

“First things first, do you regret betraying us?” Touya asked, needing to know for sure, only witnessing Keigo's memories, not feeling the Bird's emotions in the vision.

Keigo lets out a watery chirp, trembling and beginning to cry from the weight of his guilt and the slight fear that Touya will change his mind and burn him again.

“Do you agree with the Commission about Jin being too dangerous to live?” Touya asks, staying firm through the Bird's crying.

The baby lets out a piercing wail, kicking his legs and gripping Touya's pants in distress.

“Then why’d you kill him?” Touya lectured, taking the wail as a no. “I know you can't answer now, but I need an explanation the moment you can talk. I might have seen how it happened but I want to know WHY,” he scowled down at the crying baby.

Keigo gives him a sobbing chirp in agreement.

“Good,” the Flame User huffs, tears streaming down his face, still marveling at the fact that he can cry again to even bother with trying to suppress his tears.

Touya eases Keigo's fingers from his pants, heating his hands to loosen the baby's grip, bringing him into an embrace, and lets the baby grip his shirt and cry.

“I'm going to tell you something I told my Dad. ‘The past never dies’. I know everyone took it to mean no one can change, but that's not what I meant. What I meant by that is ‘actions have consequences and you need to face your past and the punishments that come with it’. Do you understand?” Touya asks the weeping baby.

Keigo shakily chirps, making Touya feel relieved that at least SOMEONE understands what he means.

It continues like that for a while, Touya asking simple questions and Keigo making a high Bird noise for yes and a low Bird noise for no.

After a time, the two notice that Keigo is starting to grow older.

Seeing their progress, they continue to talk about Keigo's life.

The ex-Hero eventually reaches the age of about two or three.

“Could you talk at this age?” Touya asks curiously.

“Yes. Little,” Keigo answers.

Looking up, the Bird realizes he can actually apologize now.

“I ….,” Keigo attempts, then promptly dissolves into tears. “I SORRY!” he cried, collapsing against Touya and wailing into his stomach.

The Fire User sighs and picks up the blubbering tot, holding him against his shoulder.

“Let it out,” Touya soothed, rubbing the bawling Bird's back. “I think I may be joining you,” he laughed, feeling tears well in his own eyes.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry," Keigo bawled into Touya's shoulder, clinging to him like he would fade away.

“Shhh, I know you are,” Touya soothes shakily, tears beginning to roll down his face. “And for what it's worth, I'm sorry too.”

Despite everything, Touya doesn't know if he can forgive the Bird yet.

'Maybe I'm waiting for the others?' Touya ponders, rubbing soothing circles into the crying toddler's back. ‘Where are Jin and Magne, anyway, they both died BEFORE me,’ the ex-Villain mused, looking around.

After the two calm down a little from their breakdowns, Touya goes to put the toddler down, only to notice Keigo clinging to him for dear life with his hands AND feet.

"Relax, didn't I tell you I wasn't going anywhere?" Touya sighs.

"Don't forgive me," Keigo hiccups, picking up on this despite the ex-Villain not saying anything.

"That doesn't mean I'm LEAVING," Touya replies, not insulting the Bird's intelligence by denying it, rubbing the toddler's back, being careful of his wings.

“Look, do you forgive me for burning your wings off?” Touya asks to prove a point, getting a reluctant shake of the head. “Are you going to leave me?” he continued.

“No,” Keigo hiccuped, clutching Touya tighter at the thought.

“Then why would I leave you?” the Fire User asked in confusion, getting a shoulder shrug from the tot in response.

“Hate me?” Keigo offers up as a reason.

“I don't hate you,” Touya sighs. “.... Fine, I don't hate you ANYMORE. This place has calmed me,” he corrects upon seeing the Bird's expression.

Looking around while rubbing the toddler's back, Touya decides he's tired of this room and gets to his feet, cradling the sniffling Keigo in his arms.

“Where are we going?” Keigo asked in a watery tone.

“We're gonna take a look around and see if this is all there is or if we can leave. Because two people are missing,” the Fire User answered.

“Two?” Keigo questioned, knowing that one is Jin.

“You haven't met her. She was killed by Overhaul,” Touya replied sadly. “Her name is Magne.”

“Mag,” Keigo tried, huffing when he couldn't get the full name out, wishing he'd go back to normal so he could talk properly again.

Not too long after, a door appears.

“..... That works,” Touya says, Keigo giving a wary chirp, the Flame User patting the Bird's head in agreement.

Touya slowly opens the door. He and Keigo are prepared for anything.

Outside is a long, white hall with doors on both sides.

“..... I'm gonna guess none of those are bathrooms, given that we haven't felt any urge to go so far,” the ex-Villain deadpans, getting a giggle out of the toddler in his arms.

Stepping out, Touya closes the door and the two notice ‘arriving’ on the door.

“.... Huh. That actually makes so much sense,” Touya says, blinking in shock, Keigo nodding.

Looking both ways and seeing nothing but doors, Touya sighs and picks a direction.

After a time, he and Keigo find a door labeled ‘League of Villains’.

Suddenly terrified, Keigo shrinks closer to Touya with a small whimper, hiding his face in Touya's shoulder.

“BREATHE, Birdy. They'll hear you out,” the Flame User soothes. “I did, didn't I?” he asks, getting a hesitant nod from the toddler.

Opening the door, Touya is overjoyed to see Jin and Magne sitting and chatting.

The two look over when they hear the door open.

“WHAT'S HE DOING HERE?!” Jin snarled, pointing to the trembling Bird.

“Jin, remember what we talked about?” Magne asked.

“B-but he!” Jin sobbed.

“Jin, relax. He has something to say,” Touya says. “Birdy?” he encouraged, poking one of the Bird's wings.

“I’m sorry!” the Bird sobbed, looking at Jin and feeling guilty all over again.

“...... I'm still mad at you,” the Clone Maker huffed, turning away, but didn't demand Keigo leave. “..... Why's he a toddler?” he asked after a minute, turning back.

“... You two didn't appear at a different age?” the Flame User asked, not really surprised.

“No, I'm afraid not. Did you?” Magne asked.

“Yeah. I arrived at age five. Birdy as a newborn. My working theory is that you arrive at the age you were happiest,” Touya answers.

The other two quickly put the pieces together and looked at the two in shock.

“.... I know I said you were alone, but I didn't know it was THAT bad,” Jin said awkwardly to Keigo. “Your life really sucked that badly, Dabi?” he asked mournfully, Magne looking at the two sadly.

“Touya, and yeah. I have a bit to say as well,” the Fire User sighed, figuring the memory thing only works when two or more people arrive close together.

“Touya. It's a lovely name,” Magne smiled.

“Thanks,” Touya said, sitting down near the two.

Keigo moves to Touya's lap, too emotional to want to sit by himself yet.

“So I'm going to assume you also know nothing about sharing memories,” Touya says, getting nods. “When the Bird arrived, the two of us suddenly got a front row seat to the other's memories,” Touya reveals, getting shocked expressions from his friends.

“... So you know why he killed me?” Jin asked.

“Yeah,” Touya sighed. “And I'll just start with this. I will forever be surprised he never truly joined us.”

“Oh?” Magne hummed, looking at the ex-Hero curiously, having not been alive to meet him.

“... Nothing will excuse him for killing me,” Jin growls, glaring at Keigo's slumped head.

“You're right, it doesn't,” Touya agreed, ignoring the flinch from the toddler. “But it does explain it.”

“.... Fine. Tell me why Hawks killed me,” Jin huffed.

“Keigo,” Touya corrected, noticing the Bird stiffening after hearing his old Hero name. “Hawks is what the Commission called him to strip him of his identity and humanity.”

“Why's Keigo so clingy?” Jin asks, he may be furious but the ex-Hero IS still human.

“... From what I saw, because we died before he could talk to us and apologize. He's afraid we'll leave him again,” Touya sighs, running his fingers through Keigo's hair when he sobs. “And the Bird cries like Shuichi,” Touya clears up, seeing Magne and Jin’s confused looks at the lack of tears.

“You truly regret everything?” Jin asked, silently accepting the crying explanation along with Magne.

Keigo nods sadly.

“Why'd you kill me?” Jin asks, changing his mind and needing to hear it from Keigo.

“Told me to,” Keigo hiccuped, cursing his current age making his emotions harder to hide.

“Who?” the Clone Maker scowled.

“The Commission,” Touya answers on the Bird's behalf.

“What? Why would they want him dead?” Magne demands.

“Keigo told them about Jin’s Quirk Awakening and him getting over his fears and the Commission decided Jin was too dangerous,” Touya answered bluntly, seeing Keigo struggling with his words.

“THAT'S BULLSHIT!!!!“ Jin snarled tearfully, and Magne angrily agreed.

“Sorry, sorry, sorry!” Keigo wailed, shrinking back into Touya.

“That reminds me, we made a deal, Keigo,” Touya reminds the crying Bird.

“Earlier, when he was still a baby, I would ask yes or no questions. Does he regret betraying us? Yes. Did he agree with the Commission's mindset that Jin is too dangerous to live? No. We made a deal he'd tell me why he agreed to murder Jin when he could talk,” the Fire User clears up, seeing the confused looks on the two League members.

Touya and the two League members turn to the ex-Hero.

“Birdy?” Touya prompted.

“Had to. No choice,” Keigo sobbed, covering his face with his hands, wishing his wings were big enough to hide behind.

Sighing, Touya turns the toddler around to face him.

“Look at me,” the Flame User says. “KEIGO. Look at me,” he says firmer when the tot shakes his head.

Hiccuping, Keigo removes his hands from his face and looks up at Touya with teary eyes and a red face.

“There's always a choice,” the ex-Villain tells the Bird firmly. Jin and Magne sternly nod in agreement.

Keigo shakes his head.

“Not them. Punish me,” he insists, knowing Touya would understand.

“Then you should have come to us,” Touya scolds. “The Commission would torture the Bird if he ever said no,” he clarifies to his confused friends.

“No trust then,” Keigo says sadly, wiping his eyes, trying to futilely clear his vision.

“Like you do now?” the Fire User deadpans.

“More now,” the toddler admits shyly, ducking his head.

“... True,” the ex-Villain huffed in amusement. “We spent a while with just the other as company before realizing we could leave that room,” he explains to his friends.

“If the Commission was forcing you to do stuff you didn't want to, why didn't you tell the Heroes?” Jin asked.

“I've been wondering about that myself, Birdy. I may have seen your memories but I didn't feel your emotions,” Touya spoke up.

“Do nothing,” the ex-Hero says in a depressed tone.

“From what I saw of you in the news, you always looked to the bright side of life. What changed?” the Magnet User asked.

“Fake,” Keigo admits softly. “Not all me.”

“The Commission forced him to create and keep the happy-go-lucky, childish Mask up and hide his negative emotions and issues,” Touya cleared up before the two could ask.

“What, society can't have Heroes who struggle with mental or emotional health?” Jin grumpily asks.

“No,” the Bird agreed sadly. “‘Mission not let.”

“Of course,” Touya scoffs. “Heroes need to be happy robots who work 24/7 without crashing but also be comforting to any victim who needs it,” he giggles.

The Bird slumps against the Fire User, burying his face in Touya's stomach.

“That's stupid,” Jin deadpans.

Touya laughed in agreement.

“So why DIDN'T you truly join us?” Touya asks after a minute, sobering up.

“Not help,” Keigo answers firmly.

“You truly are a Hero,” Touya huffed in amusement.

“So what happened after I died?” Jin asked after a minute.

“I burned these completely off,” Touya answers, running gentle fingers along a wing.

“... You did?” the Clone Maker asked, looking at Touya in awe, feeling touched.

“Of course, idiot. I wasn't going to let him get away with killing you,” Touya huffed, letting Keigo grip his shirt for comfort.

“Grew slow. One took after,” Keigo added softly.

“All for One took your Quirk? How much had your wings grown back by then?” Touya asked, the other two equally interested.

“Little. Not grow back,” the Bird admits sadly.

“You don't think they would have fully grown back?” Magne asks gently.

Keigo shakes his head.

The door handle starts to turn.

“Ah, that must be Himiko returning,” Magne mused.

“What?!” Touya yelps in horrified shock.

“You didn't know?” Jin asked.

“I was distracted with the war and rage at my Dad,” the Fire User replies. “I'll explain in a bit,” he says, noticing their confusion.

“Me too,” Keigo chirps in shock.

“I found everyone except Giri!” the Blood Sucker reported, sounding happy yet sad.

Himiko happily bounces into the room, Atsuhiro, Tomura, and Shuichi following her.

The group freezes when they see Touya.

Himiko then spots Keigo.

Touya calmly puts Keigo onto the ground, stands up, and gets ready to stop anyone from attacking the Bird.

“YOU!” she snarls, leaping for the toddler. “LET ME GO, TOUYA, I'LL GUT HIM! I DON'T CARE IF WE'RE DEAD I'LL FIND A WAY!” Himiko shrieks, struggling to escape her friend’s arms.

“Uh-huh,” the Fire User hummed, waiting for the Blood Sucker to tire herself out. “You done?” he asked after she slumped, breaking down into sobs.

“I take it he's here for a reason?” Atsuhiro asked, unhappy with the Hero as well but far calmer.

“He's been explaining himself to us with Touya translating anything Keigo can't get out,” Magne explained.

“As long as we get an explanation,” the Decay User accepts, heading over and sitting by Magne, a sniffling Himiko sitting on the Magnet User’s other side.

Once everyone settles down, they look towards Touya and Keigo.

“How do we know he even feels bad?” Himiko huffed.

“Because he's been crying non-stop since dying,” Touya answered.

“He cries like you, Shuichi,” Touya revealed. “When he arrived, I noticed that when he'd cry his tears wouldn't leave his eyes.”

“You're like me?” Shuichi asked the Bird.

Keigo nods blankly, suddenly feeling embarrassed about crying so much.

“Don't do that,” Touya sighs, picking up the tot and holding him up to eye level. Not allowing Keigo to look away. ‘I know what you're thinking, Birdy, and it's not true.’ he thinks sadly, having had similar thoughts in the past himself.

“What's he doing?” Himiko asks curiously.

“Suppressing his emotions like his parents and the Commission forced him to do,” the Fire User sighed. “Listen Birdy, we may be mad but none of us are going to attack you or mock you for having feelings. Have I done either of those things since we reunited?” Touya asked.

Keigo hesitantly shook his head.

“Why would the Heroes do that to one of their own?” Tomura asked curiously.

“Because he's more like us than anyone realized. Tell me if this sounds familiar. Your parents suck. To the point that they constantly tell you that you shouldn't exist. Someone finally shows up to save you, only for you to discover they suck just like your parents," Touya answers, not looking away from the toddler's watery eyes, the emotionless mask shattering fast.

The other League members look at Keigo in shock.

“... I may be super mad at you, but I'm sorry you went through that,” Himiko says.

Keigo's expression crumples and he bursts into tears after a minute of struggling to keep it in.

“Let me guess, people mocked you for not ‘actually crying’ in some form, right?” Shuichi grumbled, his past of being treated like an animal flashing through his head.

The toddler cried harder and covered his burning face with his hands, giving the Lizard Heteromorph his answer.

“May I hold him? I want to tell him something,” Shuichi asks.

Touya hands the bawling tot over after determining his friend won't hurt the Bird.

“Don't listen to anything THEY'VE told you. You are allowed to cry, even if you can't physically release any tears like so-called ‘normal people’,” the Lizard Heteromorph soothed, hugging the distraught Bird to his shoulder.

Your quirk quite literally made you see dead people.

Thankfully, you don’t actually have to see what caused their death, but rather during their best moment before their passing.

Your ability to interact with them, however, solely depends on their state of mind during their passing.

For people who were in grief over their passing, they were often too hysterical to communicate with.

People who’d come to accept their passing were easier to talk to, but touching was relatively impossible because they were on their way into transitioning into another life. Their energy was too little to physically interact with.

People who weren’t in grief over their passing, but still struggled to accept it would be able to make physical contact with you as well as avoid the hysteria.

In other words:

You hadn’t expected to literally run into pro heroes Hawks and Shouto

3 months after their supposed passing.

You were skeptical because no bodies were ever found.

But now you knew.

And it was awkward.

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

“So…” you slide into your apartment with the ghosts of the former(?) pro-heroes shortly behind you, “you died during the last villain attack, then?” Hawks shrugs.

“Technically, yes, but also no. Do you remember what the villain’s quirk was?”

“To make people ‘disappear’ or something?”

“Yeah, something like that. Come to find out, their quirk turns people into ghosts. We don’t actually know if we’re dead or alive.”

“That would explain your continued existence then.”

For the next several hours, the three of you talk about the possibilities, but with no safe way of testing any of your theories, you opt to just giving them a space to stay, even if they don’t actually need it.

The next morning, you thank your lucky stars that you don’t have work, considering you would have been 4 hours late by now. You’re also slightly unnerved to find the both of them watching you.

“Sorry, but there isn’t exactly a whole lot we can do anymore. Watching you make funny faces in your sleep is the best we have.” Todoroki shrugs as you sputter indignantly,

“I don’t make funny faces.” “Sorry to tell you, but he’s not wrong. Your face is pretty funny.” you glare at the winged pro,

“You’re not helping.” He shrugs,

“Never said I was trying to.”

You decide to let them pick a Netflix show to leave on overnight, making sure it would continue to run for several hours uninterrupted as you slept.

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

the show they ended up coming to agree on was some weird trashy reality show.

You didn’t even know it’s existed.

But that’s ok

You didn’t need to know.

Watching them float around your apartment and explore was… a little unnerving, to say the least.

Considering this was your private space and all

But they were good company

Hawks talks a lot about how he misses fried chicken, and that you should eat some for him every time you try and get food together

Only to be interrupted by Todoroki

Honestly, you thought it was to be like “leave her alone and let her eat what she wants”

But then boy really was out here like “she should eat cold soba for me instead”

Like wow, thanks.

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

“C’mon, mini Endeavor! Don’t be so cold.” 

‘Wow, talk about shots fired.’ you raise your eyebrows, turning to Shouto

“Call me that again, and I’ll roast you alive you KFC reject.”

‘Oh yikes; returned serve.’ you look at Hawks from the corner of your eye.

“Oooh, feisty kitty. Little calico catboy. Besides, we’re ghosts; I don’t think you can kill me like this.”

‘Saucy. Pro Hero Hawks confesses to knowing what catboys are.’ you bite your lip, raising your glass to take a sip.

“Test me again and you’ll find out, Red Robin.”

‘He’s got you there.’ you nod to yourself.

“Fair enough.”

It’s silent for a moment; you set your glass down and look up just in time to see Hawks smirk.

“If it makes you feel better… your dad tastes about as awful as he acts.” It doesn’t make Shouto feel better, but it’s good to know that the most damage he can do is strangle Hawks.

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

“They’re good company” you decide

But you’ve been pent up for almost a month now, and you decide that you’re almost horny enough to rent a hotel room to ‘solve your problems’

But you don’t because that’s a little weird

That doesn’t stop you from fantasizing though.

You don’t expect them to be watching you in the morning one day

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

“I thought I put Netflix on for y’all.” You turn into your pillow, groaning quietly as your legs and back stretch.

“We were watching it…” Todoroki starts,

“Then a certain little missy started making noises.” you grunt, perturbed.

“Okay, so I sleep talk. What about it?”

“I don’t know if you could call that *sleep talking*, per se…” You peek an eye open at Hawks, squinting when you notice his grin, “What do you think, catboy?”

“Definitely wouldn’t call it sleep talking.” He says from the other side of you. You don’t expect the small smirk on his lips, nor do you expect the way he stares at you so intensely.

“What… do you mean…?” you shove yourself further under your sheets, heart rising up into your throat.

“Sounds like someone’s a *little*...” Hawks looms over you, lips next to your ear, “pent up.”

You shiver hard, but cough and try to save face.

“How do I know you’re not lying to me?” you grumble, closing your eyes as if you were trying to go back to sleep.

“I bet if we take those pretty panties of yours, they’ll be soaked right now.” Hawks presses, eyes growing hungrier.

You flounder for a moment, and that’s all it takes for Hawks to make his move.

“Do you want some help, birdie? Want me to use my fingers on that pretty little pussy?” You shudder and whine, growing embarrassingly wet,

“I bet you’re just dripping from the thought, aren’t you?”

“Sh-shut up…” you spit weakly, pressing your thighs together.

“C’mon, why don’t you let me help?” His hands are slapped away before they can pull the sheets from you.

“Maybe she doesn’t want you to touch her,” Shouto slides his hand down your back; before you can whine in protest, more than willing to follow through, he continues.

“Maybe she’d rather have a real man touch her, not some ‘Original Recipe’ asshole.” You laugh into the pillow despite yourself.

Even now, Shouto somehow manages to make this into some strange competition they’ve been having, but you don’t complain when two pairs of— admittedly cold— hands pull away the sheets.

Especially when you’re no longer finding yourself in need of a hotel room.

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

Somehow, you end up being Friends with Benefits with both of them.

Though they only ever used their fingers and mouths on you, but you weren’t going to complain

“It’s the least we could do, since you’re giving us somewhere to linger and free entertainment.”

Or so they said, anyway.

Somehow they learn just when you’re in desperate need of their touch before you even walk in through the door, almost instantly tugging you in and throwing your clothes off.

Despite the strange circumstances, you end up growing closer to the both of them over time

Part of you dreads the day you figure out how to reverse the villain's quirk

Assuming it’s possible

Not only were they both the best bed partners you could ask for

You genuinely enjoy their company and shady banter

But in moments when you’re all huddled up on the couch, watching yet another trashy reality show

You forget they’re ghosts in the first place

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

“God, I can’t believe Jasmine.” You scoff, throwing a piece of popcorn at the TV.

“Right? Paula didn’t deserve that shit. That girl is a queen.” Hawks grumbles in agreement, groaning when the interviewers cut to Jasmine.

“Agreed. Paula is queen.”

“It’s a miracle the two of you haven’t completely fried your brains watching this.” Shouto rolls his eyes, reading a book you brought home the other day.

“Shut up. You’re just mad Bernadette got voted off last week.” Hawks throws a kernel at Shouto, but— expectedly— it goes right through him.

“Bernie was the only decent girl and you both know it.” He glares, borderline pouting.

You smile, bittersweet. You grab the kernel that phased right through Shouto and continue watching the episode in silence.

You’re too lost in thought to notice the way they look at you.

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

At one point, their words and touches become so much sweeter, even outside the bedroom

When, however, is a question you couldn’t even begin to answer.

Some days, you wake up to the two of them brushing your cheeks, your hair.

Shouto grabs your hand gently, planting a soft peck on it with a quiet ‘Good morning, sweetheart.’

Hawks following up with a kiss to your  temple, “how’d you sleep?”

Other times, they would greet you at the door, asking about your day as they helped you out of your coat, taking your bag from you.

It felt so domestic, so peaceful, so *loving*

 you were afraid of it shattering like glass under a sledgehammer

But as they say, all good things must come to an end

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

“Good morning, hummingbird.” You groan when Hawks presses a kiss to your eyelid, warm fingers tracing over your cheek.

Warm?

You open your eyes, whipping your head to look at the winged hero, “Hawks? You’re warm??”

He grins, pretending to be bashful, “Oh, why thank you! I’ve been told I’m rather nice.”

“No no no, you’re warm. Not cold.” You grab his hand and inspect it, thumbs pressing into his palms. He grunts,

“Well, now that you mention it, the room *is* a bit cold.” You hardly pay attention to him though when you’re suddenly stumbling out into the living room.

“Shou? Shouto?” You find him sitting on the couch. He looks up from the book, shocked.

“Yes? What is it? Are you okay??” He stands, meeting you halfway as you press your hands to his cheeks.

“Warm…” you whisper, heart thumping painfully in your chest.

“Well, at least your left side is.” You pull your hands away from his cheeks as he looks at you baffled, then to Hawks.

“Is everything alright? What’s going on?”

“I think… I think you’re human again.” You laugh humorlessly, and they look at you skeptically.

“Human? How? We didn’t do anything.” you give an exaggerated shrug,

“I don’t know, but how else am I supposed to explain your temperature.” They stay silent. You expect them to.

A pregnant pause, then you let out a shaky breath.

“I gotta call someone…” you tug at your hair, “Before someone finds out and I get accused for kidnapping you both.”

“Well, let’s not be too hasty, I mean” — Hawks shrugs— “everyone thinks we’re dead anyway. Wait and see if we stay warm.”

“And if they find out you’re here? Then what?” You grimace, more at the idea of them disappearing than the consequences, but you also knew that you wouldn’t be able to financially handle the backlash.

They both stay silent, Hawks giving you a shaky smile. “Then… just a couple of days. Just to make sure we’re actually back.”

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

The next two days were unbearable

The tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife

The timing of the universe must have been lined up for this very moment, your first two days off in months leaving you stuck between them on the couch

Nobody said a word, not even when Bernadette made a surprise comeback in season 9

Thinking about constantly being alone again made your heart turn to ice 

But as it stood, all you had connecting you was the ghosting quirk and your FWB relationship

But as quick as it came, it was gone

The number of officials flooding your apartment and interrogating you was overwhelming, but Hawks and Shouto were quick to step in and explain

At least, everything they could anyway

According to the association, they couldn’t squeeze anything out of the villain responsible for changing Hawks and Shouto into ghosts

But once they confirmed that you were not a threat, they left you with a “light” warning

In other words: “Stay away. You’ve done enough”

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

Your house was so quiet, yet the T.V was on, your phone playing music, trying desperately to distract yourself with the book Shouto was reading. Nothing worked.

You still felt the way their presence lingered, practically permeated the room. You couldn’t sleep in your own bed anymore, sheets feeling far too warm. Sitting anywhere other than the middle seat on your couch made you feel like you were taking up someone’s space. Your kitchen seemed to have just a little too much space to move.

Two months pass since they’ve left, and it never seemed to get better. Rather than stressed, you just felt... tired. You wanted to feel anything but tired, but the echoes of their banter only reminded you that they were gone…

And you were alone once again.

You had no way of contacting them, and they were probably far too busy with the press to even think about the nobody girl who found them wandering.

Days blended together until it all came falling down. You fell into watching the news, the tabloids all celebrating the return of their favorite heroes Hawks and Shoto. Even Endeavor seemed uncharacteristically floored to see his son alive and well.

You laughed bitterly; ‘I would bet money on the fact that he probably rolled his eyes when he saw his father.’ wry smile on your lips.

Maybe another cup of coffee would be worthwhile.

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

You told yourself daily to just get over the unrequited feelings, yet you still yearned to see them every day.

You wished it were easier to pretend they were never here at all

Especially when they did it so well.

Though you supposed it was all the hero work talking.

You couldn’t bring yourself to finish the last season you’d been watching with them, memories still too fresh even if it’s been more than a couple of months since you touched it

Netflix did a wonderful job at reminding you constantly

Eventually, you stopped watching netflix too

But couldn’t bring yourself to stop paying for a subscription, naively believing they would be back to continue as if nothing changed

You loathed it

Yet it was the only illusion you had left

Until it wasn’t an illusion anymore

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

It’s half passed one in the morning when you hear a knock at your door, frantic and desperate. You stumble out off the couch, nearly ramming your body into the door in an attempt to peek through the peephole.

You couldn’t believe your eyes when a flash of crimson feathers crossed your vision.

You yank the door open, wondering if this was some sort of cruel dream when you’re brutally reminded that it’s not, and that Hawks is-- indeed-- standing in front of you. In the flesh.

“Hey birdie.” he starts, looking far too exhausted.

“Hawks…” you whisper breathless, lungs rattling in disbelief when you inhale.

“Yeah… it’s me. The calico wanted to be here too, but his dad wouldn’t let him out of the house.” he smiles, strained.

“Shouto… wait, why are you here?” you glance around his form nervously, expecting to see blood. He swallows a thick lump,

“Can’t a bird just come say hello?”

You wheeze, smile more like a grimace, but you step aside and let him in. He walks around, more than well acquainted with every corner. Fingers running over your furniture, as if he were still trying to feel the memories that lingered.

“S’ colder than I remember.” he whispers and you nod,

“Yeah… Heater broke some time last month. Still waiting for the landlord to get back to me.” he doesn’t reply, staring at your bedroom door.

It’s painfully silent, but you’re afraid he’ll disappear if you say something now. You can’t tell what he’s thinking, not with his back facing you. Then he turns, and suddenly you’re far too aware of all the words he has to say to you.

For the first time in months, you feel like you’re burning alive.

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

By the time Hawks was through with you, the sun was high in the sky.

You didn’t think you’d be able to say you got dicked down hard enough to stay stuck in bed, yet here you were

Stuck in bed

His fingers run through your hair, sweet words of adoration leaving his lips with every kiss he presses to your skin

You can hardly believe that Hawks is still here

Even after he’s spent all night and all morning fucking it into you

You don’t remember the number of times he’s whispered how much he’s missed you

How much he wanted you

How much he needed you

Yet here he was

Fingers rubbing into your skin how badly he needed you to be real

The blissful illusion broken by sharp knocking on your front door

Yet Hawks-- or rather Keigo, as he insists-- still smiles

“Hope you’re not too tired, birdie… Your day’s only just begun.”

You don’t know if you should be afraid or not.

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

“Shou--!” you’re cut off when he practically scrambles into your bed, lips smothering yours.

“Fuck, I missed you baby.” he growls against your lips, ‘I’m a little pissed the Chick-fil-a wannabe got to you first though.” “You’re still on that, huh.” Hawks muses, lazy grin on his lips when you squeal at the cold air hitting your skin, blanket gracelessly thrown to the side by the half-and-half hero.

“And you made a fuckin’ mess, asshole.” Shouto grumbles when he pulls your hips to the edge of the bed, forcing your legs open. You can feel the way Keigo’s cum drips out of you, making you flush in embarrassment.

“Don’t… don’t stare, dammit.” you cover your face, knowing full well that he would never let you push his head away.

From experience, of course.

“Ruined such a pretty little pussy... “ you hear him mutter before his tongue is licking a wet stripe up the length of your pussy, circling around your clit before sucking it into his mouth. You’re still so sensitive, and you almost howl in sweet agony from the way your clit throbs and stings from the overstimulation.

“Whoops, can’t have you alerting the neighbors now can we?” Keigo says as he sits on the bed next to your head, stuffing his fingers into your mouth.

You can tell he’s only pretending to play it cool, his wings puffing out impressively the longer he watches your face twist and your eyes cross, moaning and humming around his fingers. You feel cold fingers press into you and you gasp, the temperature shock making your clench harder around them. “Oops, sorry. Should have warned you.” Shouto hums, not sounding the least bit sorry. His fingers press and coax the deepest parts of you, massaging your gummy walls. You arch and cry out, thankful that Keigo’s fingers were capable of muffling your noises.

“Geez, you’re wasting all my milk there, kitty cat.” you can hear the shit eating grin on his face, but it’s quick to drop when Shouto’s suddenly licking and sucking, slurping obscenely before pulling away and giving Keigo an unamused ‘meow’.

Keigo doesn’t respond, too shocked for his usual witty comebacks, but that doesn’t deter Shouto from trailing his warmer fingers up your body, pressing over your stomach.

The contrast between his cold fingers prodding around inside you and the warm ones pressing down on your tummy makes you breathless, cumming with a squeaky moan, thighs shaking around Shouto’s head. He chuckles, amused at the way you clench around his fingers, coaxing you through your orgasm until you slack against the bed.

You’re suddenly turned around, head hanging off the edge of the bed, still lying flat on your back.

“Wha…” you slur, attempting to look at Shouto who’s climbing on the bed, pulling your legs over  his hips when suddenly Keigo’s standing by your head, leaning down and planting a sweet kiss on your lips.

“Think you can take us both at the same time, hummingbird?” his cock is in his hand, stroking lazily. You swallow, chewing on your lip before nodding slowly.

You weren’t actually sure, but you’d be damned if you didn’t at least try.

“Atta girl…” he praises, stroking your cheek gently before pressing the tip against your lips. You give it a cheeky little kiss to mask your own nerves, tongue poking out to tease him before your mouth drops open into a moan, the feeling of Shouto filling you up immediately distracting you.

“It’s not nice to tease, baby.” he teases you, hips smacking into yours rudely. You choke when Keigo fills your mouth, fighting to relax your throat.

You’re thankful that he’s at least taking some care to help support your head and neck, but your thoughts are quick to drift away as Shouto stuffs and stretches your cunt, nothing but grunts and hums leaving you as Keigo slowly fills your mouth.

“God, what a pretty sight birdie. Your little throat flexing around my cock.” he mutters, hand caressing the front of your throat, squeezing gently. You try to focus on keeping your breathing even, but it’s hard when Shouto continues to insist on fucking you so roughtly.

“Your cute little cunny looks so small, stretched around my fat cock baby.” he groans, only taking a short moment to savor the way his cock looks covered in your juices and some of Keigo’s leftover cum, almost immediately slamming into that spot that has your eyes crossing, stars flashing across your vision.

You lose complete track of time as they take you in every which way until suddenly you’re waking up, clean and tucked into bed. Hawks sits on your left, Shouto to your right. Hands caress your body sweetly, whispered words almost enough to distract you from the aching pain in your body.

“Sorry, sweetheart… we got carried away” Shouto kisses your knuckles gently, eyes gentle compared to the ferocity they had before.

“It’s been so long since we’ve been able to see you, touch you… I thought I was going to go crazy,” Keigo follows up.

You don’t think you could talk even if you tried, so you just squeeze their hands. They squeeze back silently, all three of you basking in each other's presence.