## Preface

Where Did You Sleep Last Night
Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/39288813.

Rating:
  Explicit
Archive Warning:
  Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Category:
  M/M
Fandom:
  僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia
Relationship:
  Takami Keigo | Hawks/Todoroki Enji | Endeavor
Characters:
  Takami Keigo | Hawks, Todoroki Enji | Endeavor, Todoroki Shouto, Hakamata Tsunagu | Best Jeanist, Kamihara Shinya | Edgeshot, Usagiyama Rumi | Miruko, Todoroki Fuyumi, Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic
Additional Tags:
  Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Pining, POV Takami Keigo | Hawks, Drinking, Spanking, Shameless Smut, Minor Hawks/Jeanist/Edgeshot, Jealousy, Blow Jobs, Bottom Takami Keigo | Hawks, Don't copy to another site, Weird Biology
Language:
  English
Series:
  Part 4 of Come as You Are
Stats:
  Published: 2022-05-29 Words: 15,486 Chapters: 1/1

# Where Did You Sleep Last Night

by specterpeach

Summary

> Hawks is starting to accept Endeavor’s rejection when he travels to Tokyo for the official Pro Hero Christmas Party. They have an awkward encounter and Hawks tries drowning his sorrows at the afterparty, ending up in someone else’s bed. Endeavor finds out and confronts him, complicating their relationship even further.

Notes

> Back at it with the 4th part of my Endhawks Come As You Are series!

> All the parts of this series are named after Nirvana songs. This one is titled "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" which is from their Unplugged album, but! It's actually a cover of a Leadbelly song. Further back, it's a traditional American folk song that came from two songs, "In the Pines" and "The Longest Train", by unknown persons and dating back to at least the 1870s. I recommend listening to the Leadbelly version too. Very cool history for this soulful, dark song! I thought it fit the theme of this fic quite nicely.

> As usual, mind the tags!

See the end of the work for more notes

## Where Did You Sleep Last Night

Life got both easier and harder with time. The hollow ache in his chest chilled with the weather and Hawks threw himself headlong into work. A sense of finality settled into him as the weeks passed with no word from Endeavor. Slowly but surely, he felt the precious kindling of hope he carried flickering out.

In a way, he was proud of himself for being a mature adult and trying to accept he had an unhealthy attachment to his childhood idol. But at that point, Endeavor was so much more than that. Their relationship had grown unexpectedly complex, yet seemed so natural. Despite that, he still thought he should let it go.

When he felt that maybe, just maybe, he was getting a foothold on his troubled emotions, Endeavor finally texted him. He was so surprised by the notification that he almost flew into the side of a building.

When he was out of peril and sternly reminding himself not to check his phone mid-flight, he immediately broke that rule and peeked at the device again. Something work related. Safe, neutral territory. Honestly, though, was there such a thing as safe territory for a man with such an obscene body? Everything about him set off warning bells yet he was drawn to him like a moth to a flame.

He replied—also mid-flight—even after considering a quick response may seem desperate. Really, he wasn't. Lonely and hurt? Sure, but not desperate. Those feelings were fading.

The next text asked when he wanted to team up again and he hesitated. It was a pretty typical question, exceedingly common in the hero world, but his heart gave an annoying pang as he stared at the screen a few seconds too long. Swerving around a billboard, he thought maybe he wasn’t ready to see Endeavor yet even if his heart was screaming otherwise.

[Hawks] Maybe after the holiday and internships

It seemed like a reasonable amount of time, around late January, giving him a chance to further process and adjust to the evolving landscape of their relationship. He hoped Endeavor didn’t attend the Pro Hero Christmas Party that year, not that he had much in the past. The man had a family to spend it with and surely his atonement included obligatory holiday bonding.

[Endeavor-san] Sounds good. Talk to you later.

Dismissed yet again. He shoved the phone into his pocket and frowned at the expanse of darkening blues and grays spread out before him. At least up there he didn’t have to put on any masks or shows. The sky didn’t care what he did or how he felt, always embracing him with limitless space to simply exist free of judgment.

Work kept him plenty busy up until his flight into Tokyo for the annual Christmas party, which really was more of an event. He preferred not to fly himself during the winter since it was cold and his luggage was heavy. On his way to the hotel he enjoyed the bustle of the city, ignoring how much closer he was to Endeavor and his agency now. Exhaustion hit him the second he stopped moving so he stayed in and ordered room service.

The next day he donned his designer suit, some stupidly expensive black and red affair an assistant helped him pick out, and headed to the hall. The party was held at the same place every year, a ritzy building with chandeliers and a ballroom dance floor. It was the family friendly, televised event that pro heroes tolerated before moving onto the real party the day after. Hawks was pretty sure that was the real reason most of them even bothered showing up. It certainly was an enticing motivator.

Edgeshot and Mirko greeted him shortly after he stepped foot in the building, the latter tugging a Santa hat down over his wild hair. He took it in stride, grabbing a flute of champagne and smiling for a camera. He had a little time before his charity auction started and he intended to mingle and hit up the food tables.

He had barely nibbled two hors d'oeuvres before someone pulled him aside and went over the auction process, even though it was practically the same as last year. There was one person before him and he only started truly listening when he heard Endeavor’s name mentioned.

“Wait… did you say Endeavor-san?” he asked, unjustly dumbfounded.

The event manager gave him a long-suffering expression. “If you’d been paying attention you would’ve heard that we’re doing the charities in order of ranking this year. He’s number one so naturally he’s before you.”

“Right,” he responded reflexively while his stomach felt like it dropped through the floor.

That meant Endeavor was probably already somewhere in the building. Looking around as casually as he could manage, he puffed up his feathers slightly and tried detecting his voice through them. There were too many people talking, though, and he couldn’t make out anything but fleeting random voices through the din.

“You look like you saw a ghost,” said Edgeshot, suddenly appearing beside him.

The only thing that kept him from letting out an undignified, startled yelp was conditioning. Dense crowds usually threw off his sensing capabilities a bit and he reminded himself the man was a ninja.

“I’m fine,” he lied, fully aware that Edgeshot knew him too well to buy it.

“Then smooth these out or you’ll give yourself away,” he murmured close to his ear, hand delicately sliding down a wing.

The tone was more fussy than sexy, but combined with Edgeshot’s proximity and hand still petting his wing sent an unexpected shiver down his spine. He wasn’t even drunk yet and already a distracted mess. Tipping back his champagne glass, he finished the drink and sent a couple feathers out to snatch another one. He couldn’t get sloshed yet but he could definitely take the edge off his nerves.

Edgeshot kept him company as they made rounds and socialized with the other pro heroes in attendance. Mirko flitted in and out of their conversations, somehow managing to only show up when there weren’t any sponsors around. He was nervous the entire time and positive Edgeshot noticed, though he politely refrained from mentioning it. Endeavor didn’t seem to be around yet, a small blessing as he tried moderating his alcohol consumption.

An announcer tapped on a microphone and cleared her throat as feedback rang through the room. Apologizing, she introduced their MC whose iconic “yeah” echoed through the hall as music started playing.

“Welcome to the official Pro Hero Christmas Party, everyone!” Present Mic’s smooth voice filled the hall, drawing attention towards a low stage. “I hope you’ve been enjoying the complimentary food and drinks, courtesy of Sublime Catering and Bees Knees Drinks. The next time you’re considering throwing a swanky party, remember that they offer quality refreshments at a reasonable price!”

Mic continued his customary spiel and Hawks unconsciously wandered towards the stage, drawn to his flamboyant yet carefully tempered chaotic energy. He’d been MC of the event for longer than Hawks had been in the top ten and always offered a good time. Though, everyone knew where he would truly shine was during the afterparty the following day. He was definitely the backbone of that hedonistic affair.

“Now, please put your hands together for our fiery Number One, Endeavor!”

The applause was stilted despite Mic’s best efforts but that probably had more to do with the obligatory tone of the event than a lack of enthusiasm. Hawks tried not to react but when he saw Endeavor’s hulking frame stride onto the stage his feathers ruffled slightly as his stomach flipped then flopped. He looked amazing in his suit, tailored to hug him in all the right places. Edgeshot was still nearby, lurking like a shadow, and he could practically feel his keen eyes boring holes into the back of his head.

The auction proceeded and Endeavor was honestly there more for show than necessity. He spoke two phrases in total and every word slithered down Hawks’ spine evoking inconvenient memories. The items went for a hefty price and he dumbly thought he should’ve tried buying them even though he’d barely paid attention to what they were. Limited edition jewelry long out of production and a gauntlet from his old uniform.

Damn, that would’ve been an amazing addition to his collection. He suddenly remembered he still had Endeavor’s toothbrush secreted away in his bathroom and puffed his chest out a little. Too bad he hadn't left the costume too because it had sat on his bathroom floor for days.

Endeavor was walking off the stage and Hawks felt panic bubbling up under his calm facade. He drank the rest of his latest flute of champagne, wishing it was something stronger, then grabbed yet another. Edgeshot appeared beside him again, that time succeeding in startling him as he plucked the glass from his hand.

“You’re up next. I suggest you don’t go up there looking like a lush,” he said, giving him a pointed stare.

After blinking a few times while the words sank in, he laughed. “Thanks, buddy, I appreciate you looking out for me.” He patted Edgeshot on the back, earning an impressive glare when he almost spilled the drink.

His name was called and he looked towards the stage, freezing when he noticed Endeavor standing beside it and staring directly at him. His arms were crossed, expression characteristically stern but otherwise unreadable. Thankfully, Edgeshot pushed him forward just as Endeavor’s daughter and son joined him, sparing Hawks his intense attention. It was a somber reminder of the man’s atonement and Hawks irrationally worried his wife may show up as well.

He plastered an easy smile on his face, desperate to look more casual than he felt, smiling as he walked past Endeavor. The heat spiked as he breezed past him, nodding politely at the trio and somehow keeping his feathers under control. Shouto once again looked awed at seeing him, face endearingly open, and Fuyumi offered him a warm smile that certainly wasn’t inherited from her father. Though he couldn’t help but notice other assets definitely were.

Mostly, he ignored Endeavor for the sake of maintaining his cool, walking up onto the stage and following Mic’s prompts. Their banter was casual and fun, both playing off each other’s wit and showmanship. He auctioned off two primary feathers and an old bracelet in record time, barely registering the stupid amount of money they went for. All of it was going to charity, to help kids much like he was before the Commission took him in.

“It looks like you’ve got a fan,” joked Mic as everyone applauded, nodding towards Endeavor.

Honestly, he could’ve been talking about either Shouto or Fuyumi, but Hawks feigned ignorance and shrugged. Some days it was hard to wrap his head around being so popular. Sure, he liked the attention but really didn’t get his appeal. He wasn’t strong and magnificent like Endeavor or—as reluctant as he was to admit—All Might.

Endeavor’s unnervingly steady gaze followed him as he walked down the steps off the stage and he braced himself for their inevitable encounter. No use in playing coy, he thought as he walked right up to him, sending feathers to retrieve more alcohol. Shouto watched with wide eyes as they floated back cradling a flute and Fuyumi made an impressed noise.

“Woow! That’s so cool!” she declared, doing a cute little bounce on her feet. “I’m so happy to finally meet you, Hawks! Thank you for looking after my father.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” he replied, relying on conditioned responses and offering his hand to shake. “Fuyumi-san, right?”

“Ah, yes!” She shook his hand with more force than she looked capable of and beamed a brilliant smile. “Sorry, I got excited. You’ve met Shouto before, I’ve heard.”

“I have. Nice to see you again, Shouto-kun.”

Shouto nodded, jutting a hand towards him, now looking more confident and assured. “Nice to see you too, Hawks.”

The no-nonsense tone reminded him so much of Endeavor that he smiled fondly while shaking his hand. The kid was already taller than him, handsome in a softer way than his father, though his stare looked like it could pierce steel if he glared hard enough. He held Hawks’ hand for a few more seconds than customary, brows drawing down slightly as he studied him.

“Hawks…”

Endeavor’s voice cut through whatever scrutiny Shouto was attempting and he finally let go of his hand. He gathered every last ounce of his willpower and met Endeavor’s eyes, immediately feeling a spark of warmth blossom in his chest at the familiar gaze. Whatever words tried crawling up his throat withered under an amazing—though inconvenient—memory from their last encounter. His body threatened to flush right on the spot and he coughed into his hand before looking away and sipping his champagne.

Best Jeanist was up on stage by that point and he spared Hawks a suspiciously knowing glance. Suddenly he was worried about who may have figured out what happened between him and Endeavor. They’d kept their indiscretions private enough but pro heroes were known for their quick wits and powers of deduction. Plus, anyone that lended Hawks an ear for more than ten minutes knew he admired Endeavor.

Thank god he was buzzed because otherwise he might have vibrated out of his skin right in front of Endeavor’s kids.

“Can I speak with you?” Endeavor paused and swept his eyes around the room. “In private,” he added.

Hawks smiled and nodded, despite the panic and elation warring inside him. They walked towards the back of the building, drawing enough unwanted attention that he almost sighed. Endeavor seemed to know the building better than him, leading him through a few long hallways and stopping when one ended in a less traveled area.

He spent a few minutes simply staring at Hawks, posture somewhat guarded. “How are you?” he finally asked, expression relaxing slightly.

Polishing off his drink, he chuckled and twirled the empty flute in his fingers. “You brought me all the way back here just to ask something like that?”

A few emotions flickered across Endeavor’s face until it settled on something close to weary or maybe even sad. “I miss you,” he said, tone unusually muted, reaching out for him.

At the last second, Endeavor realized what he was doing and froze, hand hovering so close to his arm he could feel the heat rolling off it. His heart skipped a beat at the confession, hope already rekindling and muddling his thoughts as he tried stamping it down.

“How are things going… with your family?” he asked instead of the hundred other things he wanted to say. If he let even one of them slip out, the rest would likely tumble out behind it, tongue loosened by the booze.

Endeavor’s hand curled into a fist as it withdrew and his face looked curiously vacant, bordering on morose. “Construction of the house has started. Everything else is pretty much the same.”

“Are you spending the holidays with them?” He didn’t dare ask if Endeavor was attending the afterparty, hoping he had no idea it even existed.

“We’re having a family dinner tonight, here, not back home,” said Endeavor, eyes annoyingly distant as he stared at him. “My wife… Rei refuses to attend. I don’t think they’d let her travel anyway. She still won’t see me in person but we’ve spoken on the phone recently.”

He hadn’t had enough alcohol for this conversation. “Bet that was awkward,” he said, laughter strained. Honestly, he felt for the poor guy but was still irrationally jealous from just the mention of Rei.

“It was,” confirmed Endeavor, looking away towards the sound of distant talking. “I wanted her to hear the plans directly from me. Beyond that, it’s her choice if she wants to continue speaking with me.”

Hawks didn’t bother pointing out it seemed pretty selfish, forcing her to hear him out. He wondered what had driven her to be institutionalized in the first place. The tabloids had wildly speculated about it and the Commission files were suspiciously vague, though he didn’t want to believe anything until he heard it from Endeavor himself. How he would go about asking was still up in the air and it was possible Endeavor would simply refuse to explain.

“Endeavor-san,” he started, jealousy fizzling out as irritation crept into his buzz, “why are you telling me all this?”

The question seemed to throw him off guard, like he hadn’t considered it inappropriate to overshare such deeply personal things with a coworker. It almost felt more inappropriate than all the sex they’d had. Fucking your frustrations out was a time honored hero tradition, but sharing the intimate details of your life? Not so much.

“I… I thought you’d want to know,” he said haltingly, covering his face with a massive hand. “After everything we’ve been through, I thought we were at least—”

A loud clattering noise cut Endeavor off mid-sentence as a staff member dropped a tray nearby. They both jolted, turning like deer caught in headlights, and the woman apologized profusely before rushing off. Hawks was at his limit for the day and he still needed to network a little before leaving.

“I’m glad things are going better,” he said, placing a reassuring hand on Endeavor’s arm and immediately regretting it. “I should get going.”

The words were painful to force out but not as much as the answering expression that settled on Endeavor’s face. For such a tough guy, he really wore his heart on his sleeve sometimes. Hawks didn’t stop him when he stepped forward, crowding him against the wall and staring down at him. He planted both hands on Endeavor’s broad chest and mustered more willpower, definitely in short supply.

Just when he thought Endeavor was going to either hug or kiss him, he sighed and withdrew slightly.

“I’m sorry for what I’ve put you through,” he said, looking his most morose yet.

He resisted the overwhelming urge to throw himself into the man’s arms and kiss that sad expression off his face. “It’s okay, Endeavor-san.” It wasn’t. “We should probably talk about this some other time. I’ve got a few people to check in with before the event ends.”

Endeavor frowned and took another step back. “Of course. Me too, actually.”

They left the private little hallway and Hawks was stupidly distracted by Endeavor’s scent during the walk. It was mellow and smoky, reminding him of not only their intimate encounters but comforting fall and winter fires. His desire to behave himself was rapidly declining by the second, but they soon emerged into the main hall.

He almost ran face first into Best Jeanist as he blindly rushed forward and away from Endeavor. Lightning fast fibers shot out and steadied him as he tripped over his own feet trying to avoid the collision. It was so sloppy and absurd that he couldn’t help but laugh at himself, feeling the fibers tighten briefly then slide away from his body. He watched them reweave back into Jeanist’s sleeve with a measure of awe, then looked up and was met with one visible and completely unamused green eye.

Impulsively, he hooked a finger in the scarf covering Jeanist’s face and tugged it down, exposing the slope of his nose. He had no idea why he was dead set on hiding his face all the time since he was pretty attractive. Maybe an insecurity issue or anxious habit. Despite generally being an open book, much of Jeanist’s personal life was off limits for discussion. Naturally, that meant Hawks had grown increasingly curious about him over the years. He did love challenges.

Long fingers curled around his wrist, stopping him before he could tug any further. Jeanist’s hands were a lot broader than he remembered and it was a welcome realization. With the level of mastery it took to control his quirk, he bet those hands were quite talented.

“You’re drunk,” he accused, one eye effortlessly judging him while a sculpted brow descended over it.

“No, I’m buzzed. There’s a difference.”

Jeanist released his wrist on a sigh, watching him wobble with a look of concern. “A few of us are going out after the event. You’re welcome to join us if you want.”

“Sure, why not?” He smiled and meandered away, ready to take care of his obligations while he could still think somewhat straight. “Text me later.”

He met with a couple old sponsors and one new as the event started winding down. Endeavor had probably left with his kids since Hawks didn’t see him again the rest of the afternoon. He told himself it was better that way and that he should absolutely not bother the man again during the holidays. Mirko found him before Jeanist’s text even came through, looping an arm through his and pulling him stumbling out of the building and into a waiting taxi.

They arrived at the izakaya and joined their party, tucked away in a secluded room at the back of the establishment. He settled onto a zabuton, digging the cozy and private vibe, drinks and food flowing as easily as the playful banter. Sandwiched between Jeanist and Mirko, he got increasingly drunk while Edgeshot occasionally tossed him a concerned look from across the table.

Whatever. He was there to have a good time, feeling reckless enough that he didn’t care if it involved a little trouble. Or a lot, as long as it stayed between them. The Christmas afterparty was notorious for it anyway so he doubted it would raise many eyebrows if he got an early start. Generally, anything involving it usually stayed private since most pros weren’t keen on tarnishing their reputations.

“Here,” said Jeanist, sliding a water towards him and staring until he picked it up. “Gotta stay hydrated or you’ll get a hangover. Not good for tomorrow.”

He took the kind gesture with good grace, smiling warmly before tipping back half the glass in a few gulps. The guy was a bit preachy and endlessly sassy, but he was a genuinely kind person, or at the very least, patient.

“How have you been, Hawks?” Jeanist’s tone was casual as he tugged his scarf down just enough to take a drink of his beer. He kept it down long enough to give him a sideways glance before pulling it back into place. “You seemed pretty distracted earlier. Disappeared for a while too.”

As he trailed off, Hawks could practically feel the concealed smirk on Jeanist’s face as he turned his head back towards him. Even through an inebriated haze, he was reminded of his knowing look from the event.

“Unless I’m mistaken,” he added with a hint of a dare.

“Just a little routine business between the top two,” he replied, like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Nothing to worry about.”

That seemed to amuse Jeanist, but he didn’t question him further, humming softly and returning his attention to the others. It unnerved him when he realized Edgeshot was still staring at him evenly and wondered how much he’d heard. Probably all of it. God, did Mirko know too? He looked at her, having an animated conversation with Crust, boisterous and bordering on outright shouting. Crust suddenly burst into tears over something and she slapped his back reassuringly, still laughing.

Even though Mirko seemed pretty oblivious to the more subtle details around her, Hawks knew better. She was as sharp as a tack, she just didn’t bother bragging about it. He was sure she would let him know how she felt if she figured it out, which was highly likely. It also occurred to him that if the pros were noticing, the paparazzi were only a step behind.

Maybe a few viral rumors would stir the pot enough for Endeavor to seek him out again. He wasn’t above playing dirty to get what he wanted, though it wasn’t exactly smart to tempt the fates as far as the media was concerned.

The night wrapped up with everyone more or less walking straight and in possession of commonsense. Hawks somehow evaded both Edgeshot and Mirko, literally taking off and flying back to his hotel. After a quick shower to warm his bones, he promptly passed out, hair still damp and phone beeping with a few notifications that weren’t from Endeavor or work.

The morning of the afterparty dawned bright and cool and he woke to the sound of his ringtone. Groping around absently, he found it under the sheets and stared up at it, almost dropping it on his face when he saw the name on the screen. His fingers didn’t work fast enough, though, and he missed the call.

It was just like Endeavor to call instead of text, he thought, immediately calling back and getting a busy signal. Oh god, was he leaving a message? Who did that outside of work purposes anymore? His phone pinged a minute later and he yawned, hitting the voicemail button and bringing it to his ear.

“Hawks…” A pause and shuffle sounded, then muffled talking. “I know you’re going to that party tonight. You better not sneak out of town without contacting me.”

The line went abruptly dead. What a charmer.

Sitting up and scratching his head, he looked out the window at the city and sighed. When he said they should talk later he had meant maybe after the internships, not before he went home. Maybe if he left directly after the party he could avoid Endeavor, but everyone usually got so drunk that seemed impossible.

He was actively scheming an escape plan when his phone buzzed again in his hand.

[Endeavor-san] Shouto just informed me you would probably answer if I text instead. CONTACT ME BEFORE YOU LEAVE TOWN

Despite being irritated at his pushiness, Hawks burst into laughter after reading the text. Endeavor was entirely too straightforward for his own good, but that was a part of him he admired. He was thinking of a response when another text came through from an unknown number.

[Unknown] Hey this is Shouto. I swiped ur number from dad. How long will you ignore him if I pay you?

He laughed again and started texting.

[Hawks] That’s not very nice, plus your father isn’t easy to ignore when he’s determined

[Unknown] Yeah but it’s not impossible. It’s a good deal, think about it.

Funny kid, he thought as he added Shouto to his contacts then crawled out of bed. He didn’t feel hungover, maybe from staying hydrated, so he sought out a hearty breakfast at a local cafe. There was time to kill before the party and he didn’t feel like meeting up with anyone that would question his recent behavior. That left him exploring alone, venturing into the heart of the city and browsing fancy shops. He bought some gifts for his sidekicks, had lunch at an expensive restaurant, and even got a new outfit for the party.

He was back in his room, fixing his hair in front of the mirror when his phone pinged. Expecting it to be Endeavor pestering him again, he was surprised to see it was Edgeshot instead.

[Edgeshot] A limo is taking us to the warehouse. Be ready and out front by 6.

[Hawks] Roger that. Hope you're wearing something besides ninja gear tonight

After a significant pause he received a response.

[Edgeshot] And why does that matter?

[Hawks] Because the world deserves to see what a cute ass you have! ;)

[Edgeshot] Still a menace, as usual. Don’t be late.

Hawks smirked as he finished getting ready. The outfit looked great, with belted, loose cropped pants, a collared short sleeved shirt, slim lace-up boots, and a blazer. He picked out some necklaces, bracelets, and rings, feeling a bit like a peacock primping for a strut.

He was out on the sidewalk with a fully charged phone by 5:45, smiling at random people passing by that noticed him. Flying to the warehouse would’ve been preferable, but it seemed like every year the transportation options were planned by one of the top pros and they always traveled there in packs.

The sleek, black limousine pulled up with five minutes to spare, and before a driver could even get out, the backdoor swung open and Mirko hopped out. She looked fantastic, dressed in something flowy and revealing in all the right places, adorned with jewelry and hair half-up. Her makeup sparkled as she winked at him, winged eyeliner and lipstick done in bold colors.

“Come on, birdie, we can’t be late,” she proclaimed, cheeky grin in place and tugging him into the vehicle.

Once inside, he adjusted his wings in the cramped space, waving at the others before Mirko took his chin in hand and forced his face towards her. She magically produced a palette of eyeshadow and started carefully applying the glittery gold shade to his eyelids.

“For a guy with natural eyeliner I would think you’d wear more makeup,” she teased, blending some red around the outer corners. “There you go. Hot as fuck.”

“Thanks, babe,” he said, snatching the mirror from her hand and checking himself out. She was right, he did look hot. The makeup was definitely the missing puzzle piece to his getup.

The drive took a little while and they all sipped at complimentary champagne, having the last casual conversations of the night. The second the limo stopped, Mirko lunged for the door, beaming a contagious smile. They piled out onto the wet pavement and took a moment to scan the dreary parking lot and drab building lurking before them. Other cars were pulling up and guards stood at the doors like sentinels as they approached.

They were waved inside and passing into the building felt like stepping foot into another dimension. The wave of heat hit first, followed by music and a din of voices, then chased by a feeling of euphoria. The short hall gave way to the towering ceiling of the warehouse and lights swept and flashed with the beat of the bass. People were scattered around, some relaxing in the makeshift lounge areas, some at the bars, and some already dancing.

At the dazzling epicenter of the celebration was the DJ stage, cluttered with equipment and backlit by numerous screens and lights. Present Mic manned the station, as he did every year, ensuring they had music far into the early morning hours. He was definitely the steady beating heart of the operation, bringing no less than two assistants and one special friend to make sure everyone had the best time possible.

The special friend in question was back that year, swaying to the rhythm on the stage as their unique quirk radiated an intoxicating sensation over the crowd. It was the cherry on top of a giant ice cream sundae, a way for even the stuffiest pros to get high without actually doing any drugs. Of course, everyone was still free to drink—-and they most certainly did—but harder stuff was generally frowned upon despite it being an unofficial event. The euphoria quirk filled that gap nicely and kept most of them from breaking the rules.

“Heeeeeeeey!” Mic’s iconic greeting rang throughout the building, practically rattling the windows. “Welcome to the tenth annual, unofficial, punk rock, Pro Hero Christmas Party!”

Hawks felt a shiver of anticipation ruffle through his wings then down his back, stumbling after Mirko as she pulled him deeper into the building and towards a bar. Mic rattled off the rest of his spiel, which included where the bathrooms were and to please not smoke inside the building, though people usually did anyway.

He had no idea what Mirko ordered and then shoved into his hand before dragging him towards a lounge area. He sipped the drink as they went, pleasantly surprised at its mellow and sweet taste. Best Jeanist and Edgeshot were already comfortably seated on the various, mismatched pieces of furniture they had set up, feet resting on a circular, shag rug. Mirko tugged him down onto a loveseat beside her and he noticed a lamp cast the area in a soft, red glow.

Taking a long and dainty sip of her drink from a tiny straw, Mirko then punched him on the arm lightly. “Okay, fess up. What’s going on with you lately?”

Glancing down at his drink, he really wished it was a bottle of vodka instead of a singular, fruity cocktail. Jeanist had the decency to at least act distracted but Edgeshot glared at him evenly, adding to the intensity of Mirko’s expectant stare. He stirred his drink with the ridiculous straw, rapidly running through several lies he thought they might buy.

“You’re seeing someone, aren’t you?” asked Mirko, leaning so far into his personal space that she was in danger of falling onto his lap.

“No!” he shot back too quickly. After taking a sip, he noticed nobody seemed convinced and sighed. “Okay, okay… maybe.”

“Oh my god, I knew it!” exclaimed Mirko, triumphantly pumping a fist into the air. “Is it someone we know? A pro hero? A nobody? Is it serious or casual?”

Every word brought her closer to his face and he leaned back, giving her the most unamused look he could muster. “I’m not going to tell you who it is.”

“Boo, boring!” she declared, leaning back and frowning at him. “Come on, you know you can trust us.”

“This isn’t a trust issue, it’s a discretion issue.” He tossed the straw aside and downed the rest of the drink in one gulp. “I’m not compromising their integrity.”

“Sooo a pro hero then.” Mirko paused and tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Or maybe a lower level hero, though being involved with you would boost their popularity.”

His three companions looked around with varying levels of interest, like they were trying to figure out which pro hero it was and considering options. He sighed loudly and stood up, wobbling a bit under the increasing effect of euphoria. The closer someone got to the source, the stronger the symptoms.

“It doesn’t matter anymore, okay? It was just a fling and it’s over.”

“Really?” asked Mirko, jumping to her feet and following him to the bar.

“Yes, really.” He leaned on the bar and staunchly avoided eye contact. “They called it off.”

“Damn, that was stupid of them.” Mirko wedged herself between him and another person standing nearby and barked at the bartender to come over. “Let’s get something stronger to spice up the night.”

He couldn’t explain that it was definitely a more practical than dumb decision. The hooking up wasn’t necessarily bad but the developing feelings were. They’d probably always been there on some level even if he hadn’t really acknowledged them. Fishing his phone out of his pocket, he was disappointed to see no notifications from Endeavor.

Everyone must have either sensed he was upset or gotten bored because they dropped the interrogation and focused on getting drunk. Their conversations shifted to work and general gossip, comforting and normal. Hawks was grateful and enjoyed blowing off some steam on the dance floor, always an interesting experience with a full set of wings.

Mirko and Edgeshot joined him for a short while, the latter surprisingly skilled at dancing, before slipping away to pursue other social engagements. He really didn’t want to think, so he gave into the intoxicating effects of the quirk and emptied his mind, letting the driving bassline guide him as he weaved through the crowd.

Sweaty and parched, he eventually wandered to one of the bars and somehow procured a half-full bottle of liquor along with some water. Drinking the water while he peeled off his blazer, walked, and held a bottle was an adventure. He found himself standing in the lounge area they’d kicked off the party at.

“You’re still here!” he proclaimed more loudly than he intended, startling Jeanist and the person he was chatting with.

“I’ve done my rounds, you were just too distracted to notice.” Jeanist watched as he tossed his blazer down and sat on a loveseat. “Glad you’re staying hydrated.”

He lifted his water bottle before draining it completely and crushing it, sound of crunching plastic swallowed by the recent mixed song. It was a wonder any of them could hear each other at all. Jeanist’s friend gave him a slightly annoyed look before getting up and leaving the lounge area. There was one other person there but they were engrossed in their phone.

Patting the vacant seat next to him, Jeanist raised his barely visible eyebrow expectantly. Hawks smiled and hopped over, plopping down beside him and deflating against the cushions. His phone finally buzzed in his pocket and he clumsily fished it out, almost dropping it in his haste.

[Shouto] You’re at that secret hero party right?

Glancing at the time he was shocked it was already past nine. He started typing back, making sure he angled the phone away from Jeanist’s prying eyes.

[Hawks] Now why would you think that?

[Shouto] Oh come on. It’s not a well kept secret, pics leak out every year. I asked dad but he wouldn’t tell me anything.

[Hawks] What if I told u I’m just hanging out at my hotel room?

[Shouto] Lame. Never mind I guess.

Struck with a sudden—and probably stupid—idea, he gestured for Jeanist to lean in and pose with him for a selfie. His camera was pretty decent in low light and he hoped the picture would come out okay. He made a ridiculous kissy face towards Jeanist and winked as he hit the button. Jeanist played along easily, well used to impromptu pictures. After checking it briefly he sent it to Shouto and waited.

[Shouto] I knew it.

Kind of a blase response but he’d take it. Another text came in and he raised it to his face, squinting at the screen as the words swam around. Maybe he was a little more drunk than he’d suspected.

[Shouto] Are you two dating? Or is it like a party flirting thing?

“I’m curious what you’re going to tell him,” said Jeanist.

He jolted, not even aware when Jeanist had leaned into his personal space. Damn. Texting Shouto was another clue he didn’t want people figuring out. He could always play it off as a friend of Tokoyami deal, but he was definitely too inebriated to lie his way through that.

“If you come to my little get together, I won’t ask why you’re texting Todoroki-kun.”

Glancing at him sideways, Hawks laughed. “Is that a bribe? From the morally upright Fiber Hero that tells everyone to keep their lives as straight as their jeans?”

“You of all people should understand there’s more to heroes than their public personas.” Jeanist tugged the scarf down and displayed his smirk for effect. “Besides, I like to wear bell bottoms once in a while to shake things up.”

Hawks once again wondered how much Jeanist knew about him. His past was a tightly guarded secret but someone with enough determination and money could still figure it out. The warehouse party would keep going well into the early morning hours and he usually didn’t stay that long anyway. Maybe a change of venue would be nice.

“Your flat is pretty amazing,” he said with a shrug. “Sure, why not? When are you heading out?”

“Within the hour.” Jeanist stood up and tugged his outfit neatly into place. “I’ll text you when the limo arrives.”

He watched the lanky man disappear into the crowd and startled when his phone buzzed again. Glancing down, he did a double take when he realized it was Endeavor that time.

[Endeavor-san] You never answered me. That isn’t like you. Is something wrong?

Letting out a groan, he sank down even further on the loveseat. Plenty of things were wrong but they weren’t things he was willing to admit. His mind immediately offered up several vague responses and he stared ahead blankly trying to pick the best one.

[Hawks] Everything is fine. I’ll talk to you later, okay?

Perfect. A little, harmless white lie.

The petty part of him wanted to skip out of town without even giving Endeavor another second of his time. They weren’t involved anymore and meeting really wasn’t necessary until their next team up. There was also the fact that he wasn’t entirely sure he could behave himself around Endeavor now that he knew him so intimately. It felt like a dam had burst after their first time, and he’d been helplessly carried away under the force of his desire ever since.

[Endeavor-san] Fine. Be careful out there.

“Hey,” sounded a familiar voice over his shoulder, startling him yet again. “Are you okay?”

He glanced up and was met with a concerned, gray eye. Not sporting his usual pointy hairstyle, Edgeshot tucked his swath of bangs behind his ear, gracing Hawks with the appearance of both eyes. Half of the bangs immediately fell back over his eye but it was enough of a look to remind Hawks of his lingering crush on him. It had been born of juvenile emotions but that was probably why it stuck with him.

Reaching up, he impulsively hooked a hand around the back of Edgeshot’s neck and tugged. He went with the motion, likely drunk, and nuzzled against Hawks’ face without complaint. He’d forgotten how affectionate Edgeshot could be when he was out of the public eye.

“You’re not on one of your cycles, are you?” he asked, pulling away slightly to give Hawks a soft look he really didn’t deserve.

“Maybe,” he said, lying again. He hadn’t had one of his sporadic, hormonal cycles in years, which he would bet was because of stress. “Wanna help me out this time?”

Edgeshot actually blushed as he smiled, tucking his bangs back again. “If it’s necessary, you know I would.”

He was going to argue that it didn’t have to be necessary for them to fool around, they could just do it for the hell of it, but his phone started ringing and he nearly dropped it for the second time. Thankfully, it was just Jeanist calling to order him outside, and yes, he could absolutely bring Edgeshot if he wanted to come.

Grabbing his blazer and the liquor, he dragged Edgeshot behind him, weaving through the dense crowd as bass thumped through his chest and wings. He didn’t resist and they emerged into the cold night and rushed into the waiting limo. Mirko, Ryuku, and Burnin were already inside and Hawks internally panicked as he realized one of Endeavor’s sidekicks would be at the afterparty. She seemed decently distracted by Mirko, so at least there was that. He had no intention of behaving himself and wondered how much of his illicit behavior would make its way to Endeavor’s ears.

The drive to Jeanist’s high rise flat didn’t feel like it took long, and they all piled into his private elevator having boisterous, inappropriately loud conversations. The place took up at least half of the entire floor, modern and sleek, with large windows and great views of the city below. Always the gracious host, Jeanist soon had the alcohol flowing, making up for the lack of euphoria quirk. Hawks had his suspicions that people were under the influence of more than spirits, though.

Time soon blurred out after that, his memory lagging on a steady flow of drinks and something distinctly skunky wafting out of a corner of the flat. More people had shown up but it wasn’t too crowded, and the music was at a reasonable level. The conversations were loaded with innuendo and teasing, mostly lighthearted and fun. He took a few hopefully tasteful but probably sloppy selfies with various heroes and uploaded them to his Instagram with vague captions.

It was a fairly sophisticated affair considering how drunk everyone was, maybe due to the inherent respect Best Jeanist seemed to command from his guests. He’d been draining the bottle he brought with him while socializing, and the lower the level dipped the less he remembered until everything eventually faded into obscurity.

Consciousness snapped back abruptly on the tail end of a snore, cut short as someone moved against him, laying directly on a wing. He shifted, as much as he could, the scant sunlight spilling past the curtains making his head pound. His mouth felt like a desert and his body was sore in a suspicious way. Finally looking down he saw a head of familiar gray hair tucked next to his chest, one slender arm slung over his torso.

“I know you’re not a lightweight but please don’t throw up on my bed.”

Hawks snapped his head to the side, instantly regretting the motion when the world spun with it. The slope of an exposed shoulder and fan of blond hair over expensive linens was not a completely unexpected sight, but he wondered how he’d gotten there. Jeanist glanced back at him over his shoulder, pushing some hair from his narrowed eyes and finally giving him a clear view of his face. Or at least the first one he remembered.

God, he was pretty. And so put together after such a raging party. Truly, a man of many talents.

“What did we do?” he croaked, covering his eyes as his head thumped with his heartbeat.

Silence stretched on for a minute or so and the sound of a long sigh and ruffling sheets seemed so loud he nearly winced. Edgeshot—or rather Shinya as he sometimes called him—continued sleeping peacefully at his side and he idly stroked his arm, glad for the physical contact.

“Well, that’s troublesome,” said Jeanist, tone heavy with disappointment. He sat up and rubbed his face. “You were definitely drunk but I thought you had your wits about you.”

“So… we all fucked.” It wasn’t a question and he didn’t necessarily care. Of all the people he could’ve randomly ended up with, Edgeshot and Jeanist certainly weren't anywhere near the worst options. “Damn, wish I could remember it. Wanna go again?”

“You’re in no state for that.” Jeanist smoothed back his hair and finally spared him another look, less disappointed and laced with concern. “Stay here and rest. I’ll go make us some breakfast.”

He wasn’t going to argue that, watching as Jeanist slipped from beneath the covers, naked as the day he was born. His ass was as nice as Hawks had suspected, all lithe limbs and graceful movements while he retrieved a robe and slipped it on. Once he was gone, he closed his eyes and almost immediately fell back asleep.

The next time he woke was when Edgeshot finally stirred, sounding similarly miserable. He groaned and rubbed his head against Hawks’ chest, withdrawing his arm and sitting up slowly. Smiling up at him out of habit, Hawks didn’t feel much better but he was happy to be in bed with one of his favorite people. It was a welcome serotonin boost after a miserable month.

“Hey,” said Edgeshot, reaching down and rubbing his bare chest soothingly. “How are you doing?”

“Bad,” he said, still smiling faintly and soaking up the attention.

Despite the fact he probably had horrendous morning breath, he pulled Edgeshot down for a kiss, enjoying his soft yet assertive technique. Humming into his mouth, Edgeshot deepened the kiss and kept going for a moment longer before pulling back.

“I’m worried about you,” he said, smoothing back some of Hawks’ wild hair.

“I see I can’t leave you two alone and expect you to behave,” came Jeanist’s voice from the doorway. “Breakfast is ready.”

Their clothes were easy to find, though standing made his head pound even worse. They both went into the bathroom and attempted making themselves presentable, which Edgeshot accomplished more easily. He probably hadn’t gotten quite as drunk, though Hawks didn’t ask. As they walked into the kitchen, the assault of natural light made him wish he had sunglasses.

Breakfast was on the island bar, made from some expensive imported marble, and he eyed it warily as he climbed onto a stool. Water was the most appealing thing in the spread and he downed the entire glass in big gulps. Jeanist stood on the other side of the island, nursing a cup of coffee and watching him intently.

“You need to eat something, Hawks.” He tucked his bangs behind his ear to properly stare at him. It was unnerving to see both of his eyes.

"I'd really prefer not to," he said, offering up a genuinely pathetic look. "I don't think I can keep it down."

"You'll be fine," said Edgeshot, sliding a fixed plate in front of him. "I'm sure your iron stomach has been through worse."

"Would you like me to feed you?" teased Jeanist. "If that's what it takes, I'll do it."

"You guys are mean," he grumbled, stabbing a piece of sliced melon.

He picked at his food, eating just enough to appease his company. It did make him feel slightly better but his head was still killing him.

"If you tell me what's going on with you, I'll give you these for your headache." Jeanist fished a couple pills out of his robe pocket and slapped them on the counter out of reach.

“Oh, come on—”

"It's Endeavor, isn't it?" asked Edgeshot, sharp as usual.

Hawks felt his stomach do an unpleasant flip and desperately tried keeping calm. “What makes you think that?” he asked, relieved his voice came out evenly.

“The way you looked at him during the event,” started Edgeshot, brushing some long hair over his shoulder, “the way your feathers ruffled when you saw him, the brief panic that flashed across your eyes when you had to talk to him.”

“That explains why you were texting Todoroki-kun,” said Jeanist, tapping his chin in thought. “Now that I think about it, you and Endeavor disappeared for a while before you ran into me.”

“Guys… we’re the top two heroes.” He offered a weak smile that probably wasn’t very convincing. “We were discussing our next team up, after the internships.”

“Why not have that discussion in the hall?” Jeanist eyed him suspiciously. “It’s certainly not a secret that we team up at times.”

“Hakamada’s right,” said Edgeshot, and he was surprised at the casual use of Jeanist’s real name. Were they closer than he was aware? “Why did you two sneak off? It’s almost like you have something to hide.”

As usual, Shinya was offering him no mercy. He sighed and slumped over the counter, rubbing his temples. Telling them the truth was a bad idea but lying seemed even worse. He felt like he was stuck between a rock and a hard place and quickly weighed the pros and cons.

“You absolutely did not hear this from me, and I’m sure you understand the implications of sharing this information with anyone outside this flat,” he paused and waited for them both to nod as they leaned marginally closer, “we may or may not have had a… fling I guess? But it’s over now.”

Jeanist’s eyes widened but Edgeshot smiled and straightened, folding his arms and nodding.

“I knew it,” he said smugly.

“How scandalous,” said Jeanist, sliding the pills over to him. “I’m trying to imagine what scenario could have possibly led up to that. Was it after High-End? I’m sure that was a very emotional battle for both of you.”

He shook his head, snatching the pills before Jeanist changed his mind. “It was after I got hurt pretty bad while I was in Shizuoka last time. Endeavor-san had me healed by a friend and it had, um… horny side effects.”

Jeanist and Edgeshot shared a knowing look. “Harmony,” they both said at the same time.

“You know her?” He popped the pills into his mouth and washed them down with some orange juice.

“She’s like a local urban legend,” explained Jeanist. “I’m sure the younger generation has never heard of her but our age group is familiar. I’ve known people that were treated by her but I’ve never personally seen her.”

“Most people wish they’d been treated by her,” said Edgeshot. “A healing quirk with a potential aphrodisiac side effect is enticing.”

“Yeah, that part is nice but the actual healing hurts like hell. Easily one of the most painful things I’ve experienced.”

“Bet it was nice after that, though.” Jeanist leaned on the counter with a distant look. “I wonder what kind of lover Endeavor is? Given his assets and temperament, I would guess satisfying but crude.”

He held up a hand and laughed. “I don’t kiss and tell.”

“But you’ve already told us this much, why not finish the story?” asked Jeanist, leaning further over the counter, using his long neck to his advantage.

“Stop prying, Hakamada,” said Edgeshot, finally interjecting on his behalf. “Isn’t it enough that he already confided in us? I for one would rather not hear the intimate details of their sex life.”

“Sounds like you’re jealous, Kamihara,” retorted Jeanist. He drummed his fingers on the counter and looked at them both, ignoring the glare Edgeshot gave him. “Too bad you don’t remember last night. Certainly better than anything that brute did with you.”

Hawks almost denied it but quickly realized Jeanist was goading him for more information. Edgeshot sighed and stood up, stretching. The impromptu menage trois was wrapping up so he followed suit and stood up, wondering where his phone was.

"Do either of you need a ride?" asked Jeanist, then smiled. "In my car, that is."

"You're the worst," groused Edgeshot, rolling his eyes and walking away. "See you both later. I need to check in with my agency."

"You might want to shower first," shouted Jeanist after him only to be answered with the slam of his front door. "Hmm, he seems upset. Didn't you two used to date?"

"Not really." He scanned the flat, still not seeing his phone. "We fooled around on occasion but he never seemed interested in much more."

"Sounds about right." Jeanist jabbed a thumb towards his room. "I think your phone's in there. You took some pictures of our encounter but I don’t think you had time to post them anywhere."

"Oh," he said, suddenly dreading what he'd done while blacked out.

"Indeed." Picking up his own phone, Jeanist sighed. "Just a heads up, the tabloids are speculating that we're dating due to a couple things you did post. They were only mildly suggestive at best but you know how it goes. Might want to contact your PR agent."

"Shit…"

He heard his phone ringing before he even stepped into the room. At least it was easy to find and he missed the call, not bothering to check who it had been. Unlocking it, he ignored the other missed calls and texts, immediately pulling up his photos. Nothing too explicit but definitely damning and he suddenly had a better idea of what the three of them had been up to last night.

Frantically, he scrolled through his various social media hoping he hadn't been stupid enough to post anything inappropriate on them. Besides a flirty shirtless photo with Jeanist he seemed to have dodged a bullet.

His sigh of relief was interrupted by his ringtone cutting through the silence. He fully expected it to be his PR agent or maybe Endeavor but was shocked to see Shouto's name on the screen. He answered it before he thought better.

"Hey," came Shouto's monotone voice. "I'm back at UA now but I wanted to warn you that dad is on a rampage over the stuff you posted."

"R-really?" he asked, cringing at the stutter. Maybe skipping out of town was a good idea after all. He considered ditching all of his luggage too in favor of a clean escape.

"Yeah." Shouto paused for a moment and let the silence stretch on awkwardly long. "You're lucky he's mellowed out. He would've been intolerable even last year. I told him to chill until he talks to you and I think he kind of listened."

"Um… cool, thanks, Shouto." He wished it sounded more sincere because he really was grateful but the knot in his stomach was warring with his headache.

“No problem and good luck.” There was another pause. “Gotta go.”

The line went dead. Hawks brought it away from his face and scrolled through all of his missed calls and texts. His PR agent was indeed on that list as was Endeavor and Mirko, despite the fact she’d been at the flat the previous night. There were at least three voicemails and he groaned, covering his head and sinking to the floor.

“That bad, huh?” asked Jeanist while he strolled past him towards the en suite bathroom.

“Can I hide out here until my flight?” Looking up, he mustered his best, pleading puppy dog eyes.

“I don’t mind but is avoiding Endeavor really all that intelligent?” Jeanist’s voice drifted out of the bathroom and he briefly stuck his head out to give him a judging stare, holding his bangs back to ensure both eyes were visible. “I wouldn’t put it past him to show up here, and I don’t want to get caught in the crossfire of whatever you two have going on.”

He was right and panic settled deeper into Hawks’ chest. Going back to his hotel room seemed like the only reasonable option and he suspected Endeavor would be there. Another fated resort encounter, he thought miserably, though the ryokan had initially been fun.

Thinking about their stay at the ryokan was a stark reminder of how he tended to evade serious issues. Just like with his mother. Now that he thought about it, he’d even done it back at his penthouse when Endeavor had confronted him. For a guy that flew headfirst into work related conflicts, he sure was a coward when it came to his personal life. Maybe it was time to finally face the music while the show was still on.

Steeling his nerves, he stood up and walked over to the bathroom. “Hey, Jeanist-san,” he started, politely waiting for him to answer before barging in.

Jeanist wandered to the door with a toothbrush in his mouth and questioning expression.

“Thanks for everything,” he said, offering a genuine smile. “I’m gonna head back to my room.”

After taking the toothbrush out of his mouth, Jeanist smiled back and uselessly tried smoothing down his hair. “If you need anything, I’m here.”

He flew back to the hotel with his own wings, a comforting routine in a trying time. Gritting his teeth against the cold, biting wind, he tried mentally preparing himself for what awaited him back at his room.

But Endeavor wasn’t there.

Stumbling through the door, he felt lost, adrenaline crashing and leaving his head throbbing again. He tossed his phone onto the bed, willfully ignoring that it probably had urgent voicemails and texts on it. A hot shower was the only thing he cared about right then, shivering and reeking of last night's escapades.

The shower somewhat cleared his head and warmed his bones. It was as symbolic as it was necessary, cleansing himself of his reckless coping mechanisms and vowing to take it easy on the alcohol in the future. He emerged feeling slightly better and made himself presentable, warily eyeing the phone on the bed then jolting when it suddenly rang again.

No rest for the wicked.

It was his PR agent and he groaned before answering it, knowing she wouldn’t give up until she got through. The conversation was brief and he confirmed that he wasn’t dating anyone and please make a statement that the tabloids were spreading false rumors. Pretty standard stuff and he was glad she didn’t press him further. She did advise him to take down a couple pictures from his Instagram but he thought that wasn’t necessary. His fans liked seeing him flirt and socialize.

He was in the midst of packing up, head still pounding with his heartbeat and confusion swimming in gut, when someone knocked on his door. It wasn’t a polite hospitality knock either but rather an aggressive fist on wood, shaking the door on its hinges. Hesitating, he slowly walked towards it and knew exactly who it was without even looking through the peephole.

“Open up, Hawks.”

Endeavor’s familiar voice passed through the door and he only sounded moderately angry but Hawks’ heart was still beating like it wanted out of his ribcage. It was as thrilling as it was terrifying while he gripped the handle, unlatched the locks, and opened the door halfway.

“Planning on sneaking off?” asked Endeavor as he barged into the room, rolling his luggage behind him.

He didn’t answer, stumbling out of the way and closing the door behind them. Endeavor took in the state of the room and mostly packed suitcase before giving him a judging glare. The neatly made, untouched bed surely didn’t miss his observation.

“You weren’t here last night.”

It wasn’t a question and Hawks didn’t bother refuting it. He kept packing as a distraction because words were tragically failing him for a change.

“You went to that ridiculous party last night, hm?” Endeavor paced the room, tension rolling off him just as much as the heat. “I thought you were smarter than that. How unsightly. All of you pros getting drunk and making fools of yourselves.”

“It’s not that big of a deal,” he said, and really it wasn’t. “We drink and dance. Gives us a chance to blow off steam.”

“Yes, I saw the pictures,” snapped Endeavor, stopping and turning towards him. “Not all of them were from the warehouse.”

“I got invited to an afterparty.” He shrugged, hoping it looked more casual than it felt.

“At Jeanist’s flat.”

Damn, how many pros had secret relationships with Jeanist? He hadn’t mentioned the location in any of his posts. The man apparently got around. He was almost out of things to pack and wondered if he could talk Endeavor into going out for coffee or something else distracting.

“You spent the night there.” Endeavor glanced back at his made bed.

“Well, technically I passed out drunk there—”

“Did you fuck him?”

And there it was. The question he’d been dreading since he realized what he’d done. His silence only damned him further but he didn’t know how he should confess such a thing. Really it shouldn’t matter. Their fling was over so he had nothing to feel guilty about.

That logic didn’t make him feel any better with Endeavor intently glaring at him, air growing more dense and stifling by the second.

When the silence stretched on too long, Endeavor finally frowned in earnest and turned away from him with a growl. He stalked over to the windows and scrubbed a hand over his face before staring out at the city.

Hawks sighed and dropped the last piece of clothing into his suitcase. “I blacked out last night.” It was almost embarrassing to admit.

“How convenient,” said Endeavor, low and even. “Was that before or after you fucked Jeanist?”

He frowned at the floor. “Before.”

“So you don’t remember any of it.” Endeavor glanced back over his shoulder. “And that’s supposed to make it better?”

“It’s not supposed to do anything,” he shot back, carelessly stomping his clothes down with a foot. Refolding them seemed too tedious at that moment.

“Is that so?”

“It’s none of your business!” His headache was making him irritable and he winced at the sound of his own voice booming through the room. If nothing else, hero work did train you to be heard.

Endeavor finally turned and faced him, though he kept his distance, hands curled into fists. “You’re right.” He paused and glared at the floor for a few seconds. “But it still pisses me off.”

“That’s not fair,” he pointed out.

Letting out a bark of a laugh, Endeavor started approaching him, slowly like he was actually giving him a chance to run. In the past he may have taken that opportunity but not now, not after losing him for a month.

“You should know by now that life isn’t fair.” He crowded into Hawks’ personal space and backed him up until his wings brushed the wall, stopping and looming. “If it was I would’ve been the one fucking you last night.”

Heat rolled over him in a wave, sinking into his bones and relaxing him despite Endeavor’s intense proximity. His wings ruffled and he watched as Endeavor’s eyes flickered towards them before pinning him again. He lifted a hand and cupped the side of Hawks’ face, sliding a thumb over his lower lip. It only made sense to open his mouth.

Sucking the digit into his mouth, he watched as Endeavor’s pupils dilated slightly. He rolled his tongue around it, tasting salt and something distinctly smoky, desire surging inside him like it always did around that man. He was positive that finger had been inside him before and that stray thought had him getting half-hard in his mercifully baggy pants.

“I should punish you for your indiscrecion,” said Endeavor, eyes fixed on the lips sealed around his thumb.

He hummed and slowly pulled the thumb out of his mouth, holding Endeavor’s wrist and marvelling at its size. “What are you going to do? Spank me?”

It was honestly just a joke but he saw something spark in Endeavor’s eyes, something that made him take another step, pinning Hawks between his body and the wall. Everything about him was hard and tough, muscle on top of muscle, but Hawks definitely took immediate notice of a certain hard part pressing against him.

They truly were incapable of behaving themselves around each other.

“Maybe I should,” Endeavor paused and leaned down, brushing his lips against Hawks’ neck then trailing them up towards his ear. “Take off your clothes.”

Endeavor withdrew and Hawks balked for a moment, hardly believing his luck as he started hastily stripping off the layers of fabric he’d bundled into. It felt nice, sloughing them off in the hot room, though Endeavor stilled his hands when they reached for his boxers. Those stayed on for whatever reason. Shucking off his coat, Endeavor let his eyes roam over him as he worked his pants open.

“On your knees,” he ordered, rubbing where his cock strained against his underwear.

Hawks immediately obeyed, starkly aware he was painting a similar picture when his dick bobbed as he dropped down. He absently pressed against it but Endeavor tsk-ed in disapproval so he moved his hand away.

“Don’t touch yourself unless I tell you to,” said Endeavor, grabbing his chin and forcing eye contact. “Suck me off like a good little slut.”

This was new. They had definitely shared some dirty talk, especially when Endeavor had been regressed to a younger, cruder version of himself, but this variety of it hadn’t popped up yet. It didn’t bother him, though he wondered if Endeavor hated promiscuous behavior, which seemed hypocritical as hell considering he’d made a habit of cheating on his wife.

It was like being reacquainted with a lost friend, taking Endeavor’s substantial cock in his hand and stroking its velvety hot skin. The scent invaded his senses as he leaned forward and licked up the underside, pausing at the tip to give it a kiss. A glance up displayed Endeavor staring down at him intently, expression tense and maybe a little lost. Time to wipe it off his face.

He couldn’t get it too far down his throat but gave it an honest try, remembering the last time he’d deepthroated for Endeavor and forcing himself to relax. At the very least, his gag reflex wasn’t acting up, so he pulled back then tried taking in more. Tears gathered in his eyes as his throat spasmed, trying to swallow the intrusion.

A whine slipped out and he heard Endeavor groan, flicking his eyes up towards him then squeezing them shut and concentrating. Fingers slid into his hair and a hot palm rested against his head, pushing him forward, deeper onto the twitching cock. Even with the discomfort, his dick twitched in response, desperate for attention.

“Did you practice this with him too?” asked Endeavor, words dripping with thinly veiled jealousy.

He whined again, tears rolling down his cheeks as Endeavor gripped his hair and pulled out slightly. It wasn’t enough for him to say anything but it relieved the pressure for a few seconds before he pushed right back in. By the fourth slow thrust he was getting dizzy, tears freely streaming down his cheeks and probably leaking out of his nose. He grabbed Endeavor’s pants, fisting the fabric and hoping it anchored him.

Just when he thought he might pass out, Endeavor was suddenly gone. Hawks lurched forward onto his hands and knees, gasping and coughing, mourning the loss of heat, the fullness. He wiped at his nose, looking around and blinking his eyes clear.

“Endeavor-sa—”

The last sound never passed his lips, word cut short as Endeavor reappeared from seemingly nowhere and grabbed his arm, yanking him to his feet. He dragged him stumbling across the room, tossing him onto the bed and advancing while he tried scrambling onto his back.

“Now, now,” admonished Endeavor, grabbing one of his wing bases in a searing hand and halting his movement. “Who said you could face me?”

“But—”

“Shhh,” interrupted Endeavor, still holding his wing as he roughly tugged off his boxers. “This is still a punishment. You can’t fancy talk your way out of it.”

His horny, hungover brain tried processing what was happening but kept shorting out on the punishment part. He honestly hadn’t dabbled much with this type of thing, though he certainly was bratty enough to warrant it. Maybe if any of his partners had bothered sticking around long enough, they would’ve gotten jealous too.

Quite frankly, he found it insanely flattering he was rousing this kind of emotion in his childhood idol of all people.

A sharp pain exploded on his now exposed left butt cheek as a slap echoed through the room. The second elicited a yelp and he scowled back over his shoulder, though his wing obscured his view. When the third one landed he considered restraining Endeavor with his feathers, knowing from experience they wouldn’t hold him back long.

“Such a perky little ass,” said Endeavor, smacking the right cheek that time. “To think someone else got to enjoy it, just last night…”

He rolled his eyes, glad Endeavor couldn’t see it. He was in such a precarious situation yet he was still rock hard, getting spanked in his hotel room for essentially being a bad boy. It would’ve been funny if it weren’t so confusing.

The weight of Endeavor’s cock sliding between his ass cheeks scattered all of his thoughts. He couldn’t help but push back against it, urging it to thrust and reunite with his body. His dreams were still plagued with hazy interpretations of their trysts, grasping for deeper meaning in carnal acts.

Maybe they were destined to just be occasional fuckbuddies after all. Even if he selfishly wanted more, it was still a victory of sorts.

“What’s this oil?” asked Endeavor, pressing a finger on the curve of his lower back and swiping down.

He was so dazed that it took a lingering moment for him to realize what Endeavor was asking about. If his uropygial gland was acting up it was possible he was actually close to a cycle. Heteromorph biology was so random and unpredictable. Embarrassment and panic both tried bombarding him as he racked his brain for a believable excuse.

Endeavor huffed and spread one of Hawks’ ass cheeks. “Guess we don’t need lube then.” He pressed a broad, slicked finger against his hole and it slipped inside easily. “How convenient.”

His rim burned in protest, still sore from the previous night and he once again wondered what they had done. Endeavor’s fingers went back to coaxing more oil from his gland, which felt pretty strange, probably spreading it on his dick if the noises were any indication. The blunt head of Endeavor’s cock prodded his hole as he placed a hand between his wing bases.

“Relax,” said Endeavor, then pushed forward.

The massive, girthy cock slid all the way in, faster than he’d expected, punching a gasp from his lungs. Endeavor sucked in a shaky breath, fingers pressing into his skin, brushing the sensitive areas near the wing bases. He took a couple more breaths before pulling out and thrusting back in just as quickly. The sound of their skin slapping together bounced obscenely off the walls as he struggled with the burning stretch.

Hawks really hadn’t adjusted to the intrusion before Endeavor started thrusting, cock plunging in and out of him smoothly thanks to his own oil. It almost felt as intimate as the preening, parts of himself he kept hidden away. Every time Endeavor’s cock slammed back inside he felt so sore and full, unable to focus on anything else but that searing rod punching into his core.

The burning quickly numbed out and he started rhythmically clenching around Endeavor’s cock, instinctively reaching between his legs to stroke himself.

“No,” growled Endeavor, pace faltering as he grabbed his hand and pinned it to the mattress. “Get off from my cock or not at all.”

He whined, a pathetic protest to a horny statement. Endeavor went faster, likely chasing his own orgasm, but pushing him steadily towards his own. Labored breathing filled his ears, room growing uncomfortably hot as Endeavor pounded into him so hard he was sliding up the bed. It felt like he was swelling inside Hawks, impossibly hard as little sounds of pleasure slipped out on every thrust.

“Fuck,” swore Endeavor, pace growing erratic. “So tight.” He grunted and leaned down, lips brushing sweaty skin. “I’m gonna fill this slutty little hole… stretch it out, ruin it.”

It was mild dirty talk but had such a possessive undertone he clenched up almost immediately. Endeavor groaned and twitched inside him as he finally clamped down around the invasive rod, pleasure lulling briefly before punching through him in waves.

Hands curled around his hips, holding him up as he trembled and shook through his orgasm, spilling cum all over the covers. At some point during that ride, Endeavor stilled on a moan, searing release burning a place so deep inside that he squirmed in discomfort. It wasn’t intentional, but he was tired and hungover, nerves raw and exposed.

“Where are you going?” asked Endeavor through heavy breaths, yanking him back down fully onto his still-hard cock.

He groaned and willed himself still while he felt Endeavor’s cock twitch accompanied by more heat blossoming inside him. Thrusting a few more times, Endeavor let out a satisfied sigh and slumped over his back. Instead of pulling out, he rolled them onto their sides, cradling Hawks against him, wings and all. His cock was still impaled in his ass and he tried relaxing around the slowly softening intrusion.

“God,” breathed Endeavor, burying his nose into Hawks’ wild hair as he groped lazily over his body. “I missed this…”

So many things rushed to the surface of his mind, even through the postcoital haze of exhaustion. Just as he was finally starting to accept the inevitable death of their affair, it had rekindled with such little effort. Whatever Endeavor had bloomed inside him that first night would probably never fizzle out, no matter the time or distance.

Hawks knew exactly what the emotion burning inside of him was and quite frankly it scared him. He honestly hadn’t even thought himself capable of it after so much abuse and grooming, but apparently he had a heart after all. A heart Todoroki Enji could completely destroy on a whim if he wanted.

He never responded, dozing off from the familiar scent and heat surrounding him. Having it back felt like regaining a lost limb, setting his world right and flooding him with relief. He had no doubt it would be ripped away from him again, but he was determined to bask in it every chance he got.

When he woke, Endeavor was gone and he was cleaned up and resting under the covers. Disappointment washed over him as he rolled onto his back with a wince. His headache felt a little better but his ass was sore, inside and out, back protesting as he used his wings to sit up. He saw Endeavor’s luggage was still there and sighed in relief.

“When’s your flight?” came Endeavor’s voice from the bathroom. He emerged, freshly showered and wearing nothing but a towel.

“Tomorrow afternoon,” he croaked out, throat feeling parched.

Before he could send out any feathers to retrieve a drink, Endeavor picked up a bottle of water and walked over to the bed. He sat down, mattress sinking beneath his weight, and offered the bottle to Hawks as he toweled his hair dry. The excess water slowly evaporated off Endeavor’s skin as he took the drink and fumbled it open. It was more than a little distracting as he drained the water in long gulps, nearly choking in his haste.

“Careful, there,” chided Endeavor, pulling the bottle from his lips before he finished.

“Endeavor-san,” he started, then paused and stared down at his hands, “what are we doing?”

There was no simple answer to that question but he still hoped Endeavor had one. Surely, life experience counted for something, right? At the very least, he looked thoughtful.

“I don’t know,” conceded Endeavor after a lengthy silence. “Those pictures, I couldn’t stand them. Before I knew what I was doing, I was pounding on your door.”

He sighed and drank the rest of the water, tossing the bottle aside. A reckless part of him wanted to tell Endeavor to fuck off just to see the predictable reaction, maybe even test how much he cared beyond the jealousy. He was ultimately too afraid to shatter whatever tentative relationship they had stumbled back into.

“Have you punished me enough? Am I forgiven?”

Endeavor’s hands balled into fists. “I don’t know what came over me.” He sighed. “Just the implication that anyone touched you like I had filled me with rage. It was… unexpected.”

“Didn’t know you cared so much,” he said, mimicking the words he’d spoken to Endeavor after their first team up.

This time, instead of threatening to roast him, Endeavor offered him a searching look. “You’re not easy to quit either, Hawks.”

He wanted to point out that Endeavor had actually “quit” him for an entire month, but didn’t feel like arguing on an empty stomach. “I’m not discussing anything else until you feed me.”

“Fair enough.” Endeavor reached out, massaging his leg through the blanket. “What are you in the mood for?”

“Chicken,” he said, leaning back on his wings and ignoring his sore ass. “I don’t care how it’s made. Tempura, braised, karaage, whatever.”

Endeavor withdrew and got dressed, steaming off the excess moisture on his body first. The room was significantly cooler than earlier, winter chill now creeping in through the walls. He made Hawks promise he wouldn’t leave before stepping out the door with his phone in hand.

He waited a few minutes and slipped from the bed, feeling cum leak down his thighs. Endeavor had wiped him clean but he wandered into the bathroom to do a more thorough job. Shedding some feathers, he looked back over his shoulder into the mirror. His uropygial gland, sitting low on the dip in his spine, was swollen and tender as he prodded it. A few drops of oil oozed out and he instinctively swiped it onto his fingers and oiled a couple small feathers.

A sense of low level dread nagged at the back of his mind while he hosed off the lower half of his body. The only time he made oil was before a cycle, strange biology convinced he needed it before grounding him for an unspecified amount of time. He honestly couldn’t even remember the last time he’d had one.

It consumed his thoughts as he dried off and pulled on an oversized t-shirt. The cycles weren’t harmful as far as the doctor’s knew but they sure were embarrassing and debilitating. He hoped this one came on slowly enough that he would be nowhere near Endeavor when it hit full swing.

The sheets were probably dirty but he was cold, crawling under the covers and surfing social media on his phone. Occasional posts mentioned him but mostly it was just favorites and likes of his latest pictures. Some even expressed disappointment he wasn’t dating Jeanist after all and a few called him a slut in gentler terms. Whatever. Any attention was good when it came to hero popularity.

Endeavor returned shortly after with his arms full of bags. He took off his coat and shoes then unloaded the various takeout containers right onto the bed. The variety of dishes was impressive and they both ate in silence, too busy stuffing their faces to bother with small talk. By the time they were done, the warmth radiating off Endeavor plus his full stomach had him feeling sleepy again.

He lay back against his wings, closing his eyes and listening to Endeavor bustle around the room as he cleaned up. Even though it was a hotel room it felt domestic and he let himself relax, almost nodding off.

“Hawks,” came Endeavor’s voice, tugging him back to consciousness.

Cracking his eyes open he was presented with a small cake. It looked almost comically small cradled in Endeavor’s broad palm and he lit the single candle with his own fire.

“It’s a little early but… Happy Birthday, Hawks,” he said, expression unnaturally soft.

Tears gathered in his eyes as he sat up and admired his cake. Nobody besides Mera and his sidekicks ever got him anything for his birthday, and even that wasn’t really consistent. It was a day that usually soured his mood, always reminded that his dad considered his birth a nuisance.

The feelings swirling around in his gut were complicated as he smiled and blew out the candle, a few stray tears running down his cheeks. He laughed and rubbed them away but more took their place. How embarrassing. They didn’t stop falling for several minutes, though he did his best to stifle them. He curled his wings around his body, trying to hide, but Endeavor muscled them back and pulled him into an embrace. His smoky scent and steady heartbeat calmed him down pretty fast.

“Thank you,” he whispered, feeling Endeavor’s answering hum reverberate through his body.

“I’m not done yet,” said Endeavor, pulling back slightly and fishing around in his pocket. He revealed a small box and set it gently in Hawks’ hand. “That’s why I said not to leave before contacting me.”

His heart was hammering in his chest, imagination running wild even though he was fairly certain it was a regular gift. But what exactly? He spared Endeavor a nervous glance and opened the box, seeing the glint of gold and almost perishing on the spot. It wasn’t a ring but damn near close.

Endeavor reached into the box and plucked out the gold bracelet, opening it with familiarity and clipping it over his left wrist. “Do you like it?” he asked, spinning it around so the H’s framed by red jewels faced him. “I had it made. It matches your earrings.”

It was one of the most thoughtful gifts he’d ever received, staring down at it in awe and rolling the cuff around once. Todoroki Enji had gone out of his way to have a custom bracelet made for him, based on his belt symbols and to match his earrings. He really was going to perish.

Instead of answering, which he was sure would be nothing more than garbled nonsense, he lunged forward and threw his arms around Endeavor with a happy sob. There he went crying again. Vulnerability was okay every now and then. Heroes were allowed to cry.

Once he calmed down, Endeavor cut the cake in half and they each ate their portion. Best (early) birthday ever. He couldn’t stop staring at his bracelet, admiring the craftsmanship and design. Did Endeavor design it or hire someone to do it? He couldn’t find the courage to ask.

Endeavor shed most of his clothes and crawled onto the bed, gathering Hawks against his body and keeping him warm. It was selfish as hell but he felt truly at peace in Endeavor, no, Enji’s arms. He wanted to call him Enji so badly, even if the name felt foreign on his lips.

“So…” started Hawks, trailing off as some terrible movie played on in the background. “This isn’t actually over then.” It felt pretty damn good saying that while in bed with Endeavor.

“Guess not.” Endeavor glanced down at him, idly massaging little circles against his exposed thigh.

“Even though you were so adamant about making that point abundantly clear last time we slept together.” He laughed. “Well, more accurately, we fucked like rabbits. I didn’t walk straight for over a week.”

“Really?” Endeavor seemed surprised, furrowing his eyebrows as he processed the rest of the statement. “Wait, that wasn’t the me that you know—”

“It was you,” he interrupted, rubbing the dusting of red hair on Endeavor’s chest. “You were still the same man, just… less jaded, I guess.”

“You think I’m jaded?” Once again, Endeavor looked surprised.

“Don’t worry, I am too.” He smiled and playfully tweaked a nipple, earning a startled yelp. “Maybe we can use each other to decompress. This doesn’t have to be that serious, Endeavor-san.”

A few emotions flickered across Endeavor’s face before it settled on something vaguely intense. He snaked a hand over the back of Hawks’ head and tilted it towards him, slotting their lips together. The kiss was deep and possessive, just like their sex earlier. He was already getting hard, body now well conditioned by their trysts. Breaking the kiss, Endeavor rolled him onto his back and pinned him down.

“I don’t want you fucking other people,” he said, grinding his clothed erection against him and rucking up his shirt.

Hawks wanted to argue how hypocritical that was coming from a married man but got distracted by the hot slide of his massive cock. Endeavor shoved his boxer briefs down enough to free it, capturing his mouth in another kiss as he slid their dicks together. Hawks made sure he was facing Endeavor that time, staring directly into his eyes as he pushed inside him.

The way Endeavor’s expression softened was intoxicating, distracting him from the stretch. It didn’t feel as sore that time for whatever reason and they’d used his oil again. It really was a superior lubricant and he ignored the spark of anxiety from its increasing production.

His bracelet glinted, catching the low light as Endeavor fucked him soundly into the mattress. It groaned in protest, definitely not made to withstand such strength. He almost hoped they broke the bed. It could start the rumors he knew would force Endeavor’s hand.

Force it to do exactly what, he wasn’t sure yet, but he’d figure it out. Improvisation was one of many skills the Commission made sure they hammered into his head. Manipulation too but he wasn’t proud of that one. Didn’t mean he was any less good at it, though, and the Commission often took advantage of that particular skill.

Perhaps he was a fool too, thinking he wasn’t willing to do anything possible to get Endeavor back. And it hadn’t even been necessary since the man sought him out several times. He even bought him a birthday present.

Somehow his mind managed racing through all of these thoughts while slowly ramping up to an orgasm. At least it knocked out the intrusive clutter, sweeping his mind free as the breeze on waves of pleasure. Orgasms really were excellent therapy, especially with a man like Endeavor. The fact he didn’t even seem aware of his sex appeal most of the time was hilarious though endearing.

Endeavor faltered and buried himself inside him to the hilt, moaning and shuddering as he emptied so deep Hawks groaned. It burned, just like last time and all the others, a feeling he was growing fond of despite the discomfort.

He reached for Endeavor, pulling him down and letting their breaths mingle for a moment. Once they evened out a little, he leaned up and kissed Endeavor again. It was deliberate and lethargic, packed with something he’d never felt before, something he couldn’t even put into words.

Was it love? The feeling and word he dreaded the most? Was it adoration? Idolization? Some other juvenile or dysfunctional emotion? It felt deeper than any of those and he was practically drowning in it, drinking in persistent kisses like his life depended on it.

Whatever Endeavor could give he could return three times over. After taking a nap, he proved that to himself by waking Endeavor with a blow job and riding him until the sun rose. He caressed Hawks’ thighs and chest, lingered on his belly before settling his hands over his hips. They absolutely dwarfed them.

He came all over the man’s torso twice, noting Endeavor’s surprised expression when he hosed him the second time. Of course he cried out and moaned, able to hit all the good spots with a little tweaking, spreading his wings out and arching his back. He was in the mood to put on a show and Endeavor responded in kind, hoisting him up against a wall and pounding into him until he came too.

People definitely heard them but he never received complaints. Perks of being in the top ten. They had time before his flight so he ordered room service once Endeavor carefully deposited him back on the bed. He nabbed the food from the attendant wearing an ill-fitting robe, quickly yanking the cart into the room and slamming the door before he saw anything.

“When will I see you again?” asked Endeavor as they ate, this time at the small table by the window. His heat chased away the chill, something Hawks would miss during winter.

“Before the internships?”

Those weren’t even that far away but Endeavor nodded. “My PR team is always asking me to work more with other heroes. We could do patrols together.”

“Won’t that look suspicious if we do it too often?” he asked, spearing a sausage.

Endeavor shrugged, took a sip of his soup. “Not necessarily. You could possibly team up with others in the top ten if you wanted.” His expression soured as he realized that would include Jeanist. “Or not. I don’t think people will pay it much mind. Heroes team up all the time.”

“True.” He paused and ate the sausage. “I’ll let you know what works once I get back and—”

He fell silent as Endeavor suddenly grasped his free hand in an iron grip. “If I don’t hear from you by next week, I’ll be forced to punish you again.”

That prospect definitely excited him more than scared him. “Oh, really?” He smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“I don’t like that look,” grumbled Endeavor. “Don’t avoid me on purpose.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it, Endeavor-san.”

He didn’t seem convinced but they shared pleasant conversation anyway. Endeavor joined him in the shower, riling him up and trying to fuck him before settling on jerking them off. It set him back enough that he scrambled to get ready. Endeavor kept pulling him back every time he tried leaving, claiming he just needed one more kiss. It was ridiculous and flattering, though he really needed to go or he was going to miss his flight.

“Happy Birthday, little bird,” said Endeavor, reluctantly letting him go. “Fly safe.”

It took all of his willpower to run out of the building and fly to the airport. Nothing was settled outside of a mutual lack of self-control but this encounter had ended on a much happier note. Well, a more infatuated note at least. He could work with that.

Boarding the plane and watching Musutafu fade away wasn’t as confusing this time. Their relationship was still tragically complicated but his hope was rekindled, hollow ache chased away by Endeavor’s warmth. He would gladly carry that torch while weaving himself into Endeavor’s life so thoroughly he could never walk away.

Looking down at his bracelet catching the afternoon sun, he felt like he was already well on his way towards that goal.

## Afterword

End Notes

> Finally, they parted on better terms!! Sorry this took so long, the pandemic hit while I was writing it and we all know how that goes.

> I still have more planned for this little canon-divergent world (where Hawks isn't sent to spy in quite the same way). So far it's been fun twisting these guys up and wringing out their insecurities.

> Thanks for reading! You can find me on twitter @specterpeach

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