~The Truth We Choose to Hide~ READ DESC

~The Masked Man~

3rd Person POV:

The winged hero, enraged, picked up the grey-haired hero and pushed him against the wall. Rage flowed through his veins, and his eyes were fixated on the person in front of him. He started at Edgeshot who was too confused and shocked to say a word. All of the heroes' eyes were on him, too stunned to speak. They all knew Hawks to be a kind, and light-hearted, the kind of person you wanted to be friends with. Sure, what they said may have been offensive in a way, but it was something they all usually laughed about. 

"Hawks...?" Mt. Lady was the first to speak up. She took a step back, without even registering it.

Hawks blinked a few times, as his brain took its time to understand what had just happened. His eyes widened slightly, but Edge shot was able to take note of that. He quickly released his co-worker and stepped back, and smiled.

"I'm really sorry, I didn't realize what I was doing, I truly apologize," he said sheepishly. As he apologized, the heroes around him were finally able to relax.

"I'm sorry, again, dude. I'm not usually like this, I had a long day," which wasn't exactly a lie; his life was constantly filled with paranoia. Fortunately, Hawks was able to provide a good reason for his behavior, and everyone seemed to have bought it. 

A few moments go by, and it was like nothing happened, but Hawks silently cursed at himself. He needed to keep up his reputation of being a laid-back person, or he was going to get caught. He was trained to be a killer, not a hero. Those two things are far from being similar, yet here he is, playing that role. He was raised to be Keigo Takami, a person everyone feared and respected, not some lousy hero. 

Although he couldn't let himself say it out loud, the times he spent as his "Hawks" persona were one of the best moments in his life, aside from a few other ones. His childhood was far from being the best, even decent, but he was still grateful to be this person; even if it was completely fake. It's better than nothing.

As they continued to discuss their plans on how to find the boy, who's now in high demand it seemed, Hawks made sure to steal glances at the hero he assaulted. He truly felt sorry, but knowing Edgeshot, he would get suspicious of him. 

Edgeshot POV:

That was one thing I did not expect to happen. Although I don't know Hawks very well, his reputation of being cheerful and laid back hasn't failed him- until now. I knew all the basic information that was needed about him; his reputation, emotions, reactions, logic, fighting techniques. Although I knew he was fast, I didn't expect him to push me against a building. I've never seen him outside his hero costume really, but I didn't expect him to be this strong. I guess he's the number two hero for a reason.

I felt that he was looking at me as everyone was talking, and I thought he just might've felt bad. But, as soon as I had eye contact with him, I knew that it wasn't the real reason. Even if it was for a brief moment, I saw fierceness in his eyes, his seriousness. I don't know how I didn't notice it before- I guess there wasn't a need to do so. But now, I feel like I'm playing at something different. Someone. Whoever that was who shoved me into the wall wasn't Hawks. It was someone else. 

I realized that I knew nothing about the guy. Sure, as a hero a do, but as a person? I don't spend all my time around heroes, but I do know their names at least, their civilian ones. But Hawks? There's nothing on him, except how the media shapes him. But here the question arises, what is Hawk's name?

"Hey, Hawks?" There's no harm in asking right? He's a hero, not some criminal. The number two for God's sake. But the suspicion is still there. He might've pushed me onto the wall, but if he's really telling the truth, why lie now?

"Yeah?" he looks at me with a confused face.

"What's your real-"

"There look!" We all look to where Kamui was pointing at, not so discreetly may I add. Sure enough, that's where the kid from the photo was, and by the looks of it, he knows we've spotted him.

Everyone quickly started running towards him, but before I did so myself, I took one last look at Hawks. I could feel my eyes widen slightly.

He was standing there, his golden eyes glaring at me, not in an angry way though. They seemed to be more of a warning, to back away. I blinked, but he was already gone, going after the kid. There was something obviously wrong here, and I hate myself for not realizing sooner. Whatever is going on here though, I know it's not going to end well. 

I take a deep breath and start heading towards the boy myself.

Touya POV:

Shit, I knew I should've just stayed in that stupid alleyway. Now I'm being hunted by these heroes like some wild animal. I'm at a big disadvantage since I know nothing about where I am, and the different places I could hide in, and the heroes seem to be greatly familiar with this place, which means I'm completely screwed.

The only good thing is that it's dark. I decide to make some random twists and turns. I'm sure I'm not the fastest of them all, but I seem to be getting away from them. I see a small street, so I make a sharp turn. I look back and didn't see any of them so far, so that means I have enough time to go into some other narrow street before they see me again-

I run into something and instantly fall onto my back. 

Shit, that fucking hurts-

But before I'm able to stand, a dark figure who I probably ran into, put their foot on my chest, preventing me from getting up. I groan from the pressure and from the bruising that was probably still there from when I fell. 

"You're fast, kid. I think Tomura will like you," I look up to see a man in a yellow trench coat peering over me. He had some kind of top hat on, along with a mask covering his face. It didn't take me too long to figure out that this guy's probably in some sort of criminal organization.

I turned my head slightly and saw the mob of heroes was rushing past the street, probably not even seeing that it was there. Would've been great if it weren't for this guy. I turn back and face the mysterious man.

"You're so lucky that I'm beat up and out of energy. If it weren't for me being in this stupid time period, you would've been at my feet, begging for mercy," I spat at him, but he only chuckled.

"You appear to be a sadist, my young friend. And you had that large group of heroes chasing you- mind, it was full of high-ranked ones too! So, who exactly are you, and what did you do to cause such chaos?" I had no intention of speaking to this freak. I've had a really long day, and I'm starting to get really pissed.

"Not very talkative now are we? Well, maybe you're just tired. Worry not, I'll take you back to where we are staying, of course, it is temporary,"

"We?"

"Ah yes, well you might've assumed that I'm from some organization, but I'm surprised that you haven't recognized me yet! Well, maybe it is pretty dark out here, so there's an excuse,"

"Mind sharing what this 'organization' is?" I ask boredly. I honestly want him to leave, all of them.

"The League of Villains," 

I look at the masked guy. I couldn't see his face, but it didn't take a genius to see that he was completely serious. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"What kind of a dumbass name is "ThE lEaGuE oF vIlLaNs?"