Grey Line

Copy Cat

Mika opened her eyes and ran a hand through her hair. She wasn't sure of what time it was, but she did notice one thing: she was alone. Hawks was nowhere to be found, not even a feather. She looked to her nightstand to see a note:
Gone to get some info. I'll behave ;)
-H

"You must've went to see your friend," she said and laid it back down, looking around the room. Her mind found itself replaying the events of last night, making her cheeks heat up once more. Clearing her mind she let out a breath, "A shower would do good."

She stood and grabbed some clothing, heading to the bathroom. Her hips felt tired, but, given her night, it made sense, it was just something she wasn't well acquainted with. When the water was hot, she stepped in, closing her eyes at the feeling of warm comfort sliding down her body.
________
"You're in a good mood," Dabi eyed the hero across from him.

"No different than every other day," Hawks leaned back in his chair, "They said you've been good lately."

"Don't pet me like a child," Dabi huffed, "I have some information that might interest you."

This perked his interest as he sat forward, "You have my undivided attention..."
__________
She pulled on a pair of warm leggings, and a grey knitted sweater that came down to her mid-hip. She wanted a coffee so bad she couldn't stand it. Checking the weather, she decided to dry her thick hair since it was cold outside. Hopefully Spring would begin to move through, and push the harshness of winter out.

After slipping on her boots and grabbing her jacket and phone, she cautiously made her way to the coffee shop. Melting snow was slowly dissipating from the salted sidewalks, as the mid morning sun was high in the sky.

Rocky smiled when she walked into the door, "Good to see you're in one piece."

"Me too. Have you been behaving," she slid onto the barstool as he set a cup on the bar for her.

"Yeah, it's been boring, but I've done my best." He looked round the shop, "Where's your man at?"

She almost choked on her coffee, "My what?"

"The one that watches your every move," he chuckled as she blushed.

"He's not my boyfriend, Rocky."

"Yeah, like that guy my daughter has been spending all of her time with isn't her boyfriend."

"I'm not allowed those luxuries," Mika's voice was almost distant.

Rocky sighed and placed a croissant and apple butter in front of her, "Everyone deserves that."

Mika rolled her eyes, "I can come by and help tomorrow if you'd like. It might help me keep my mind off of things."

Rocky leaned on the bar and tilted his head, "You know you're welcome here at anytime...You wanna talk about it?"

Mika sipped her coffee, "I'm just emotionally torn in a lot of different directions currently. Trying to make sense of it all, and move past things."

"Ah, adult shit," he chuckled.

Mika chuckled, taking a bite of the croissant, "Yeah."

"My advice: Follow your gut," he met her eyes, "It never lies."
_________
Hawks paced back and forth trying to be patient. Dabi had given him some hot off the iron information that he was almost afraid to pursue. It could put the people that mattered most to him in danger, starting with Mika.

His golden eyes darted to the door when she walked in. She took one looked at him and frowned, "What's going on?"

"When the sun goes down, we are heading to Bakugo and Deku's agency," he sighed, "My contact came through with some information we all need to have a talk about."

She sat down her bag and nodded, "Okay."

"But I wanna warn you," he thought on how to phrase his next wording carefully, "stay away from the shop."

Her grey eyes blinked, "Why?"

He nodded to the couch, "Let's talk." He plopped down, Mika sat beside him quietly, "Rocky is not Rocky." He pulled the booklet from his jacket pocket and opened it, "The actual Rocky went missing four years ago, then "turned up" a year later under mysterious circumstances."

Mika could feel her heartbeat quickening in its pace, "Then...who is he?"

Hawks reached and grabbed her laptop, "His actual name is Kenshi Mononome. He's a small time criminal that went missing three years ago..."

"Right when Rocky came home."

Hawks nodded, "His quirk allows is transmutation. He just needs to ingest the DNA of his target every so often."

She stared at the man on the screen, studying his black eyes, and square jaw. Her mind was reeling. The man she had been so close to...was not real. Her brows furrowed, "It makes sense now..."

"What does?"

"He asked about you today," she looked at Hawks, "he's never done that. Not even when I've met dates there." She leaned back against the couch and sighed, "Of course I didn't tell him anything...but, I am supposed to help out tomorrow evening with stock again."

"You need to stay away," he gave her a serious look, "This is a small cog in a very big machine."

"Hawks," she looked at him, "what if I can get some information-"

He shook his head, "It's took risky."

"I'm not a child," she glared, "I can handle myself."

"God you're frustrating," Hawks stood, "Just hear me out tonight, okay? Then if you wanna argue about it, we can."

She nodded quietly. Mika knew she needed to at least hear him out before she made up her mind. He wasn't normally this nervous when it came to stepping into the fire, so it had to be something big and dangerous.

He sighed and knelt down in front of her, resting his hands on either side, "I'm not trying to tell you what to do. I'm aware you're a very capable woman. Just...these people are a lot more out together than we thought, and someone with your quirk, they'd find...useful."

Her grey eyes studied his face, "I understand your concerns. But, I know what I am capable of, and if I can help, I will." She smiled slightly, "You gotta trust me, hero."

He leaned forward and kissed her lips softly, "Yes ma'am. But I still don't have to like it."