Word for Love

Chapter 5 - Escape..?

"The fuck are you still here?" Shigaraki was surprised to see him.

Hawks sat by the lamp, huddled. It had been at least two days since anyone even came down here. He stared at the pale blue hair and hand covering his face with golden eyes.

He didn't have an answer.

"The door has literally been unlocked this whole time. Why haven't you scurried away?" The villain wiggled his fingers to convey his point, motioning towards the door.

It's true, Hawks had realized he never heard it lock.

"...I was told to get captured by the hero commission. So I'm here. I'm waiting for orders." Hawks rasped, he hadn't spoke though the dehydration and starvation. He just stared at Shigaraki. He wasn't sure why he openly admitted this fact.

"That's pretty pathetic. They probably think you're dead."

"Why would they?"

"You're no longer the number two hero." Shigaraki said this in a matter of fact tone, casually. Hawks felt a train hit him.

He didn't move.

"You're lying."

"Want to check the news on my phone?"

...

Gold eyes stared into red ones for a solid minute before he weakly reached out. The device was placed in his hand after Shigaraki fumbled with it and opened up the news app.

"Best Jeanist, the number 2 hero! Over taking Hawks while the winged hero is in America!"

Hawks regarded it dryly, scrolling through different headlines. They all shared similar themes.  He was being replaced.

Hawks drooped and just handed the phone back.

"...want to get out of this place and get a drink?" Shigaraki stared down at him. Hawks' shoulders tensed slightly and he glanced up with a puzzled look.

"You're offering for me to... leave?"

"Yes, that is what I'm offering. Do I need to get Dabi to explain it to you??" He started scratching his neck. "Or Compress?"

"No." Hawks said a little too fast, standing unsteadily with a wobble in his knees. "...where's Dabi, anyway? He hasn't come to see me since he gave me this lamp."

Shigaraki stared at Hawks. Hawks stared back.

Slowly the winged hero realized why he was getting such a strange look. He was concerned for Dabi, or he missed him, or something like that. It was a weird feeling.

"...he's up at the bar. Come on."

Hawks followed behind closely, especially when they left the holding cell and the darkness of the walls closed in around Hawk's throat. He just closed his eyes and paid attention to Shigaraki's movements through the senses of his feathers.

Soon he felt light hit his eyelids, he blinked a couple times to adjust. Luckily it was kind of dim, not fully sun-bright. It made it easier for the strain to die down.

"Kurogiri." The hand villain called as the entered. Hawks was very suddenly aware of a lot of different eyes on him. "Get him food and water."

Shigaraki kind of just pushed the pro hero over to the bar. He stumbled slightly, flattening his wings to his back and turned towards the bar.

A nervous knot relaxed in his throat as he made eye contact with blue eyes. After a moment he waddled over and sat next to him.

"Welcome out of th' cage, hawksie. Surprised ya didn' jus' dip sooner." He hummed.