A Taste For Chicken

Halcyon - Part Five

Hawks groggily propped himself up in bed, his eyes struggling to stay open. Three. It was three o'clock in the morning. His phone was ringing loudly, even though it was supposed to be on silent. It must be urgent, he thought, squinting at the caller ID.

Just a number. No name. The area code he didn't recognize though, at least not in this half-awake state.

"...H'lo?" He mumbled, answering the call.

"Good evening, Hawks." A male voice said, "I'm a secretary from Genius Agency and--"

"Genius?" Hawks asked through a yawn, "Best Jeanist's agency? You're over in Tokyo aren't you?"

"Yes, sir, we are." The man answered, "And I'm calling this evening on behalf of Eraser Head."

"Eraser Head?" Hawks muttered, wracking his brain for a moment, "He's... The guy that can erase quirks if he's lookin' at them, yeah?"

"Yes." The man said, sounding annoyed now, "As I was saying, I'm calling on behalf of Eraser Head. He's captured a vigilante acting in his area and our records indicate she resides in Kyushu, an area under Nest's jurisdiction."

"Vigilante from Kyushu in Tokyo?" Hawks grumbled, running his hand down his face, "So why are you calling me about it? Just arrest..." His voice trailed off as the news finally circled in his brain enough to make sense.

"Halcyon?!" He shouted, his feathers spreading in a loud whoosh, "Is it Halcyon?!"

"I'm not sure, sir." The secretary said, "But Eraser Head has asked for you to come and speak to him on this matter. As for this vigilante, we have her secured here. Please come at your earliest convenience."

"Uhh... Yeah. Of course." Hawks answered, his wings folding back down as he hung up.

Tokyo was 6 hours away by bullet train. Halcyon could fly as Phoenix, sure, but even Hawks himself couldn't make that flight in six hours and even then it would be exhausting. Tiger was fast, but not as fast as a bullet train. It couldn't be Halcyon, right?

"She." Hawks muttered, standing up and walking to his dresser to grab a pair of soft shorts.

It couldn't be, right? She wouldn't... Right?

He pulled open his door, quietly making his way down the stairs and up to Chickadee's. Standing there in silence, his thoughts were still swirling. If she was inside, barging in would definitely be awkward, but at least he'd have confirmation. It would be worth the conversation.

He swallowed, composing himself for just a breath before he pushed it open.

"Damn..." He muttered, starting at the immaculately made and untouched bed and the open window letting in the night breeze, "Chickadee... Seriously?"

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Hawks couldn't wait until morning. He'd considered trying to sleep more, but there was no way he could. No way. This was way too much to sleep through.

After he'd spoken to her before bed his head had been filled with an idea of how to test her. He'd been so sure it wouldn't be her. She wouldn't be the one leaking the information. Before leaving for Tokyo he'd even searched the whole agency for her with his feathers, just desperate to prove he was wrong.

But she wasn't there.

So he'd checked the cameras. And wouldn't you know it, there was a convenient blind spot just by her window. Who could have predicted that?

He sighed heavily, his head resting on the window of the train as it rushed towards Tokyo. Somehow he was still hoping it was a misunderstanding. Maybe he'd just missed her, maybe she'd snuck out for some other reason. Maybe she had a secret nightlife as a secretary that didn't include being the very vigilante causing havoc for her own friends.