Maybe We'll fix Each Other

Chapter 31

Silence sat before then a moment before Hawks's expression fell into a neutral look.

"I'll do better next time," Hawks responded, sounding like he was giving a report. "I didn't find a way to get them to admit to knowledge of Endeavor's affairs, but if I–"

"That–" Aizawa interrupted, a frown coming to his face. Hawks snapped his mouth shut.

"I apologize," Aizawa continued. "I didn't give any context. That's not what I wanted to talk about."

Confusion seemed to flit across Hawks's face for only a moment before it was hidden behind his mask.

Aizawa's frown deepened. Has Hawks always done that and I just haven't noticed? he wondered. Disguise his feelings so easily?

Hawks had always been so expressive–it was part of his charm he played off of for the public. Now Aizawa worried if he was actually overdoing everything to shift attention.

"I also wanted to apologize for the way I treated you before the attack," Aizawa pressed on. "It was wrong of me to misplace my anger onto you."

Hawks's expression eased up, a look of discomfort crossing it as he averted his gaze.

It was clear his thoughts were in overdrive, but about exactly what Aizawa had no idea.

"Yeah, well, I messed up either way," Hawks said. "I'll make sure it won't happen again."

"I don't–" Aizawa began, but he stopped himself. He took a collecting breath before continuing. "I'm just glad you're okay. When you were taken, I was...I'm glad you're okay."

At that, Hawks finally looked back over at him, face somewhat unsure. Like he didn't know how to respond to that.

And in that moment, Hawks looked so young that it reminded Aizawa that damn he was just a kid, too. What was he? 22? 23?

He'd broken the top 10 of the hero bracket before he'd hit 20. That was Hawks's first claim to fame. Someone that young shouldn't have that much weight on their shoulders. Not when Hawks had such a free spirit.

It made Aizawa's heart ache, that look of uncertainty Hawks was giving him. It was a stark reminder that he knew almost nothing about Hawks's background. Hell, nobody did. There was as little intel on Hawks as there had been on Dabi.

"Are you okay?" Aizawa pressed gently.

Hawks let the smallest of smiles come to his face as he relaxed a fraction of an inch.

"Yeah," he answered, voice slightly less guarded. "Yeah, I mean I'm a bit sore, but all in all a hell of a lot better than before."

Aizawa nodded. And then another silence fell between them.

Why is this so difficult? Aizawa thought with frustration. I usually know how to approach these situations.

It was then that he realized he'd never had many conversations with Hawks beyond talking about Dabi and Eri. It was easier talking to Dabi or talking to Shoto because he'd allowed himself to get to know them. All he and Hawks had been up until this point was hero partners.

That would have to change.

Aizawa couldn't sit back with the words from that recording playing on repeat in his mind. Not when there was the all-too-real possibility that the Commission was abusing the kind-hearted, selfless, and caring kid in front of him.

And while he didn't want to force Hawks to talk if he wasn't ready, he needed to know what was going on in order to help. Had life cursed him to always learn too late when people needed help? First Eri, then Dabi, then Shoto, and now Hawks?