𝑺𝑾𝑰𝑴 | ᴰᵃᵇⁱʰᵃʷᵏˢ

Location drop, now

Sunshine blinding him through the windows, air conditioner on full power and of course, socks off.

Hawks was melting in the heat of his apartment and he wished he could just go back to work, which was surprising for his usual lazy self. But in this heat it was no wonder anymore.

Should I go and be a brat to Mirko while she's working? Might as well see what the fun is all about.

With a plan in mind, nothing but his swimming bag and a few dollars in his pocket, he just left his apartment and went straight for the bus stop. Waiting like the idiot he was because he never bothered to get a drivers license.

"Hey bird man, why taking the bus?" Oh god, I'm so sick of people.

He wished he wouldn't have to turn around and speak to this random but of course, that would be rude. So he turns eventually, surprised to see a blonde teenager in a hero costume.

Hawks furrowed his brows, unsure if he should take back the plan of cussing him out. "I'm just a citizen, do I look like I want to get fined kid?"

"Shut up, I know Endeavor gave you a card. Just do the damn test and use those wings for something," and just like that, a sly smile creeped up on the lifeguards face. He lowers his voice, unlike the hero trainee. "Listen kid, if I wanted to be a rotten hero like your fat ass and that bitch Endeavor, I would have done it a long time ago."

For one moment, the heros face goes blank. So empty Hawks couldn't tell if he was stunned or silently contemplating to commit murder.

The hero, who goes by Katsuki Bakugou of course, yells out in anger. Before suddenly falling dead silent one more time. Eyes darting behind Hawks.

"He's right behind me, isn't he?"

"You bet I am, bird guy. How come you didn't sense me standing behind you when your cv says you can?" unluckily, it was really Endeavors voice. All the hairs on Hawks body stood up in fear, an obvious sign he was caught off guard in the worst moment.

He turns on his heels, hands going up in defense, "Hey firecracker, you know I never meant that right?" "Shut it, I asked you a question."

Right, he asked about the CV.

But how in heavens did Endeavor get a hold of his job application when he never applied to his agency? Curiosity got the better of him eventually and he now turned to face the number one directly, wings pressed to his back in unease.

He mumbled "You just caught me off guard, but let me also ask you something." The strawberry blonde man straightened up, now serious.

"How do you know what's written in my CV, those are sensitive documents you never should have seen." Surely, he started off slow. Not accusing him of theft or stalking yet. Now it was Endeavors turn to blink in surprise. He asked, "You don't know?" following it up with "I'm the sponsor of the pool you work at, I have permission for any document and information I want."

Now it finally clicked, every puzzle piece fell into place.

Endeavor was the sponsor and who was the sponsors kid? Right Dabi. That pain in the butt.

"So you're telling me I have you, and your son up my ass? Why don't you just leave me be and do my relaxing lifeguarding job, I just want to have something easy to do." Hawks retorted, still keeping his voice down. He didn't want to be seen yelling at the number one hero of course. 

Endeavors expression remained as unreadable as ever, though his eyes narrowed slightly at Hawks words. The tall hero loomed over him and for a brief second, Hawks felt like a child caught talking back to a strict parent. He let out a slow breath, knowing he had to choose his next words carefully. He had never been great at keeping his mouth shut, but with Endeavor glaring at him like this, he had to be smart about it.

"I get it" Hawks added, trying to defuse the situation, "you've got a reputation to uphold and I'm just the lifeguard who happens to have a good quirk." He shrugged nonchalantly, though his wings twitched in slight irritation. "But c'mon, I'm not exactly your typical hero material. I'm just trying to keep my head down, avoid-"

"Exactly" Endeavor cut in, voice sharp. "You're not hero material." The words landed like a blow, but Hawks barely flinched. He just blinked in confusion, answering "Uh, thanks?" 

After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence he continued, "At least we can agree on that, don't you think?" He thought that was the end of the conversation for now, but Endeavor did release the blonde yet. 

"You're still wasting potential. You don't need to be a full-blown hero. But with your skills, even in lifeguarding, you could do a hell of a lot more than being a slacker. People respect you, people watch you."  Honestly, Hawks had no idea what Endeavor was trying to reach with this overemotional motivational speech. 

Make him uncomfortable perhaps? Then he was going into the right direction.

Hawks groaned at the sheer cringe overcoming him. "Yeah, yeah" He muttered, feeling the weight of Endeavors stare crash him down into the cement of the sidewalk. "but maybe I'm not looking to be succesfull like you. This whole hero lifestyle?" 

He gave a sarcastic grin. "It's exhausting."

Bakugou, who had been standing silently behind them during the exchange, scoffed and finally cut in. "He's right. You're not cut out for the real hero work if all you do is complain about it." Again, the lifeguard just deadpanned, wondering if these people were even listening to what he was saying. 

"Aren't you the one who almost threw a fit because I called you fat?"

"That's not the point!" Bakugou snapped, fists clenched at his sides as his usual anger showed. "You talk big for someone hiding behind a cap and a pool chair. If I had your quirk, I'd be at the top in no time, not wasting my time babysitting a pool!"

That right there, was probably the first time someone got him thinking of his own potential, of what could become of him. Maybe if he finally reached out, tried grabbing this chance, yes maybe then he could- 

No, he would never. He could never.

Who wants to voluntarily live in fame and filth every day?

Endeavors stern expression didn't falter, altough he could tell the blonde was going through an internal conflict right now. "We didn't come here to lecture you. We came here to give you an opportunity."

At the word oppurtunity, Hawks rolled his eyes. Like on cue, his bus finally drove into the street, slowly approaching the station. With all his physical strength he pushed past the flame hero and went to where it would eventually stop. He waved at the two, who were giving him both the same look of dissaprovement. Almost unbelievable they aren't father and son.

"Could you get your son off my back, would ya?" That was the last thing he said before getting into the bus, finally on his way to go and see Mirko. He could only hope and pray these idiots would leave him alone now.

But some their words did not go unheard.

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Published 05.10.24/ 1200 words

Damn, I'm sorry uploading took so long. Im currently a wreck financially, physically and emotionally.