The Hellish Todorokis

Chapter 9

"Good." Touya turns and storms inside, leaving Hawks staring at the closed door. In some ways, he had anticipated this reaction. Obviously Touya knew he was investigating his brother's disappearance, and Hawks had a hunch that knowledge had led to his breakdown the other night. It had to be at least part of the reason. He had left Touya alone after that, not wanting to push the issue and make matters worse.

Except everything was different now, because the man he couldn't get out of his head was the man he was supposed to be hunting down. The boy he was trying to find was terrified of being found. He knew he had a job to do, that he should march into the flower shop and take Touya into custody right then and there, but he couldn't get himself to move. Instead, he was frozen in place, staring at the chipped paint of the side entrance door, the coffee cup marked 'Touya' growing cold at his feet.

That morning, he had been prepared to let Touya know he knew his identity, which is why he asked the barista to write his real name on the cup. He had been prepared to have that hard conversation, to ask Touya to trust him. He half suspected he'd be burned in the process, literally, but it'd be worth it for a chance to make things right. To help him.

But Touya didn't want his help. He didn't want him . He said it himself before leaving him behind in that alleyway. So what was he supposed to do now, with the knowledge he had burning a hole inside him?

The investigation had already been slowly losing traction over the past couple months, and the media had all but abandoned the story. It was the way their world worked. There was always a new fight, new villain, new story to take the front page. Eraserhead, on the other hand, seemed as determined as ever.

He had shown up to the agency bright and early on Sunday morning, black coffee in hand, and went straight to work, diving through file after file. Every now and then, Hawks could hear him mumbling as he worked, brows furrowed and his mouth dipped in a frown. He didn't seem to be too happy about whatever he was reading.

His phone rings in his pocket, startling him. He breaks his staring contest with the flower shop's door and looks down at the caller ID. Speak of the devil. He presses the button on his earpiece to answer the call.

"Heyo Eraserhead! What's up?" He tries to force the cheerfulness into his voice, but it sounds dull, hollow to his ears. If the hero could tell something was off, he didn't say anything.

"When will you be in? We need to talk. I think I found something."

"Oh yeah?" Hawks chuckles nervously. "What's that?"

"We'll talk when you get here. Don't want to say anything over the phone."

Hawks brings a hand up to stroke the back of his neck. "Right. I'll head in now." He hangs up and shoves the phone into his pocket, glancing one last time at the door.

What could Aizawa possibly know that couldn't be talked about over the phone? Did he figure out that Touya is alive? Did he think he found Touya? Hawks was pretty sure Aizawa was a good guy, and wouldn't jump the gun without hearing the Todoroki brother's stories, but he still felt protective, cautious even.

He had to feel out the situation, see what Aizawa thought he knew, and make sure Touya was protected. Even if he didn't want his help, he was going to get it. He would prove that he cared about him, that he wasn't just trying to save him like Touya thought. He could be someone Touya could count on. Failing him wasn't an option.

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Contrary to popular belief, there were very few things that actually bothered Shota Aizawa. He blamed it on Hizashi. The loud blond had catapulted into his life during their first year at U.A., and Shota had no choice but to get used to his particular brand of annoying. The damn fool's overwhelming personality was endearing in a way, not that Shota would ever admit to thinking that. But no matter who was at fault, he could really withstand anything. At least, most things.