Susanne's P.O.V
"He was showing off while I was still in the academy. The idiot tried to jump-scare me before the preliminary licensing examination! Except with who I grew up with, I ended up giving him a busted lip. I felt so bad after the exam when we were both getting fixed up" Ivory let out a laugh at the end of her story. Max had been asking her about her time in Japan, although he had an odd tone of voice whenever he mentioned her father.
Hawks had been in almost every story Ivory had told that happened after she was 16. Max had made some snide comment about Hawks being a showoff when he had seen him on the news, something about a cocky statement from an interview. Ivory had taken it in stride, immediately delving into the story of their first interaction.
I was desperate for a chance to talk to Ivory alone; I hadn't seen her since she put me in the closet during the attack, and I needed her to know what Julianna had been saying about her. My Aunt had sworn me to secrecy after the accident and made me promise never to mention what happened to anyone, not even my mother or Max.
As the night went on, Max slowly started to calm down around her, and I managed to ask her to talk away from the boys while Max was in the bathroom. Ivory refused to leave Izuku behind at the table alone, but I couldn't risk Max asking questions so with a deep breath I looked at my older cousin.
"I remember what you did during the attack." I watched her fork clatter on the plate as she froze. There was most certainly a better way for me to approach this topic.
"I... I wanted to thank you. Aunt Julianna left us alone when he came to the house but you made sure I never got hurt." My eyes never left hers as I spoke, but I could see Izuku appear shocked beside her.
"She's banned any mention of the incident, even told Grandfather that she had been the one to stop him. But I know who it was, why it happened, and what HE said to you." My eyes burned with tears as I turned to her brother.
"Mai saved me 14 years ago; she stood in front of where I was despite having no quirk and risked her life to save mine. M - " I swallowed harshly as I looked at Ivory again. " - Max doesn't know what really happened. But I do, I remember how scared I felt and how loud everything was... I remember seeing him standing over you in your small bedroom and how pale you were."
Ivory was still looking at me, although it was hard to see through the tears that had built up. I the blob that had been my cousin moved around to my side of the table, her hand resting on my shoulder as I held back hiccups.
"Oh Susie... I'm so sorry you remember all of that. Someone as young as you should have never been put through that." She wiped some tears from my eyes and knelt down to my level.
"But you don't have to thank me; I'm your big cousin. I'm Ivy, of course, I'm gonna stand between you and a bad guy every chance I get" She let out a quiet laugh. "Although I'm sure I've missed a lot of chances while over here. And I know what my mother's thoughts on the incident were, I'm sure she's made herself look amazing to everyone else." Ivory pulled me into a hug.
"The only people I ever wanted to know what happened were you and Maxxie. I'm just so glad to know you're okay, and I mean, look at you! You're going to go so far, Susie. I can't wait to be cheering you on while you win a noble prize or something!" She squeezed me a bit tighter before letting me go again.
"I may be all the way over here - and I won't be moving back to America any time soon - but I will always be rooting for you, and I'll always be cheering Max on while he's kicking but in Texas. I mean, who isn't a fan of Tectonic these days?" I let out a bubbly laugh as she spoke.
"I thought you might have forgotten all about us since you moved here, you have a whole new family." I watched her sigh, my eyes flicking over her head to see Max walking towards me looking confused. He ended up standing just behind Ivory as she spoke.
"Never ever think I've forgotten you guys. You're my family just as much as my Dad and Izuku. I may not have spoken to you or seen you since the attack, but I've worked so hard to keep track of what you've both been up to. I just... I didn't know if the two of you would be able to forgive me for staying in Japan after I finished high school. I was so scared you'd think that I didn't protect you back then as much as I could have. But I am so SO proud of what you and Max have become." It was her turn to get teary at me
Everything seemed to come crashing down around us as Max dropped down to hug Ivory whilst crying. Sobbing into her shoulder on the ground whilst she held my hand. The three of us just sat there for a minute whilst people stared at us.
By the time we had calmed down - and Izuku's Mom had come to pick him up - I was trailing behind a very tipsy Max as we made our way back to the hotel. Ivory's business card sitting in both of our pockets.
Hawk's P.O.V
I had just finished patrol when I saw Ivory swaying slightly on her walk home; a smile stuck on her face. There was a group of guys following after her at a distance, clearly waiting for a chance to strike. It would be easy to just take them out, leave them on the doorstep of the police or knock them unconscious. Something about the circumstance just made me want to make sure Mai made it home safely, so instead of intervening with the men behind her, I found myself landing beside her and matching her step.
"You're looking happy tonight, Mai" She bumped against me with a quiet giggle as I landed. I reached out to catch her as she stumbled over a loose paver. "You've been drinking, Birdy".
"I sure have. I had a fun night, and I didn't need to get Izu home, so I let loose for once. Is that so wrong?" She pouted as she spoke, huffing with her arms crossed like a little kid.
"No, but at least let me walk you home so I know you get there safe. There's been guys following you for blocks now." She let out a single head nod before linking arms with me and walking forward with a purpose. Suddenly she faltered and yawned.
" I forgot the way to my house..." I let out a quiet laugh before turning her towards her street, holding her by the shoulders as we walked towards her house. The men had stopped following the moment I landed, so once we were out of sight, I let go and watched her cheerily bounce between paving stones down the almost empty street.
I had texted Firefly as we neared the house, giving her time to prepare for the very tipsy pro hero I was following. I ended up standing at the doorway with Mai bouncing on the balls of her feet beside me. Keira motioned Mai inside with a sarcastic wave of her hand and stepped aside to let her through. Mai had only taken two steps into the house before turning around and running up to me again, jumping up slightly to kiss me on the cheek in a swift motion.
"Thanks for walking me home, No. 2." She turned away from me once more and drunkenly walked up the stairs to her bedroom.
Kiera followed behind her with a quick glance in my direction, shutting the door as she left. But I stayed standing there... my hand hovering just over where she had kissed my cheek.
YOU ARE READING
Flames (A Hawks X OC story)
Fanfiction"Our quirk is a curse, the universe's sick way of reminding us about our ancestor's failures. It's your responsibility to make amends for those mistakes" Mai Tori knows all about All for One, probably more than her Dad. The only thing she hasn't w...
