•Manipulation• [BNHA × Male!OC]

Chapter 135: Partners in Crime - Nightcore Ver.

It was later that day that Hawks received a call while flying over Kyushu.

"Hawks," Dabi's voice rang low over the phone.

"It was unfortunate what happened the other day..."

Hawks sighed, "I thought so too."

"Most of the problems could have been avoided if you just gave me a heads-up though."

Scenes from the fight with the high-end Nomu played back in the bird-themed hero's head

The damage that had occurred had been grossly unnecessary. 

He frowned.

"I get that plans change, but I would have liked to deal with things more efficiently."

Dabi scoffed.

"You're talking too much. You can't trace this call ya know?"

The accent threw Hawks for a loop.

'You're spending too much time with Ryo,' he almost wanted to say.

And Dabi had been waiting for it.

It was bait, laid in a lazy trap.

Something meant to expose both him and his accomplice.

As far as the public knew, the only relationship that Ryo and Hawks had was one of two things.

The first? He rescued the boy two years ago.

The second was that Ryo had been under his agency as an intern.

He was grasping at straws here if he was fishing for a deeper connection based on such meagre information.

So this meant something.

Meant that it likely wouldn't be long before he'd be let into the league.

And there, he'd finally be able to fulfil his role as a guardian. 

To protect Ryo.

To allow him to enjoy what was left of his youth.

"Give me a break," he laughed, folding in his wings as he came in for a landing. 

"You've got to have more faith in me than that."

That's right, after this mission was over, Hawks would finally have accomplished what he set out to do all those years ago.

'A world where heroes have too much spare time on their hands...'

"This is your last chance," Dabi murmured over the phone.

Those were the words Hawks was expecting.

"You'll get to prove your usefulness. Not just to the League of Villains, but the entire enti-establishment cause."

"Make sure its someone other than the No. 1 hero this time," he added in a poisonous tone.

______________________________________

By the time Hawks entered the Hero Public Safety Commission meeting room, Ryo was already there, clad in his hero attire no less.

Hawks had so much to discuss with the boy, but it appeared they'd have to wait.

"Dabi still doesn't trust me," he began, taking off his visor as he spoke.

"My guess is someone's observing me and my conversations"

He glanced over at the Madam President who had her chin in her hand.

That woman had suspected Ryo of being a double-agent for the longest time that they'd even kept Hawk's infiltration of the villain league a secret, cutting all contact between Hawks and his ward for weeks to ensure nothing would be leaked.