Leave Your Mark | Various!BNHA x Reader

74: Flying High

"I can't—I can't do this!" Tokoyami cries out, visibly panicked. "Hawks, I can't do this!"

"Of course you can," Hawks just laughs. "Like they always say, practice makes perfect!"

It's still the first day of your workplace experience, and as promised, Hawks brought the two of you out somewhere you could practice your budding flight abilities. The area is open and windswept; an isolated field on the outskirts of the city, with only a few trees breaking up the skyline. The air is crisp, and every time you inhale, you can feel a rush of energy coursing through you.

It's perfect for training. Wide, exposed, and safe.

Tokoyami, however, doesn't seem nearly as thrilled about the arrangement. Especially not about how Hawks is currently holding him—arms steady around his torso—as he helps him hover a few meters above the ground.

The higher Hawks lifts the both of them, the more Tokoyami squirms in discomfort. You have the urge to tell him that all that wiggling will have the opposite effect of what he intends, but for now, you decide to keep quiet.

"You're doing great, Tokoyami," you call out, flashing him a thumbs-up paired with a big grin. "Like, wow! Look at you go! You're basically flying already!"

"That's not true, and you know it," Tokoyami groans, voice heavy with despair.

Granted, he's not flying on his own, but Hawks insisted that the first step was to become comfortable simply being up in the air. Kind of like starting in the shallow end of a pool before diving in.

And honestly? It looks kind of fun to you.

You can't help but envy Tokoyami just a little. Hawks' arms are around him, after all, keeping him steady, wings flaring wide to balance their weight. You're not sure whether to call it training or an opportunity most people would kill for.

"Alright, we're gonna go a little higher," Hawks says cheerfully, but Tokoyami immediately shakes his head, trembling. His whole body stiffens a moment later, posture locked rigid as a board.

Hawks chuckles, taking the hint. Instead of pushing him further, he lowers them back down, landing smoothly on the ground. The instant they're back on solid earth, Tokoyami practically collapses, knees buckling as he sinks to a crouch.

"It's not good to be a flightless bird, you know," Hawks muses with a teasing grin.

"I'm not even a... ugh, forget it," Tokoyami groans, clutching his head. "I don't feel so good."

The irony isn't lost on you. Tokoyami, of all people, scared of flying. It's kind of adorable, to be honest. Canonically, he's supposed to unlock a flight-based ability with Dark Shadow eventually, so you're sure he'll come around.

Anyway. It's your turn now.

"Are you ready?" Hawks asks, and you smile brightly, nodding with visible eagerness.

"Yep! I'm good to go whenever."

Hawks smiles back, his expression warm and reassuring. Just like he did with Tokoyami, he moves behind you, wrapping his arms securely around your body. His grip is snug, but not uncomfortably tight. He even pauses for a second, gaze flickering to meet yours as if seeking confirmation.

"Alright, let's go," he finally says, and slowly, your feet lift off the ground

You don't really feel nervous at all. Again, it's not the first time you've flown—or floated, at least—so the sensation isn't entirely foreign to you. You're slowly reaching heights that you've never experienced before, though. It's amazing to think that Hawks can have this kind of viewpoint practically any time he chooses to.