Voodoo Doll [BNHA]

Chapter Eight

Hawks disappeared for a short period of time after getting Doll and Endeavor to the hospital. Before Endeavor finally fell into unconsciousness from the severity of his injuries, he made sure to warn Hawks and the Hospital staff not to use any healing quirks on Doll.

Doll sat alone in a hospital room. She'd been seen by a few nurses and doctors. They'd cut off all her bandages, cleaned her up and gave her a few stitches before taking their leave. Once her bandages were off the medical staff, like everyone else seemed wary of her and shied away from her. She kept her head down so as not to freak anyone out with her eyes. The doctor in charge told her to stay in bed and rest since her quirk would take care of her injuries once she had some time to rest and recharge.

Anxiously she waited for any news about her mentor, Endeavor was in surgery, his injuries were bad. Doll mentally kicked herself, if she were stronger, she could have had enough strength left to absorb his injuries for him, but she wouldn't be able to use her quirk again for at least a week.

Hawks returned to the hospital after a quick chat with Dabi. He was frustrated and feeling guilt ridden. Things weren't supposed to go like this. The Nomu attack wasn't supposed to happen on their first day in town, it was supposed to be the next day at a different, less populated location. The League hadn't been completely honest with him, that Nomu was much stronger than anything they'd ever used before. Dabi seemed irked that he'd chosen Endeavor as his 'random strong guy' and that his 'troublesome' sidekick had accompanied him. Hawks was glad she'd been there, if she hadn't been, he feared there would have been casualties.

He made his way to Doll's room and was surprised to see her awake and sitting atop her hospital bed as if she'd been contemplating leaving. His gaze was drawn to the various symbols burned, etched and tattooed into her skin, adorning her arms and legs. She jumped at the sound of the door opening and hurriedly bowed her head covering her face with her long obsidian hair.

"Shouldn't you be resting?" He mused and smiled as she jumped once more and looked to him with wide cloudy white eyes.

A faint splash of red tinged her cheeks and she turned her head away from him. After a moment she straightened up and glanced in his direction as if she'd found her resolve to speak up. Her cloudy white eyes were filled with determination. "I have a question for you."

"What a coincidence, I have one for you too." Hawks smiled lazily and stepped into her room, "me first, scoot over."

Doll looked to him curiously and scooted to one side of the bed. Hawks took a seat beside her. "Why do you get to go first?" She frowned.

"I called dibs." He shrugged causing a small smile to twist onto her lips.

"Fine." She caved.

There was a quick knock at the door as if whoever had knocked didn't really want to be there. The door opened and a nurse with a clipboard poked her head through the door. "Fumeiyo?"

Hawks looked to the creepy girl at his side curiously as she flinched at the name, it meant disgrace. Was that her real name? Doll shrank into herself and slowly shook her head. "It's Doll..."

"Oh...right...sorry." The nurse blanched nervously clearly uncomfortable being in the eerie girl's presence. "I was told to check on you." She blurted before realizing her mistake and cringed, "ah...I mean...is everything okay?"

Doll nodded without even looking at the nurse. "I'm fine...how is Endeavor?"

"He just got out of surgery. Everything went well we think he'll be awake in a few hours; you can see him then." The nurse replied still nervous about the creepy girl.

"...thanks..." Doll replied quietly and the nurse took that as her cue to leave and escaped.

Hawks frowned.

"What was your question?" Doll's voice was whisper soft as she fought back tears, she hated being unbandaged outside of the agency, she hated people being able to see her.

Hawks wanted to ask if she was alright but had a feeling she wouldn't answer honestly. "Earlier...what were you thinking when you were looking out the window?"

Doll looked up and met his gaze, a single bloody tear slipped down her cheek, "what?"

"Before all the insanity happened...you were looking out the window...what were you thinking?" He pondered.

"I was wondering if hugs were nice." Her voice softened even more and he had to strain to hear her.

"Huh?" That was one of the saddest things he'd ever heard.

"There were people hugging outside...they all smiled after, so I was wondering if hugs were nice..." She responded so sincerely he felt like someone punched him in the gut.

He recovered after a moment and smiled, "you tell me." He wrapped her in his arms, holding her close.

Doll froze up as she was swept into a strong embrace. She felt a warm tingling sensation starting in her core that soon spread to every inch of her filling her with warmth and a strange tickly giddy feeling. Her cheeks reddened and too soon, it was over.

Hawks looked to her with a smile as he noticed how red her face had become, "well?"

Doll covered her blushing face with her hands and hid behind her hair. "...it was nice..."

Hawks chuckled, "not a lot of hugging at The Endeavor Agency?"

"No."

"That's a shame." Hawks teased her.

Doll tilted her head curiously to the side, "should there be?"

Hawks smiled, "maybe you should give it a try."

Doll looked pensive as she pondered his words and Hawks tried to imagine the look on Endeavor's face when Doll hugged him out of the blue at the office. It was amusing enough he choked on a laugh.

He straightened himself up and smiled in her direction, "what was your question?"

Doll composed herself enough so she could look at him to gauge his reaction. "Have you met Dabi before?"

Hawks forced himself not to react and laughed it off a little, "that's an interesting question, why would you think that?"

Doll frowned, "it seemed like you recognized him."

"Well his face has been on the news." Hawks pointed. He noticed her lips pull into a frown.

"It's odd." She said in her wispy voice.

"What is?"

"You still haven't actually answered the question." She pointed.

Hawks slowly got up, he looked composed but Doll was starting to second guess it. He offered her a somewhat sad strained smile, "you should try to get some rest."

"Hawks?" Doll stopped him as he turned to leave. He paused at the door and turned to her. "I know a lot of people think Endeavor is pretty mean and scary...but he's a really great person to have on your side...he can help, if you need it..." She didn't completely understand his situation but she had a feeling he was stuck between a rock and a hard place and didn't see a way out. "...and I'll help too..."

Hawks smiled, "if I ever need help, you two are at the top of my list."