Frozen Wings

Chapter 43

Aizawa's POV

"From what I can tell Hawks has some unnatural thing living inside him. It's using his body as a host, but it's killing him in the process of trying to adapt to a new form. The thing will either die off if the host dies, or move to another host and leave the original to die." Recovery Girl said.

"Like Venom from the Marvel series?" Hizashi asked.

"I can't say I know what that is, but if it reminds you of it, then yes." She shrugged.

"Is there anything we can do?" I asked. Storms refused to come down here. She wanted the news relayed to her since she wasn't allowed to visit Takami. I understood how she felt. Instead, she was trying to bury herself with work, training the students.

"I'm afraid not. I don't think even Frostbite's ice, regardless of how she developed it, could do anything. This fight is up to Hawks. He's on his own here. The outcome looks grim right now. I suggest... I... I suggest you mentally prepare yourself for the worst. I'll do everything I can. I promise." Recovery Girl said. I could tell she felt guilty.

"What exactly is that thing doing to him?" I asked.

"It's draining his energy to start with. It's breaking down the tissues in his body and absorbing the nutrients he's been intaking. Right now the only tissues being broken down are muscles in his legs and arms, but it will most likely move to other muscles too, including his stomach, throat and lungs. His bones are becoming fragile, and at the rate will become brittle and break, but he won't be strong enough to have them heal. Right now it's collapsing his lungs, then releasing it. He's already weak since the thing has been breaking down the muscle tissues in his arms and legs, which means he's close to the next level of destroying his body. I know that Frostbite and I both thought he was weak because he was starving himself or just not eating enough at least, but that's not what this is at all... I wish I had noticed sooner." She said.

"Recovery Girl please don't blame yourself. No one could have known." Hizashi said.

"Do you know where he could have gotten this from?" I asked.

"It seems to have a strange decomposed carcass DNA makeup. As well as some acidic components." I knew exactly what it was at that moment.

"Recovery Girl, can you check for the same thing in Dabi's body, as well as Storms?" I questioned. She nodded.

"Bring them down here whenever they're free. Preferably sooner, in case they have this too." She said.

"Thank you. Will do.

———————

"Good news Storms, Dabi. Neither of you have this virus." I said, walking outside. Storms was out back of UA, tearing up trees with her claws in her winged snow leopard form. Dabi was keeping an eye on her for me.

Kinda funny how the roles got reversed.

I thought about the situation. But I knew even people as tough as Storms had their weak spots.

"Well that's just fricking LOVELY! DAMN IT, WHY CAN'T I HAVE IT? I'LL GO SUCK THE SHIT OUT OF HIM!" Storms snarled, fur spiked up along her spine and shoulders.

"Storms, please! Calm down! Right now we need you as focused as possible, alright?" I said. She cared her teeth at me, her gums showing.

"I know you're pissed off right now, I am too! Takami is my friend too! But you can't even try to help him if you're blinded by rage! Remember what you always tell the students? Fight by following your heart and the law. If you let your emotions cloud your judgement it will blind you with rage and you'll lose the battle. That's it, right? Well, the same concept can be applied here! Takami needs you right now, but if you're just attacking things left and right and trying to claw people, you can't do anything! He needs you to focus and take care of him." I said. Storms looked at me for a moment. I could tell she was debating on either killing me or listening. Luckily she chose the latter.

"You're right. I can't be acting like this." She shook her head.

"I know you're suffering right now. I'm sorry to ask you to calm down, I know it feels really unfair. But in the end it'll be better for you. Trust me." I gave her a thoughtful smile. She closed her eyes, sighing, sitting down.

"It's alright. I believe you. I just... I think I need some time to calm down." Storms laid down in the grass, resting her head on her paws.

"Do you want to be alone right now or would you like company?" I offered.

"I don't care either way. If you're not busy you're welcome to stay, but if you have something to do don't feel obligated to keep me company." She said, lowering her voice as she tried to relax.

"I have to go deal with the students right now but I'll be back in about an hour or two." I said.

"I can stay." Dabi said. I nodded at him. He politely dipped his head in response, laying out on his back in the grass, hands behind his head. I turned away, going around the front of the building.

"Shota! There you are! Everything okay? You look a little upset." Hizashi trotted over to me, exiting the building.

"I'm alright. Just... frustrated that I can't do anything to ease either Storms or Takami's suffering." I shrugged, putting my hands in my pockets.

"I am too. Unfortunately we can't do anything other than be there for them right now. And that's what's important." He pulled my left hand out of my pocket so he could hold it in his right hand.

"Someone's going to see-"

"Right now it doesn't matter. I don't want you slipping into a dark place before I can get to you, so I'm going to hold your hand. I know you need it though you'd never admit it." Hizashi cut me off.

I sighed. He was right. I did need this.

"Thank you." I said.

"Of course. I'd do anything for you. I mean, you are my boyfriend after all!" Hizashi laughed. I loved it when he laughed.

"You know I love you, right?" He caught my eye.

"I do. And I love you too. I think... could we just go hang out alone for a while, after I check on the students?" I asked.

"Of course! I'll wait here." He let go of my hand. I quickly checked on them, they were all fine, heading back to the main building. Hizashi and I went upstairs to his room. I always felt more comfortable there. It smelled like him and it was cozy compared to my empty room. I had taken a shower before I went to see Storms so I didn't need to take another one before getting in bed for the night. I had also put on a fresh outfit so there wasn't any need for me to change. After a few minutes my boyfriend finished his shower, hair down, and changed into a sleep outfit before coming and sitting down with me. He got under the covers, scooting close to me so we were both in he middle of the bed. He helped set up pillows behind our backs so we were propped up to watch a movie. Hizashi put on my favorite movie, then wrapped his arm around my shoulders, drawing me closer. I leaned into him, immediately relaxing. I hated to admit it, much like Storms did, but I needed someone to rely on, especially right now.

"Shota why're you crying?" Hizashi's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I hadn't even realized I was crying.

"I... I just... feel guilty. I know Storms needs someone to support her right now, and she doesn't have one right now. I have you, but she doesn't have that. And... I'm up here being comforted..."

"Sho, you can't feel guilty about that. We have to remember that anyone we care about could be in the position Takami is in right now, just as fast. The best we can do is take care of ourselves so we can take care of Storms as best as we possibly can." He said, rubbing my shoulder.

"You're right. I'm sorry." I apologized.

"It's alright. Just focus on the movie, okay? You love this movie!" I smiled faintly, allowing him to kiss my cheek.

"Yeah. I do love this movie. Thank you."

"Anytime, Shota."