Frozen Wings

Chapter 49

Hawks' POV

I flew alongside Winter as Todoroki sat atop her shoulder blades, the three of us heading to visit his mother. Winter had told me his mother was eager for me to visit alongside Winter and her son, so I said yes. If I could make one person smile, that was enough for the day.

"So, Storms, how many people can you carry on your back in this form?" Todoroki asked.

"Well, I'm limited because of my speed and wing position here. I can carry one heavyset person, two average weighted adults, or two teens with one of them holding something in their lap. But that's it. In my western ice dragon form I can carry... I don't even know, I've never tested my limits." She said.

"You have an ice dragon form?" I asked.

"It's my most dangerous and powerful form. I will only use it against an opponent that size and strength. I don't even know the full potential that form possesses. It was meant to be the most secret part of my superweapon mutations. The thing that no one could stop. So... I don't want to try it out because I could hurt y'all, or any civilians nearby. Anyways though, from the size of that form, I'd easily be able to carry a lot of people." Winter explained.

Suddenly, she swooped downwards, landing in front of a building. I carefully dropped down as well. Winter changed into her human form, walking alongside Todoroki as I followed closely behind. We entered, spoke to the lady at the front desk, and headed back down a hall. After a knocking at a door, followed by a 'come in', we entered. I hung back as the door shut, staying right by it, so I didn't get in the way.

"You came back!" Todoroki's mother smiled happily, getting up to give Winter and her son a hug.

"And... you really brought him?" She looked at me.

"I did. I don't break promises." Winter dipped her head respectfully.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Hawks!" She said.

"Likewise, Miss..."

"Call me Rei. I don't like my surname." Her tone changed a little.

"Of course. You're welcome to call me Takami then." I smiled.

Everyone made light chat for a long while, enjoying the visit. Suddenly, Winter's ears perked up. She seemed curious about something.

"Hey, boys, is it alright if I speak to Rei alone for just a second?" She said. Todoroki nodded. I shrugged, following the kid outside.

"You trust Winter to be alone?" I asked.

"I do. She's like a second mother to me. You know just as well as I do she wouldn't do anything." He had a gentle smile on his face.

"Yeah. I know."

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Storms' POV

"Before I say anything else, I want to explain part of my Quirk. Since Shapeshifter allows me to have a lot of animal abilities in my human form, I can sense people's emotions, feelings, and health, just like a pet can. That leads me to what I wanted to say. Rei... you're in a healthy mental state right now. Even more so than I am. So... why do you choose to stay here?" I tilted my head to the side curiously.

She was silent before responding. "Because here is the only place he can't be. And... I want to know what happened to my son." Rei hung her head guiltily.

"I see. Well... what if... what do you think about me getting you divorced? You don't have to do anything besides sign a single sheet of paper. Then, if you'd like, I have somewhere you can live that's just as safe and private as here." I said. Her eyes seemed to glow as I said that.

"B-But how? Divorces don't work like that." She frowned.

"Put simply I have a lot of privileges the rest of the world doesn't. If I want someone out of prison, they're out. If I want to take over a business, I can take over a business. This won't hurt anyone and won't be anything more than a moment's worth of a court's time. I'll have them notarize the form and you'll no longer be married. I can make sure your family still has whatever money they need." I said.

"And where is this place that's safe?"

"UA has a dorm building for the teachers, but since a lot of us live in the main building, there's a lot of empty rooms in the dorm building. They're pretty big rooms too, so you've got lots of space to decorate it however you like. And people can only get onto UA property if they have a clearance card saying they work there, are a student there or are a visitor with a staff member guiding them the whole time. You'd be completely safe." I assured.

Rei was silent. She seemed to be genuinely thinking about the offer.

"What about my son?" Her voice cracked as she asked this.

She must be talking about Touya. Todoroki said that he disappeared after he caught himself in a building he accidentally blew up... it was burnt to the ground, but Touya was nowhere to be found. It broke Rei even more.

I bit the inside of my cheek, my sharp teeth immediately breaking the skin and drawing blood. The iron tang salted my tongue.

"I'll help you find him. I don't think he's dead, from what Shoto has said to me about him, he was a smart boy. He probably found a way out but couldn't get back home. So what do you say. Deal?"

I held out my hand. She slowly reached out, grasping mine in her own.

"Deal."

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"Welcome to UA, Rei. The papers were notarized so you're free to do anything you'd like." I grinned. Todoroki looked at me happily, seeing his mother look so relaxed.

"Thank you, Winter." She softly laughed.

"Of course. If you need anything I'm usually walking around the property, so you can either spot me that way, or go upstairs to the top floor of UA. You've got clearance to all of UA's property so you can come in my room if you need." I said.

Todoroki led his mother to the teachers' dorms, going inside. I stretched, purring.

"You've done well, Kitty." Keigo walked up to me. I looked at him. "Thank you, Songbird." I dipped my head respectfully. His eyes lit up at the nickname.

"Oh! That reminds me. How... how are you going to find Touya?" My boyfriend asked.

"Well... I have my ways."