Flying Free: My Hero Evolution Wings of Change (X-Men/My hero crossover)

Chapter 23: Harsh Truth

"Promise?" Hawks asks, staring at Jean.

A smile crosses Jean's lips along with a laugh.  "Yes, Hawks, I promise, but it won't be easy and it will take time."

"Yeah, yeah, you seem to forget that I'm a professional. A 2nd ranked hero. Number one with my fans thank you very much. There nothing this bird can't do and I'll be able-"

"-Able to hold still so I don't have to keep changing these wrappings?"

Hawks glances towards the door to see Hank walking into the room. The beast-man smiles and waves.

Hawks puffs out his cheeks and huffs, crossing his arms over his chest. Everyone in the room laughs at the pro hero's reaction.

"Well, I think we better leave these guys to it, then. What do you say, Jean?" Professor X asks, gesturing to the door.

"Yes, that's a good idea, we don't want Hawks to keep reopening his wounds on our account." Jean teases as they head towards the door. "Thanks for taking care of him, Hank. I'll come back tomorrow."

"I'm glad to see your up and more coherent," Hank says, shifting the glasses on his face while gathering medical supplies.

"Are you impressed with how quickly I'm healing. I'm one tough bird, right?!"  Hawks smiles at the blue-beast-man.

Hank sets the supplies on the bed stand and begins undressing Hawks' wounds.

"Not really. If I didn't know any better, I would think you are trying to make this your permanent nest the way you keep self-sabotaging with your stubbornness."

Hawks shifts to the end of the bed, draping his legs over the side. "Why is everyone up in my feathers today?"

"We're not all 'up in your feathers.' We care about you and are sick of seeing you hurt. For as alert as you are, you really are quite naive." Hank responds, keeping his eyes fixed on the removal of Hawks' bandages, anxious to see what lies beneath them.

Hawks, taken off guard by Hank's bluntness, follows Hank's intense stare down to Hawks' now bare wounds on his arms. Hawks' heart sinks. If this is what my arms look like, what does the rest of me look like?

Hank let's out a long sigh as he removes the bandages from Hawks' backs. Hawks looks over at the blood soaked dressing. "Uhhh, how's everything looking back there?" Hawks asks nervously.

Hank, starring at Hawks' raw and blistered back, sighs. "You're healing more slowly than I was hoping. Your wings are healing and there are signs of feather regrowth, but it's not looking great. What's your pain level?"

"OW!" Hawks yelps as Hank's hand glazes over his raw back. "I guess an eight unless you pull that asshole move again! Why did you do that?"

"I did it because I'm trying to help you. I wasn't trying hurt you Hawks."

Hawks drops his head just in time to see a damaged feather, freshly plucked from his back, floating to the ground, as burned, ruffled and lifeless as the hope inside him.

"Sorry, Hank. I didn't mean to overreact."

"I know you're frustrated, Hawks. We all are. We want you healed just as badly as you want to be healed. I mean, jeez, look at how many visitors you have gotten in just the four days you've been awake! I've never seen anyone get this many visitors."

Hawks, sighs "yeah, I've had a lot of company, but I miss actually being with them." Hank glances up meeting the injured hero's gaze, noticing a regained light in Hawks' eyes.

"I've just never had this kind of care before, it's going to take some getting used to."

"Change of pace is good," Hank says, setting the cloth aside and grabbing the ointment to put on hawks' blistered arms, "whether it's your choice or not. Everyone needs a change every once in awhile."