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

Chapter 26: Hawks' Advice

Deku races over to help Logan ease the injured hero to the ground. Sighing, Hawks leans against the cool, brick wall. His eyes close, taking in the cool spring air and the light breeze through his hair, happy for the welcome change from the stale and stuffy air from the room he just left.

"So, how's the internship going with Endeavor? Last time I saw ya, you seemed to be improving." Hawks asks, glancing towards Deku.

"Well, yeah. It's great. He is fast, too. Recently, Shoto, Kacchan, and I have been working hard to keep up with him. He also told me to focus on improving Air Force and not to work on my new technique yet."Deku says.

"He's not the number one for nothing. He knows what he's talking about. Improving one skill before tackling the next is important. But man, it makes me wish I would have spent more time with Tokoyami instead of pawning him off to my sidekicks whenever I got my wings tied up. Your whole class is improving quickly, maybe even faster than me."

"Whoa, really?"

"Maybe, I'm still the fastest hero around here. Gonna take a lot of practice to catch up to someone like me. Think you're up for the challenge?"

"Of course! I won't stop improving."

"Glad to hear I've some competition. Next time you see Endeavor tell him 'hi' from me and that I want to catch up. I have a favor to ask of him."

"Sure, I'll let him know."

"Great."

"Feathers?" Logan's voice echos from Hawks' side.

"Aw, is someone feeling left out."

Logan sighs. "Not a chance bub. You want to listen in?" He holds out the headset towards Hawks. "They're a rowdy bunch tonight." He smirks.

"Really?" Hawks perks up, taking the headset com from Logan. "This isn't some kind of prank I am going to regret -"

"Just put them on already, Feathers. Trust me, you won't be disappointed."

Hawks slips the headphones over his ears. Almost like the ones I usually wear. Just doesn't feel right. As soon as they were on, Hawks could hear all the voices coming in at once. He quickly picks out Scott's, Kitty's and Evan's voices.

Hawks looks over at Logan. The man shrugs his shoulders. Hawks gives a confused look before sighing and glancing up at the sky.

"They sound like they could use a hint."

"Well, what would you do?" Logan urged.

"Let's see, I would first take the time to consider my enemy's weak point. For Kurt, his biggest weakness is that he is impatient. I would then consider how I can use the environment to expose his weakness and capitalize on my strengths. In this situation, instead of chasing him, I would perch somewhere and wait for him to come to me. The key is outsmarting your prey and let them think they are winning. Keep them guessing. But never, ever chase."

*-Hawks?!* Both Kitty and Evan shouts at once.

*Wait you mean the guy with wings?* Jubilee asks

*I meet him earlier.* Iceman says

*Really, I want meet him..* Multiple adds

*What is he doing here?* asks Cannonball

Hawks flinches as the voices echo through the microphone. "Wait! They can hear me?! I thought you said it was on mute Logan!" The gruff man gave him half smug smile.

Hawks, glaring back at Logan, speaks back into the microphone. "Yeah, it's me." Hawks smirks at Logan. "This is war." He says playfully.

Chatter erupts through the microphone as the recruits devise their new plan under Hawks' advice. Hawks pulls off his headset and returns it to Logan, and the two sit together to watch the recruits in action.

The whole area falls silent as the recruits take their "perching" places. Moments later, Kurt appears.

"Geez, we're going to be doing this all night. These recruits aren't even close." Kurt bellows. Before he can teleport away, however, Kitty and her team surrounds him.

"Not so fast, you blue-furred monkey. Consider yourself caught." She beams.

The rest of the recruits and leaders emerge from their hiding places emphatically. Celebratory eruptions echo through the air that was silent minutes prior.

"That was so coool!"

"How did you know we were going about it wrong?"

"Who taught you to think like that?"

"Why are you called Hawks?"

Hawks blinks in surprise as questions are fired more quickly than he could process.

"Enough," Scott buts in. "One at a time." Hawks gives Scott a grateful smile before turning to the recruits staring right back at him in wonder.

"If you don't mind me asking, what are doing out here Hawks, and how did you get out here?" Scott ask.

Hawks glances over at Scott with a smile. "Well, I wanted to get some fresh air, see the night sky and relax. Logan found me struggling to walk down the hall and graciously helped me. Honestly, I think he just needed an extra pair of hands with his training.— I mean, Logan, you could have just asked, but what fun would that have been?" Hawks smirks at Logan, then whispers in his ear. "This. Is. War."

Logan chuckles back, shaking his head. It feels good to see Hawks a little more back to normal.

"So, like, you're up and walking?!" Kitty asks.

"A little... but Hank doesn't want me pushing it."

"Excuse me, but can someone please explain what's happening?" Asks Magma . "I'm not trying to be rude but..."

Hawks nervously plucks at the grass, shifting in place. Keeping his eyes peeled to the ground as if eye contact would force the truth, Hawks begins wishing he could return to the four walls he had been so desperate to leave. What do I tell them? I really don't-

Just then a hand touches Hawks'
shoulder. He looks up at see Logan at his side. Giving Hawks a reinsuring smile, he whispers to Hawks, "I'm a lover, not a fighter. The last thing you need is a war, my friend." Logan then turns to address the recruits.

"There was an incident with a villain a little over a week ago. Hawks was hurt pretty badly, so he'll be staying here with us as he recovers." Murmurs from the worried recruits soon follows.

"Th-thanks Logan," Hawks says with a grateful smile.

"You're welcome, Feathers. Things like that aren't easy to talk about. Especially if you went through it." Logan says

*************

Hawks watches joyfully as the recruits, Deku, Kitty, Scott, Kurt and Evan talk excitedly as they make their way inside.

"You doing alright there Feathers?" Logan asks as they walk slowly behind the others. Hawks blinks and grins, "of course! It feels great to get out of that stuffy room and into the fresh air!" he responds. "Thanks for letting me come out here. It was the most fun I have had since being here."

Logan grunts, "no problem Feathers, just take it easy. Your body is still catching up."

Hawks yawns and leans into Logan. "Hold on, we're almost back to the infirmary. You can sleep once you're back to your room." Logan says, shifting the young man's weight.

"Awe, so you do care." Hawks says through a cheeky, sleepy grin.

"Who said I don't?"

As Hawks drifts off again he nestles closer into Logan. Home.