Chiasa

ch7

"Damn, that shift was exhausting eh?"

"You were an hour late, yet you're exhausted?"

"Ouch Tokoyami, I have my reasons," Hawks chuckles. The pair had finished their Sunday morning patrol and were on their way to have breakfast. It was also nice to do their paperwork away from all the chaos at the agency.

"Regular place?" Tokoyami asks.

"Yeah, I've been craving it all morning." They eventually arrive at a small soup shop, it was about a ten-minute walk from Hawk's agency. They sit on the wooden stools, a long table separating them from the kitchen on the other side, that could be viewed by customers. The old lady who ran the joint smiled as soon as they walked in, not bothering to take their orders. She already knew it by heart due to them being regulars.

"Ah, my favourite heroes. Good morning!"

"Good morning."

"Morning Obaasan! I've missed your cooking...and you!"

"Charming as ever Hawks-san," she chuckles rolling her eyes. She takes two large bowls from the cupboards beneath one of the benches and begins preparing the boys soups. A minute passes before she excuses herself to go to the back to fetch a certain ingredient. The two are left alone, and Hawks takes it as an invitation to pry into Tokoyami's activities the night before.

"So, what were you up to last night? Hmm?" Hawks doesn't miss how Tokoyami immediately straightens up in his seat when the question is asked. He smirks and continues to taunt the boy.

"Why so stiff? Is there something you're hiding?" Hawks says teasingly. Tokoyami gulps, wishing he could be anywhere else. He felt bad for knowing such a secret and keeping it from Hawks, but he also told Fuyumi he'd what he could to protect that secret. But Tokoyami knew that wouldn't be an easy task against someone perceptive as Hawks.

"I'm not hiding anything nor do I understand why you have a sudden interest in what I do at night."

"Gahhh, Tokoyami you're killing me, man! I know you lied about speaking to Shoto last night, you guys are basically mute..." Hawks words begin to fade out as a panic falls over Tokoyami. Does he know? But how? Was he that easy to read? It hadn't even been 24 hours since he saw Fuyumi, and Hawks was already on his case.

"Ha!" His loud voice brings Tokoyami out of his thoughts. "I definitely know exactly where you were, though I gotta say I didn't think you were the type to be so secretive about such things, at the same time I can't really blame ya can I?" Tokoyami gulps, fully convinced that Hawks knows.

"I'm sorry. It was so unexpected, I didn't know if I should tell you." Tokoyami's hand were shaking slightly, even Dark Shadow felt anxious.

"Well ya don't need to give me every detail, but still I get it."

"You do?" 

"Sure do! So, how was it?" Tokoyami looks over at Hawks, eyes lit with mischief and excitement. Exactly like the ones he saw last night. 

"Eh?"

"How was it? You finally went to the frog girls house right?!" Tokoyami's eyes widen and feels the blood rush to his face. "That's why you were home so late wasn't it?" 

"I-uh...yes. Yes that's where...where I went." Tokoyami looks ahead to see the old lady had returned with the ingredient from the back. He forces himself to stay distracted by watching her prepare their meals. Hawks on the other hand had his head cocked to the side in confusion. Reading people was second nature to him, so he couldn't but be taken back by Tokoyamis change in demeanour. Despite Tokoyami being so aloof, he couldn't hide his body language from Hawk's sharp eyes. 

"You never went there, did you?" Hawks tone had changed to a more serious one. The silence Tokoyami gives him answers his question. "Where were you?" Tokoyami sighs and gives a small smile to the old lady while she serves the heroes their food. 

"I went to the Todoroki household and talked with Shot-"

"Don't try and lie to me, I'm the last person you wanna try that with." Hawks knew he was coming across as harsh, but it wasn't out of anger or frustration. He was being protective. A mission he'd been assigned to almost 3 years ago was still going on, and it had him on edge for a while. The Commisson had given him a risky mission which left him scared that Tokoyami could end up in similar situations.

Tokoyami looks at the man next to him, the concern evident in his face. He shifts in his seat to face Hawks and whispers a silent apology to Fuyumi for what he was about to do.