The Two Types of Wingmen [Bakawks] - Part 5

[Click for Ch4] 

Katsuki showed himself into the building, kicking his shoes aside but not bothering with the slippers this time, padding along the hardwood floors in his socks. He nodded to the receptionist as he passed, stopping outside the little elevator at the back of the building and thumping the button, frowning slightly when the door took too long to open for him.

His train had been late after a mechanical problem, cutting a solid half hour off his Hawks-time – uh, gym time – and he was determined not to miss a minute more. Stupid trains.

After almost a week of gym visits, he’d come to feel less awkward in the agency. The staff knew who he was, as did most of the sidekicks on duty at that time of evening, so he no longer worried about looking shady or out of place, now he just walked through like he belonged.

And honestly, he kind of did. Hawks had made him so welcome there, had ensured he knew where to find anything he might want, had even taken him up to the lounge after a session one day to have a snack and catch up for a bit. That had been his favourite day, after the first.

When the elevator stopped, letting him out with an equally infuriating slowness, he found Hawks walking on a treadmill, wings still present but hanging unused at his back. All his annoyances faded away in that moment, as he hitched his bag up on his shoulder and practically ran to the man’s side.

“All better?”

“All better,” Hawks confirmed with a smile, reaching out to mess up Katsuki’s hair. “Get changed, kid, I’ve been waiting too long for this.”

Katsuki couldn’t help but return the grin, even though he knew his was a little sharper than Hawks’s, and with a quick nod he took a step back.

“Just let me go change, I’ll be back in a minute.”

“Take your time, I’ve got all night. Warm up, I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Like you could.”

As far as Katsuki was concerned, it was a perfect way to spend his Friday night. U.A. students only had a couple of classes on a Saturday morning, so most of his classmates stayed up late or went out to dinner or karaoke and just suffered through the next morning, but Katsuki dreaded the weeks he got dragged along with them – he’d much rather just stay back with a book, or catch up on homework. The only thing better than a night alone in the dorms with no one to bother him, was a night in the beautiful Hawks Gym, sparring with the man himself.

“Time to put your money where your mouth is,” Hawks teased, as he watched Katsuki hurry through his warm up. “Prove you’re as good as you say you are, yeah?”

“Three time sports festival champion,” Katsuki huffed. “Doesn’t that prove something?”

“Pros don’t compete in sports festivals.”

“You know damn well that my classmates are better than half the pros.”

“The bottom half, sure. There are a lot of people who are technically heroes who can’t fight at all, after all.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Show me, then.”

“I will, asshole.”

He couldn’t stop grinning as they got set up in one of the sparring rooms, sealing themselves in and blocking out the rest of the world. Katsuki raised one hand, quirk sparking in his palms, and Hawks just smiled as he watched the sparkler show.

“Whenever you’re ready, Katsuki.”

“You want me to make the first move, huh?”

“If you’d prefer I did it, feel free to say so.”

“Makes no difference to me, gonna kick your ass either way!”

“By all means.”

His first punch missed by a mile, Hawks stepping aside to dodge it without even unfolding his arms. He turned on a dime, using his explosions to propel him forward, but Hawks just grabbed his wrist and pulled, diverting him away effortlessly. The wings weren’t even moving, weren’t floating him above the ground or firing feathers at him, but Katsuki was determined to make it happen. Deep down he knew he wasn’t going to win the match – he’d never admit it out loud, of course, but he’d seen enough of Hawks’s fights to know that he more than deserved his number two spot. He would make him use his quirk, though, that was for fucking sure. He wouldn’t be like one of those third-rate villains who got their asses handed to them without even a feather.  

Besides, he knew all Hawks’s moves. He’d studied them more than enough in the confines of his pre-teen bedroom, watching the way he reacted so quickly to even the tiniest of stimuli. All he had to do was prove once and for all that he was faster.

Easier said than done, of course. Damn him and his own big mouth.

He didn’t let up for even a second, peppering small blasts at Hawks and moving on before he could retaliate. Hawks started to smile when he moved for a punch and Katsuki was gone before it got anywhere close to connecting – sure, Katsuki couldn’t land a blow, but so far Hawks hadn’t either.

Hawks seemed to realise that too, when he moved for the second time and felt Katsuki slip away from his grasp, a wave of heat in his wake as Katsuki propelled himself with his explosions.

Slowly Hawks began to loosen up, his confined and careful motions giving in to Katsuki’s infectious energy, his wings spreading when Katsuki launched himself into the air. He rose to meet him, smirking when Katsuki was caught off-guard by the speed he ascended with, but Katsuki quickly recovered, aiming a blast at the roof to drop back down quicker and firing an AP Shot from beneath on his way down. The moment his feet hit the ground he was moving again, diverting his course, and Hawks whirled around just in time to dodge the blast from behind.

He started to see a pattern, as time went on – Katsuki was constantly taking advantage of the wings as cover, making sure Hawks’s vision was blocked for just long enough to dart out and fire at him, putting Hawks’s instincts and reaction speed to the test. He got so used to it, in fact, that when Katsuki launched at him from the front, in full view, he almost didn’t react in time. He’d been occupied with watching where his next movement would go, eyeing the explosions that marked his path, he hadn’t expected Katsuki to just throw himself at him. He split two feathers off from the masses, knocking Katsuki back a little harder than was probably necessary, considering he hit the ground and shook the entire room. Before he could call out, though, Katsuki was laughing maniacally, and Hawks could only stare as he climbed back to his feet, grinning like an idiot.

“I knew I could make you use them,” he cackled. “Come on, asshole, let me play with your damn quirk!”

Hawks could only stare at him, eyes much wider than usual, as his feathers rose from Katsuki’s feet and flew back toward him. He was so used to taking it easy against people, so used to holding himself back and trying not to hurt anyone – but here was Katsuki, so delighted by the idea of Hawks using his quirk against him.  

He was constantly learning new things about the guy, it seemed.

A smile breaking through his carefully neutral look, Hawks stretched out his arms, nodding just once.

“Alright,” he grinned. “But remember, you asked for it.”

─────

Katsuki was beaten and bruised by the time they called it quits for the night, but he couldn’t remember the last time he was so happy. Exhausted from a good workout, palms tingling with the after-effects of his explosions, covered in marks where feathers and fists alike had made contact – it was exhilarating, and he never wanted it to end.

Eventually, though, their bodies got the better of them. When Katsuki was exhausted, and Hawks was starving, they decided it was time to call it. Hawks was the indisputable winner, with barely a mark on him apart from a few singed feathers, but for once Katsuki didn’t care about the loss.

“Thank you,” he said breathlessly, digging through his bag for a water bottle. “That was a lot of fun.”

“Yeah, it was,” Hawks agreed with a smile. “We should do it again some time.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I’m gonna be back on patrols and stuff next week, though. You’re more than welcome to keep coming in to use the gear, I just might not be able to be here with you.”

“It’s okay, I get it,” Katsuki nodded, finally unearthing his drink and popping the cap open. “I appreciate it all. This week, and letting me come anyway.”

“It’s been a lot of fun, and you’ve given me a lot to think about.”

“Battle strategies?”

“Something like that.”

He didn’t elaborate, but Katsuki knew better than to ask. When Hawks picked up his phone, though, Katsuki began to worry – had he been keeping him from something important?

“Come with me,” Hawks instructed. “You’ve seemed super tense lately.”

“What?”

Katsuki expected him to open the sauna door, like they’d done a couple of times throughout the week, but instead he continued down a short hallway, showing Katsuki into a small room with only a paper screen in one corner and a sink on one wall. Before he could ask questions, though, two young women were joining them, and Katsuki watched in confusion as they pulled out two folding tables, the tops lightly padded.

“Go strip,” Hawks instructed, nodding toward the screen. “You need to relax.”

“Wh- B-”

“There are towels back there, don’t worry.”

“That’s not- Ugh. Whatever.”

Cheeks burning, he stepped behind the screen obediently, peeling off his battered gym uniform and wrapping a towel around his waist instead. He kept his head down as he returned, Hawks taking his place in the corner, and one of the women smiled at him as she gestured toward the table.

“Please lie down and relax,” she directed. “On your stomach, please.”

“Y-Yeah, um, okay.”

He settled himself face down, his head resting on a cushioned u-shape that left his face open to breathe. Rustling told him Hawks was returning, sans wings this time judging by the lack of wind over his bare back as he walked by. He turned his head slightly to sneak a look, only to find Hawks grinning back at him, climbing up on a matching table just a metre away.

“I only hire the best,” Hawks assured him, as he relaxed on the cushioned table. “Don’t worry, they’ll take good care of you.”

“You’re too kind, Hawks-sama.”

“Hawks-sama,” Katsuki snorted, stifling it quickly as he turned his head back down. “I’ll stick with Birdbrain.”

“Fine by me, Hedgehog.”

“Haah?” Katsuki demanded, blushing bright red. “Who the hell is a hedgehog?”

“You, obviously,” Hawks hummed. “You didn’t go to a hairdresser and ask for the porcupine special?”

“Shut up, it just does this.”

“I dunno about that, I saw the photos of you working with Jeanist.”

“Don’t you dare bring that shit up.”

“Just try to stop me,” Hawks laughed. “We’ve just seen who will win.”

Katsuki huffed, but couldn’t seem to find an argument to object, grateful for the lights dimming around them and the sweet smell of weird oils to halt their conversation anyway.

He tensed up when the warm hands touched his bare skin, but as they worked his tight shoulders he began to relax a little. As weird and touchy as the whole thing was, it was kind of nice, too. The tension in his back seemed to melt away when she kneaded at him, and with a faint sigh, he closed his eyes.

“I come here after any big fights,” Hawks explained, as the ladies worked their magic. “They fix me right up for the next one.”

“Feels good,” Katsuki admitted, shivering when a hand ran up the back of his neck. “You’re not plotting shit, are you? Gonna kill me while I’m looking away?”

“Oh Katsuki, life would be so much less interesting if I took you out.”

Katsuki couldn’t find the words to respond, wishing he had the confidence to make a dumb joke about the phrase – it all seemed to disappear when it came to flirting with Hawks, though. Stupid brain.

“Of course, taking you out could be fun,” Hawks said knowingly, his tone dripping with the smirk he wore. “Maybe when you win a fight we can look into it.”

“Shut up.”

“But since I won this time, I’m pretty sure I’m the one who gets a prize, right?”

“I never agreed to that shit.”

“That’s how it works, though,” Hawks chuckled. “What, are you scared of what I might want from you?”

“I’m not scared of shit you damn canary.”

“Good, then you can give me my prize!”

“Ugh,” Katsuki growled, cracking a tiny smile all the same. “Fine, what do you want?”

“I’ll think about it.”

“You don’t even have something in mind? You dumb goose.”

“Oh I have plenty of ideas, I just have to pick the best one.”

“Ugh.”

All too soon, the massage was over, and Katsuki sat up with a groan. When he looked down at himself, pulling his towel up over his waist, he found himself staring blankly at his lightly-tanned skin, not a wound in sight.

“Healing quirks,” Hawks explained, standing up without a care for the towel that threatened to fall off his hips. “Could you do his hands, too?”

Katsuki cringed when the woman nodded, pulling a chair up beside his table and holding out her hands. The second, Hawks’s masseuse, joined her quickly, reaching for his other hand to match. Feeling awkward beyond belief, Katsuki watched as they pressed their thumbs into his wrists and forearms, working their way slowly downward, toward his sensitive palms. To his surprise, though, there was no pain when they pressed gently on the heel of his hand, rubbing gentle circles as they moved down over his palm toward the base of his fingers. He’d braced himself for the inevitable, but their touch came with none of the gritted teeth and flinching he’d expected, only... Relief.

“Better?” Hawks asked, as they worked each of his fingers gently. “Like I said, only the best.”

“Yeah,” he admitted. “Better.”

“Good, I’m glad.”

He choked out a thank you when the women packed up and left, and for a moment the room was silent around them, until Hawks’s stomach broke it with a loud growl.

“Thanks for having me,” he said, smiling faintly. “I’ll um, see you tomorrow? For dinner with the Todorokis?”

“Yeah,” Hawks grinned. “You gonna make me something yummy again?”

“What do you want?” Katsuki mumbled, cheeks flushed. “I can.”

“I get to choose? Oh man, lucky me. Hmm... Too many decisions, where do I even start?”

“Sweet? Savoury? Spicy? More chicken?”

“I do like chicken,” Hawks grinned. “Sweet sounds good too, though. Do you bake, too?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh man. And you’re so pedantic, you must be a good cleaner too. You’d make the best housewife, it’s a shame you have such a good quirk for heroism.”

“Shut up,” Katsuki huffed, cheeks burning again – he wasn’t sure they ever stopped, these days. “Dessert it is, then. I’ll make you a cake or something, you damn seagull.”

“That sounds amazing! Thanks, Hedgehog!”

“Ugh. Should have seen that coming.”

“You really should’ve,” Hawks laughed, patting blond spikes fondly. “Maybe one day you can come to my place and cook for me. As my prize.”

“Whatever,” Katsuki shrugged, hoping Hawks couldn’t hear how damn hard his heart was pounding. “If you want. You got a day you’re not patrolling or something?”

“Tuesdays and Thursdays I’m done by five if nothing goes terribly wrong.”

“I’ll come cook for you after we work out, then?”

“Yeah! It’s a date!”

Katsuki felt his face flood with heat, hurrying away to get dressed behind the screen as Hawks laughed at him openly.

“What, you don’t want it to be?” Hawks teased.  

“Shut the hell up.”

“You know I already know, right?”

Katsuki froze halfway through pulling his shirt on, heart thumping so hard that he thought it might burst through his chest and end his misery.

“Am I that obvious?” he asked faintly.

“No, but Shouto likes to think he’s subtle.”

Katsuki groaned, and Hawks laughed at him brightly.

“I hate that asshole, I swear to God, I’m gonna murder his ass one day.”

“He was trying to help!” Hawks insisted. “Don’t be mean, he’s a good guy.”

“The worst.”

“It’s okay, you know. It’s not like I don’t have women hitting on me after every fight.”

“I’ve noticed.”

“It’s a shame they’re all, you know, women.”

Katsuki almost tripped over his pants, cursing himself for trying to get dressed during the stupid conversation, and Hawks laughed again when he heard the stumble.

“You okay back there?”

“You like men?”

“I thought that was obvious from all the flirting.”

“Fuck off,” Katsuki hissed, squeezing his trembling hands into fists. “Like you don’t do that shit to everyone.”

“Only the cute ones.”

“Cut it out!”

“Do you really want me to? I’ll stop if you want, just say so.”

Katsuki hesitated, and Hawks hummed thoughtfully, waiting for Katsuki to finish getting dressed and timidly emerge from the changing area.

“I like hanging out with you,” he said sincerely. “I have more fun with you than anyone else, I think. If it’s too much, if you want to keep it strictly business, I’ll back off. But I thought you were having fun too.”

“I was. I am. I don’t- I don’t want that. I like this.”

“Just as it is?”

Katsuki paused again, and Hawks’s smile finally returned, head tilting a little as he considered Katsuki’s blush.

“You’re too scared to ask for more?”

“I’m not scared of shit.”

“But you think I’ll be put off, you think I’m just playing around.”

“Obviously.”

“Well then,” Hawks grinned, stepping closer and gently gripping Katsuki’s chin, dragging him back to meet his eyes. “If your baking skills are as good as you say they are, maybe your cake can score you a date.”

“It’ll be the best fuckin’ cake in the world and you know it.”

“Yeah, I’m counting on it.”

[Click for Ch6]