Chapter Text
Chapter 1:
It was a normal night in Musutafu when it started. Well, I wouldn't say started, more like became. No one knew how, or where it started, but it took up the whole red light district. Some have tried to get in, only to find themselves waking up in the hospital days, sometimes months later.
Nothing has come out.
It's a huge , dark forest. It was at least fifty feet taller than the buildings that were already there. The roots were so thick that it took almost two whole days to cut them down . Scientists think it's the work of a quirk , some think it's the work of a god, trying to revive the old world. Others think it's a punishment, the world taking back what we took from them. But the Hero Public Safety Commission thinks it's an opportunity. If someone -or something, did create that entire forest, imagine what it would be like if they were on their side.
First, they tried to tackle it from the outside. They tried all sides, even brought a helicopter to try from the top, but nobody could get in. All the ones that tried only got injured, and the four people in the helicopter crashed.
Only one survived.
Well, half of them did.
They pushed Pro Heroes to have a go at it. All kinds of heroes tried: spotlight, twilight, analytical, rescue, recon, support, social; even underground heroes tried, but none could get in. Their injuries -although not as bad as the others, left them hospitalized for days.
They tried to burn it down to see if anyone or anything was inside, but it was useless. The fire did absolutely nothing.
The Commission didn't want to have to use their last option, but at this rate, they're going to run out of space at the hospital.
So they sent him in, their last option and their last hope.
They sent in Hawks.
~~~
Hawks knew the real reason why the Commission sent him. They said it was because they were out of options, but he knew. They knew that he wouldn't return until he completed his mission; and he would -complete his mission. He packed light, with only his communication system and some food rations. That was all that he needed. As he went to meet his handler, Matsuma Tomie, she was waiting for him by the door like always. She wore a warm smile on her face , one Hawks knew was fake.
He was led out the door, Matsuma briefing him on his mission for the seventeenth time.
"Once we get to the site, you need to check in with the President. Then you'll go above the forest and drop in."
She tilts her head to the side, scrutinizing him.
"Did you eat breakfast today?"
" Yes ma'am." He replies quickly.
"You need to be quick. Do not throw up, okay?" She said, emphasizing the words ‘do not.’
" Yes ma'am."
Matsuma sighed, taking out her ponytail and shaking her head, letting her dyed strawberry blonde hair fall down her back.
"You're always so obedient." She said softly as she laid her head on Hawks' shoulder.
He did not flinch. He did not freeze up. He knows better.
"It's always 'Yes ma'am' this, 'No ma'am' that, like a song on repeat."
Matsuma sighs again, closing her eyes and almost cuddling Hawks. Hawks doesn't move; he hasn't been given orders to. Matsuma moves uncomfortably closer, and the driver looks at them through the mirror.
"Matsuma-san, Hawks, we're almost at our destination." The driver's monotone voice interrupts.
Matsuma lifts her head off of his shoulder and puts her hair back into her ponytail.
"Alright, thank you Nobana-san." She turns back to him,
"Do you get what you're supposed to do? Or do I need to explain again?" She said sharply, as she should.
"No ma'am , I understand."
"Hm, good. Be ready." She turns her face away and rests it in her palm.
It's quiet for the rest of the car ride.
Once they get to the site, Hawks is led out of the car and left to check-in. He checks in with the Commission President, gets a briefing on the mission, and receives another communicator. He probably won't need it, but just in case.
Hawks shoots into the air, flying fast, as always, and sees an opening in the trees that will let him land safely. It's a bit of a tight fit, but Hawks can manage.
He shoots downwards and-
BAM!
A cold, pale blue-gray branch came out of nowhere, and smacked his body to the left causing him to be smacked into a branch, and knocked the wind out of him. His back and wings scratched against the tree he slammed into. Some of his feathers fell out, and he hit his head against a root at the bottom of the tree.
His vision was blurry. He tried getting up but the pain in his back prevented him. He was still trying to catch his breath when he heard someone saying something. However, his ears were ringing and the voices became distorted.
The last thing he saw before he passed out was a tall spindly figure walking towards him.
…
It is intrigued.
And a little scared. Usually, nobody gets into it's forest. It's their safe place, their home.
It is hesitant to approach the newcomer; even more cautious once It finds out that it’s Hawks. It does so anyway, but not with the main body.
Never with the main body.
He senses the hero by the Cold Oak tree. The hero is hurt, and there's a small device yelling at him. The shrieky, distorted voice irritates it.
It destroys the device, checking him for anything else. They find another device; weird-looking granola bars, and a couple of tracking devices on his jacket and in hidden pockets on his pants.
It throws the whole jacket off, leaving all devices under it, and picks up the wounded hero. He needs medical attention for the wound on his back, and the one on his head.
While it isn't a doctor, it knows how to wrap wounds pretty well. It brings Hawks to a clearing with soft moss on the ground and lays him down on his stomach. It calls for a first aid kit and disinfects the cuts and scrapes. It puts gauze on the wounds and wraps them in bandages tightly. Just enough that he'll be able to breathe and won't have a headache. Its work is done. So it leaves to go prepare food for when the hero wakes up. It's almost dinner time anyway, and they're starting to get hungry.