Top pic credit: KadeArt

Hawks POV Continues:

I rubbed my exhausted, irritated eyes, fiddling around in my pocket for the keys to the Hawks Agency.

My meeting with Dabi took place at about 2 in the morning, and it lasted an hour, so I already didn't get a lot of sleep.

But, the pure stress and anxiety I've been experiencing for the last five hours has not allowed me even a wink of sleep. I ended up having a panic attack, once I returned to my apartment. I hadn't had one of those, in awhile. I collapsed to my floor, trying to catch my breath. I was a cold, shaky, sweaty mess. I even almost called Ari, craving for her touch. Craving for her embrace around me, so I could work through it. See? Told ya I was weak for her. Well, I didn't end up doing that, anyways. I remembered I couldn't call Ari, because I didn't want her asking about why I was like this. I didn't want to lie to her. Again.

So, instead...I simply laid in my bed for a few hours, after it passed...blankly staring up at the ceiling, before deciding to forget about sleep and head to work.

"I'm glad you've finally had your fill with Ari Parker. Because, I want you to know Hawks, that I've decided she won't live to see next month."

"Maybe fuck around, and burn Ari and her family alive right in front of you. Just to see what you'd do."

"My interest in her as only increased, since I've met you-"

"Shut up. Just shut up, you stupid fucking scarecrow. Get out of my head." I mumbled to myself, harshly jamming the key into the lock of the building as I tried to get Dabi's words out of my head. The same words that have been torturing my thoughts for hours now.

Dabi's a bitch. He's a fucker. An asshole.

But, the guy is actually pretty good at messing with my mind. Kudos to him. I thought I was the only one around here who excelled in psychological manipulation. Yet, here was Dabi, working me over pretty good.

You know, I hate my job. If we're being honest.

I silently walked into the building, going directly to the fridge to grab a coffee.

I really have no idea how the hell I'm gonna get Ari out of this one. Actually, now it's not just her. It's her family, too. Everyone is in danger. The entire Parker family.

Now, it's my job to protect all of them. I will be everyone's angel in the sky. I won't let anything happen to them.

I won't let anything happen to the only people who are nice to me. No. That's not fair.

And Ari, my girl, you can count on me to keep you, and everyone else, safe. My little chicky, I'll protect you with my life. No matter what.

That's a promise to you I can keep.

Because I love you. You're the only thing in my life that is truly good.

I actually really can't wait to see your face today. It's the only thing that could brighten up the shit day I've had.

Letting out a small, tired sigh, I leaned against the counter...downing the can of sweet coffee like it was nothing more than a shot of liquor.

Mindlessly, I threw open the fridge again, grabbing another can to try and wake myself up.

I furrowed my brows lightly when I, only now, heard faint talking coming from Ari's office.

Hm?

It was only then that I also noticed the lights in the Hawks Agency were already on-what?! And there was a perfectly wrapped breakfast sandwich on the counter, with a little note?!

Damn, I was so tired and full of angst when I walked in here, I didn't notice any of that. Ari must already be here.

I looked down at the delicious smelling sandwich (ooo, definitely chicken), grabbing the little note that was sitting on top of it.

A chicken sandwich for the chicken king, himself. Here's a little pay back for all the goodies you've left on my desk.

Oh, and p.s. lunch is still on you ;)

~A

I felt the corners of my lips turn up like a big, giddy idiot as I read the note Ari left me.

She's already made my day better, and I haven't even seen her face yet.

I set down my coffee, wanting to see her before I ate my breakfast.

I walked over to her office door, about to open it, before her words from the other side, caught my attention...

"Dabi and the others meet in three consecutive places. The building on seventh avenue, the skyscraper in the downtown district, and the warehouse on the coast. These meetings are sporadic, and it makes me think the league of villains might be onto what we're doing here." Ari stated, as the clacking of her typing on her laptop could be heard.

Well. Fuck me, right?

She's absolutely correct. Of course she is. She's a smart girl. I knew she'd figure out the league's meeting pattern eventually.

And I can't have that.

This is exactly why I've been trying to steer her away from this project. Because, she's too smart. I know how she thinks. We were both brought up, and trained by the same people.

Ari is actually a very dangerous enemy when you're not on her side. She's very intelligent. She's also very driven and dedicated to her work.

And while I'm her ally, I'm also technically her enemy.

I blankly stared at the door, before throwing my head up to look at the ceiling.

I'm so tired. I'm so done with everyone's bullshit right now. You have no idea how done I am.

But still, I have a job to do. It was time to spy on Ari.

I carefully floated one of my feathers under the door, before maneuvering the feather discretely around the room.

The sound vibrations of her voice, and her vitals, are coming from her desk, meaning that's where she's probably sitting. So, I decided to float the feather around the baseboards of the room, until it ended up behind her.

Ever so softly, I placed the feather into the locks of hair on the back of her head...directly next to her ear, so I could hear the conversation on the other side of the phone.

"Okay, this is a good start, Ari. Do you know exactly who's present at these meetings?" Someone said from the other side of the line.

Eraserhead.

"I haven't been able to figure that out, yet. I've only now just figured out the pattern of their schedules. Like, last night, there was league activity at the building on seventh avenue. Scorch marks were found in the area. A lot of scorch marks. Dabi clearly started some kind of fire and I'm not sure why." She stated.

I definitely know why. In fact, I almost became fried chicken from that fire-

"If Dabi continues to follow the pattern I think he is, then their next meeting will be at the warehouse on the coast." Ari explained, making me let out a silent groan.

Fuck. She's right. She's really figured it out. I'm set to meet with Dabi and the others, at the factory on the coast. Hopefully, she doesn't know when I'm supposed to do this-

"Could be happening tomorrow night." She added on, causing my shoulders to practically slump all the way to the floor.

It was definitely happening tomorrow night.

It's unfortunate that Ari figured out the new meeting plan that Dabi created. But, what's even more unfortunate were her next words.

"Hey, Mr. A...would it be okay if I headed to the warehouse on the coast tomorrow? I wanna try to track what's being said in this meeting, and I need to get close in order to pick up the sound waves, with the radio you gave me. The coast has lots of foliage I can hide in, and I won't even go inside the warehouse. I'll stay on the outskirts. I just wanna see what I can find." She stated casually, unknowingly bringing herself closer to the man who wants to place her head on a spike. Dabi.

Say no, Eraserhead. She's eighteen. Of course, you know she's too young to do something like that by herself. No matter how smart she is.

"I don't have a problem with that, so long as you take someone with you. Normally, I'd go with you...but I'm tending to other vigilante matters tomorrow night. Still, I want updates from you, every ten minutes as well, to make sure you're safe." Eraserhead explained, causing me to face palm.

Seriously?! Eraserhead!! Come on, man!! That wasn't the answer I was hoping for.

I'm sure if Eraserhead knew that Dabi wanted to murder Ari, he wouldn't let her go. But, of course I can't tell him that without exposing myself as a spy.

"I'll see if Nejire's available to go with me. If not, maybe Tamaki." Ari suggested.

No. None of her friends are going. I'm not letting anyone else get involved with this danger.

I'll go with her.

But, I can tell you one thing...Ari won't find what she's looking for. I won't allow that.

I quickly pulled out my phone, shooting Dabi a text to pick another meeting spot, the day after tomorrow.

Sorry, Ari. I know you worked hard to figure this plan out, and here I am, sabotaging it behind your back. I wish I could tell you that your plan is correct, little dove. Because it is.

But, for your safety....I need to make you think you're wrong about this. Every time.

Ari's getting closer and closer to outing my position as a spy, and if I let her continue working on this project...

She will figure me out. And she'll do it sooner, rather than later.

For her safety, and everyone else's...

I need to do everything in my power to make sure that doesn't happen.

I will save everyone...and I'll do it all by myself.