Chapter Text
Keigo age seven
Life had not been easy for Keigo. His name was his first lesson Respectful language, only speak when addressed. After that his second to stay out of sight unless it was necessary. Never go outside. Never turn your back on your father. Now he sat not quite alone with his new lesson. One that will force him to unlearn what came before. To take care of the flock.
“Hinadori” He spoke, looking down at his new baby sister. Stroking wisps of blond hair just like his and mamas. Pale was all he could think looking at the tiny baby his mother had dropped on his lap. No food, no nest, the stress made her small.
“Baby bird? That’s all you can think of?” His mother spoke. Stress visibly eating at her. Unable to hold a job alone with two children. “You know what those wings can do. Get working!”
Their father was gone. It was for the best. A real hero, his hero Endeavour took him away while their mom was still pregnant. They would be safe now, Mama and baby bird. He’d used his wings once before to help people, but how could he use them to help them?
That was when the commission came to save them. His mother needed help the commission would provide, an apartment in Musutafu, a safe place to raise baby bird as well as anything else he might need. All he had to do was train to be a hero
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Keigo age ten~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Is she ok? Why are they growing in white? They shouldn’t be this red near the bas-“ Keigo fretted over everything. Birds are prone to anxiety, especially over brood.
“Mr. Takami please calm down and give me a moment to look over her before-“ The old doctor started, this was only meant to be a quirk screening.
“Just look right-“ he started again motioning toward the joining of her wings and back.
“Keigo!” A Little Voice grumbled, equally tiny wings covered with scattered pin feathers not ready to be shed.
“Will I need to ask you to step outside again for this appointment or will you behave yourself.” Keigo sat straight up. All they had was each other. Of course he’s a little overzealous who else was watching out for her.
“Your mother was sick, stressed. It’s most likely just a fever coat. The red in her baby feathers isn’t irritation or pin feathers cracked too early just little bits of red pigment in her feathers a great sign her feathers will come out red and right as rain when she finishes her first molt.” The doctor assured, taking notes.
Hinadori seemed to be in her own world, sitting quietly swinging her feet back and forth off the side of the observation table.
“Fever coats are for dogs and cats not birds!” Keigo argued again, worried. Far too stressed for any normal ten year old.
“You marked off both the mutation quirk: wings and a regenerative quirk?” The Doctor finally looked toward Keigo.
“A minor healing quirk I think.” He mumbled, watching her face light up as she gasped jumping off the table wings flitting doing nothing to slow her from falling right off the table.
“Are you hurt?!” Hinadori cheered, scrambling back onto her feet brightly smiling as if she hadn’t just fallen a straight drop her entire hight off the table. “I can help!”
“Does she have a…personal healing factor?” The doctor stared down at the kid that looked back at him her normal doe eyes replaced by wide and blown out owl like eyes.
“The bruises would say just a high pain tolerance i think.” Her brother said looking at her legs covered in so many little scratches you’d think their parents were still around.
“Healing makes my hands glow!” She said, enthusiasm spilling out of her as her head cocked to the side and she shoved her hands toward his face. Still maintaining wide unblinking eyes and a bright grin.
“You know socialising is very important at this stage and kids her age should be in school it teaches them very important…social skills.” Nodding slowly pushing her back towards the table.
“She’s already enrolled in school just hasn’t started yet. Keigo said scooping her up and setting her back on the table much to her dismay.
“I thought I was gonna get to show him my quark.” Her smile melted down into a frown accompanied by sad wing quivers.
“Don’t worry baby bird you can show him right here.” Keigo said, lifting his sleeve to show a handful of scratches from training.
“I can help!” Immediately she snapped back to attention holding out her hands as a soft warm glow healed his scratches. Followed by her eyes rapidly blinking closed, as she tried to fight off the sleep that took her almost immediately.
“And nap time.” He laughed, pulling her back against him. Her light snoring proving everything was ok.
“I know your situation Isn’t ideal but have you considered bringing her to the park? Attempted to socialise her with anyone her age?”
“My time is very…limited.” Keigo said, hesitantly.
“Maybe you could find a trusted adult to help-“ the doctor pushed.
“I think the appointment is over.” He said through gritted teeth walking towards the door.
Keigo carried her easily out and away. The train station was busy, and loud but Hinadori slept peacefully. The train slowed to a stop at their station a short while later the toddler-no preschooler now began stirring.
“Are we going home already?” She asked, pulling away just enough to look up at him.
“Are you trying to say you have the energy to do something else? You were totally knocked out a second ago?” He chucked, he was allowed off today for her appointment. It was a rare opportunity.
“A second ago was so much sleep. I’m all full on energy again.” She insisted nodding, trying to wake herself up.
“I guess the doctor did prescribe you with a little extra play time. How does the park sound?” Her interest was obviously peaked.
“I get to play…at the park?” She looked at him suspiciously. “What does one do…at the park.”
“Yeah you can play, and talk to other kids, you can probably find someone to race you can actually win against.” Keigo teased.
“How? I thought we didn’t talk to strangers?” Hinadori asked, skeptically looking at him like this was a test.
“We don’t usually, but you can talk to new people at the park.” He explained.
“Why is it ok at the park?” She shot back questioning.
“I’ll be there to watch. Make sure no one snatches you” he said before tossing her up into the air pretending to drop so he could snatch her up.
“Noooooo!” She squealed dramatically holding tight to his jacket.
“So what do you say, park time?” Keigo asked, raising her up onto his shoulders so she can feel the breeze as they run.
“Park time!” Baby bird cheered wings spreading out behind her fluttering in the wind while he charged ahead.
It was later in the afternoon so the park wasn’t to crowded. It would be much better for a first experience not to be completely overwhelmed by all the new people. He stopped in front of one of the benches with an ideal view of the park. Here he could let baby bird run while never losing track of her.
“Are you ready?” Keigo asked, Lifting her up off his shoulders getting ready to let her go.
She was adorable, plucky, quite literally vibrating with excitement. Squirming so much he could barely keep his grip.
“It’s time to fly!” She said determined, wings flapping excitedly behind her. “I’m doing it, see!”
He let her go. There was no flight really even if all her feathers were grown in now to many still had caps. Plus the terrible wing control. She’s too young anyway, little chicks wings are mostly just expressive. They’re getting use to the motions so it’ll be easier when it is time to fly.
“did you see me? I totally stayed in the air for a second.” She beamed, taking off running the second her foot touched the ground.
“Just a baby.” Keigo sighed, taking a seat on the bench behind him. Doctors appointments were stressful. What if something was wrong, and he couldn’t tell. It could be anything birds are especially susceptible to illness. He could lose her to anything if he wasn’t careful and children pass around viruses easier than sharing candy.
But there she was not a care in the world climbing whatever people called that giant plaything. While other kids ran past not even noticing her, but sitting there taking in every movement was all he could do.
“She’s gonna fall-“ Keigo panicked, jumping from his seat on the bench. Her grip faltered, hand slipping from its hold distracted. “false alarm.”
He fell back against the bench in relief. As quickly as he was up, so was she. Catching herself with ease before dropping and running to go talk to some kid. He fell back on the bench waiting.
“Aren’t you going to go play with your friends too?” A woman sitting on the other bench asked.
“Me?” Keigo asked confused.
“Of course! You’re wasting a beautiful day. You should be doing something too. Not just sitting there, like a nervous hen” The woman chastised-no maybe encouraged? Her tone was rough, but kind?
“Mitsuki! Ignore her it’s very sweet of you to bring your sister here. That was your sister right? The little one with wings?” Another woman shot forward. “What was your name?”
“O-oh, it’s Hawks, and yes that’s Hinadori.” He responded confused as to why he was suddenly being dragged into a conversation.
“Hawks, and Hinadori? English name for a bird and baby bird? No fucking way your parents actually named you guys that?” The loud blond woman asked, appalled. “I get you kids got wings, but seriously?!”
“Mitsuki!” The nicer of the two shot back at herr… friend? He assumed they where friends, they where roughly the same age and sitting together calling each other by their first names. At least the nice green haired one was calling the blond by her first name.
“What? its not his fault he didn’t do it!” She argued gesturing towards him.
“I named her actually.” Both women’s heads snapped towards him.
“Oh my god you’re like eight did your parents really let you name a baby?!” The blond spiky haired woman shouted. “I-you- You would have been like four! Where are your parents because we’re having a conversation?!”
“Prison and rehab.” He answered, curtly. “And I’m ten not eight.”
Mitsuki’s mouth moved trying to find the right words before looking to the green haired woman for help.
“Are your grandparents around? You must be staying with them.” The green haired lady began looking around frantically
“No, baby bird stays with me.” He explained. The woman looked panicked.
“S-Someone’s gotta be taking care of you kids! you can’t just be on your own.” She stuttered out.
“I take care of baby bird.” He clarified, again. Pointing to his chest.
“You’re just a kid you can’t be raising a toddler who’s gonna watch her when you go to school? Can you even cook? How are you gonna feed yourself, let alone a baby? Y-you can’t work how would you even get food?”
“Inko calm down!” Mitsuki whisper-shouted before pulling her to the other end of the bench.
“He’s ten Mitsuki! Rising a three year old! Look at Izuku, and Katsuki! Think about how stressful one day is! You’re married you have help! He’s a kid! He’s ten!” She held up all ten fingers emphasising her point.
“Panicking isn’t going to help, you’re just gonna scare the poor thing!” Mitsuki whispered back.
“You where shouting at him before I even saw him!” Inko argued.
“I was trying to get him to go play!” The blond snapped back.
“Do you think I can’t hear you?” Keigo asked, head cocked to the side. They didn’t seem to notice. “Can you not hear me from over there?”
Pap, pap, pap, pap, pap little footsteps running towards him. His attention immediately back where it was supposed to be. Baby bird charging towards him followed by two- No.
The sigh left him before she could say a word. Two boys carbon copies of the women on the far side of the other bench stood behind her. This was not good.
“I made friends.”