love at first flight (chapter 2)
A magazine slaps down on the table in front of him and Hawks refuses to flinch as he looks down. He tilts his head as he glances back up to the president of The Commission.
“You were seen by several members of the press in a compromising position ,” she says, emphasizing the words she clearly thinks are the most important. Hawks holds in a sigh. “With some unkempt stranger!”
“It was, like, two kisses. I’d hardly call that compromising ,” he says, and he knows Mera is shaking his head behind him. But the whole meeting is ridiculous and he’s not planning to take a stupid meeting seriously. “And he’s not a stranger.”
“So you know this...this delinquent ?” she asks and Hawks leans back, eyes catching on the magazine cover again. He has a lot of points to make, but decides to go with the one that will annoy her the most.
“I mean, I don’t just kiss people I don’t know,” he says. Even though he doesn’t actually know anything about Dabi aside from him being a director and somehow knowing Todoroki. But she also doesn't need to know that. She huffs, standing up straight and looking down her nose at him.
“Your contract clearly states that you--!”
“I’ll stop you there,” Hawks says, shaking his head. “My contract says I have to inform the company if I plan to date anyone. That’s not really what I’m looking for with him...if you get what I mean.”
She recoils a step, a prominent sneer on her face. Hawks doesn’t smile, but he really wants to. He pushes himself up to stand, eyes meeting hers. “But I’ll let you know if anything changes the next time I see him in a more private meeting place.”
She glares at him and Hawks knows he’s pushing the line.
“What you do in your bedroom is none of the company’s concern,” she says, voice like ice filling the small meeting room. “However, if your illicit activities damage the company’s reputation, then that is our concern.”
“And some tabloids are gonna damage the company’s reputation?” he asks, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’ve been photographed in more compromising positions by these people and you could actually see my face in those.”
“Your wings are identifiable enough for the other executives.”
Hawks rolls his eyes, clenching his fists and meeting her steely eyes with his own unyielding force of will.
“Fine. I’ll make sure to be more careful about my…” he leans in, raising his eyebrows and looking her up and down. “ Illicit activities .”
“Good,” she says. “The reporter from Liberation Magazine will be in tomorrow. You’ll answer all of his questions. The article will be good press for the company. I’m sure you already know what you need to do.”
“Of course, Ms. President,” he says. His heart skips in his chest as he remembers the interview. He has to talk about Touya. But he won’t let her see how this affects him. She would just use it against him.
“Coincidentally,” she says, looking at her perfectly manicured nails with disinterest. “Todoroki Enji will be here tomorrow, so you can talk to him about Gold and Lullabies once you’re finished with Yostubashi.”
“I’m not doing any films,” he says, voice steady. “It’s not in my contract, so I won’t do them.”
“Need I remind you what we’ve done for you, Hawks? What we’ve done for your family ?”
Hawks clenches his teeth, eyes narrowing.
“Maybe you should,” he says. “Because I haven’t heard from them since I was thirteen.”
“You agreed to this arrangement--”
“When I was ten .”
“Regardless,” the president snaps. “Your parents decided that it would be best to let you focus on your career.”
Hawks knows that it was more of a suggestion on The Commission’s part, but doesn’t say it. At least, not yet. He squares his shoulders, face carefully blank.
“That so?” he asks, tilting his head. “How’s my mother’s alcohol problem?”
The president’s face hardens, eyes tight and frigid. Hawks doesn’t back down. “Y’know, come to think of it, I thought my father still had a few years on his sentence in Tartarus, too. But I’m sure they both really appreciate the hush money.”
continue on ao3
