That's what you called your Quirk the day you discovered it. To you it seemed like a good name at the time. For as convoluted as it was, being able to look into others memories with only a tinsy bit of their DNA was amazing to you.
And not just any memories either. Whenever you 'read' someone it would always be the fondest memories they held close to their heart. What's more, they too recalled those memories fresh in their mind when you read them.
Remembering made them happy. It made the choice all the more appropiate.
At least you thought so until you met Hawks and used your Quirk on him.
It hadn't been on purpose. Your Quirk sometimes went off when your emotions ran high like when you were scared or startled. And it so happened that you accidentally shared a drink with him moments before it happened.
The things you saw--those weren't happy memories. They were nothing short of a nightmare.
A little boy suffering a solitary childhood at the hands of an abusive father and a neglecting mother. A little boy whose 'happiest' memories were times when nothing happened. When his father wouldn't punch or kick him. When his mother actually talked to him. When he would sleep the least bit warm.
The memories flooded your mind all at once and all you could do to not be overwhelmed was cover your mouth. Knees buckled underneath you and threatened to let you fall onto the cold ground but you didn't. His arms held yours before you could crash down and helped you to stand.
But your knees were too weak, your stomach too twisted, and your heart too beaten by what you saw.
What he relived thanks to you.
"I'm sorry," you muttered, trying to convey how much you meant those words without breaking down into a heap of tears. "I'm so sorry."
Hawks didn't seem angry or upset. If anything, he appeared remorseful with that half smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"It's alright." He was quick to reassure you, but you couldn't believe he actually meant it. He helped you to your feet and widened his smile. "Just don't say anything and it'll be fine."
"B-But all those things! Your parents--"
You jumped at the forcefulness in his voice. He never raised it. Least of all at you. And though it was barely any deeper than usual, it still struck a heavy cord that left you speechless
"Just forget what you saw," he said, mildly glaring at you from over his shoulder as he turned to leave. "All that's in the past after all."
As you watched his receding back, wings barely hanging from his shoulder blades and slightly drooping, you wondered if that was right.
You wondered if they were just truly as in the past as he claimed them to be and not chaining him down to the ground like you saw.
