MHA: I Am Homelander

The soft click of the door echoed faintly as the principal stepped out of his own office, casting one last respectful glance toward the two figures seated inside before disappearing down the hallway.

A heavy silence settled in the room once he was gone, broken only by the low hum of the ceiling fan and the occasional rustle of feathers brushing against polished leather.

The atmosphere felt strange—tense, but oddly casual, like a game of cards played with loaded decks.

Loid sat at the principal's desk, not slouching but not rigid either.

His fingers were laced neatly on the surface, and his posture suggested calm, but his mind was anything but.

He was measuring everything—his own breathing, the way the man across from him watched with surgical intensity, and the way the air itself seemed to crackle under the weight of the unspoken.

"I hate to say this, but I think this is a horrible place for us to talk. That principal does not look like a happy man. I'm pretty sure I heard him curse at me before he left."

Across from him sat Keigo Takami—better known to the world as Hawks.

The Number 3 Hero lounged in the principal's chair like it was his living room, a half-cocked smile playing on his lips as he took a seat.

His red goggles were perched atop his wild blond hair, and his iconic wings flared slightly behind him, casting dappled red shadows on the far wall like flickering flames.

"He's going through a divorce and I'm pretty sure his mother just passed away."

Hawks paused as he stared with a straight expression.

"I see...well, thank you for making me feel like a horrible human being."

Straightening his back, Hawks got serious...well, more serious than he was. "You know," Hawks began, his voice feather-light but sharp at the edges, "You're not exactly what I had in mind."

Loid offered a small, practiced smirk. "I've been hearing that a lot lately."

The hero chuckled, his shoulders shaking slightly, the sound breezy and effortless. "Yeah, I bet. Still, you've got style. The press eats that stuff up."

"Anyway, how are things with you?"

Loid nodded. "I'm doing well, really."

"Is that you being modest? You've gone through more in a week than some people do in their entire lives. You've escaped hardened villains, gained more popularity than some heroes and hell..."

Hawks eyes focused as his smile softened for a second.

"You've even got blood on your hands."

'There it is.' 

Loid thought.

Despite his laid-back posture, Hawks was anything but relaxed.

His golden eyes were locked onto Loid with predator precision, scanning every movement, every twitch, every flicker of expression, the boy could tell with his own superhuman pair.

It wasn't intimidation—not quite. It was assessment. Calculation. Curiosity wrapped in feathered sarcasm.

'But I gotta say, its hard to notice. If this situation I was in wasn't so bizarre and I wasn't so attentive, I might not have noticed. Sly bastard.'

Loid thought. After all, what business did the #3 Hero have at visiting the boy recently involved in a Two-Bit Villain's hostage plot. Two-Bit to him at least.

'I think that question is beginning to answer itself.'

The smile returned to Hawks' face as he continued. "Sorry, perhaps that was a little too forward. But what can I say, I'm more interested in what's under the hood."

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk between them, fingers interlaced under his chin as if he were waiting for an answer.

Loid smiled softly.

"That's why you're here? Sad, a part of me thought this was just a conversation between the #3 and a soon to be Hero."

"Why can't it be a little of both. I'm efficient like that."

A slight pause erupted until...

"Yes, I killed them."

Despite this direct confrontation by Hawks, Loid didn't even flinch by it. No, he welcomed it.

Hawks stared, continuing. "You don't sound very regretful." 

"It was my life and the lives of other civilians, one who happened to be my best friend, or theirs. In a moment of desperation, I just acted, I guess."

"I can understand that much. But in their defense, they were only planning on using you guys as hostages."

A feather plucked itself from Hawks' wing and floated lazily in the air between them, spinning like a coin waiting to land.

"The HSPC has protocols for things like this. You know, stall till the big dogs arrive, and I'm positive I could have safely gotten you all out of there had I arrived..."

"But you didn't."

Loids cut off Hawks, the latter continuing shortly after.

"Be that as it may, depending on who you ask, you crossed the line when you chose to take a life. Really does blur the line between who's the victim, huh?"

"Depending on who I ask, huh? Really? Hmm, how about we stick those people underground and have them survive while surrounded by villains." Loid scoffed, almost wanting to laugh at the idiocy he'd just heard.

That was until...

CLAP

"Exactly the right answer." The smile returned to Hawks' face as he clapped his hands, a tinge of joy in his tone.

"Now, don't get me wrong, killing shouldn't be your go to, per se, but during a time of stress, desperation and survival, you handled the situation admirably. Because of you, a few lives were saved that day."

Loid nodded, a smile returning to his face.

Well, that was on the surface at least.

'You motherfucker.'

The feeling of being psychologically toyed with bothered Loid. 

He had the power, he had the strength where he could make it so he didn't have to take any of this, therefore, a part of him really thought about doing it.

Reaching over this table and lasering the bird man's fucking brains out. What did it feel like? To best a top Hero? He still didn't know.

But he was prepared to bet everything that it was way better than defeating that Siesmurge nobody.

However...

'Nah, that's boring. I could run around and do whatever I want, destroying and killing all, but what the fuck is the point to that? This is way better. Being worshipped by the masses and feared by the rest.'

But one day. One day where he was at the top and could do whatever the fuck he wanted, then he wouldn't mind putting feather brain here on his ass. Soon, in the near future.

Hawks leaned back. "Sorry if I made you feel like you were in trouble. After all, what you did was an act of self defense, right? Instead, tell me how you're holding up? Seriously this time. After everything. The Quirk. The fight. The...self defense."

Loid exhaled softly through his nose. "Like I said, fine. Strangely so. No nightmares. No shakes. A part of me really did think I'd feel something more—guilt, panic. But it's quiet. I guess logic beats emotion, huh?"

This much was somewhat true. Before unlocking his Quirks, he had no idea he'd be as fine as he is at the moment after the acts he'd committed. 

Even "Fine" was underselling it. 

He really didn't give a fuck, hell, he'd do it again for free.

"That sounds like disassociation. Textbook, really."

"Maybe. But I don't feel detached. It's more like... compartmentalization. I know what happened. I just filed it."

Hawks' gaze sharpened subtly. "You always had that ability?"

"I've always had a neat mind. Things go where they belong."

"That's rare for someone your age. Most people crack at half the pressure. You? You're cool as an arctic breeze."

"Or good at pretending."

Hawks chuckled. "Touché. Still, I gotta say—it's impressive. Not healthy, maybe, but impressive."

There was a beat of silence. Then Hawks shifted the topic.

"Let's talk Quirk. What are you dealing with?"

Loid crossed his arms. "Hell if I've figured it out. What's it been now? A week? At least give me some time to play with stuff before you come prying."

'Nosy bastard.' Loid added inwardly but didn't say out loud.

"Fair enough. But you better do it fast. You know the U.A. entrance exams are around the corner, right? That's not much time to learn. After all, you are planning to attend, aren't you?"

Loid nodded. "Yes, and I know. But I'll manage. It feels... natural. Like it's something I was meant to have."

"I like that. Confidence with a pinch of mystery."

Hawks stood, feathers shifting like rustling silk. He stretched his arms above his head, wings fluttering slightly as he did.

"You've got that look, y'know. Like someone with a future that's gonna mess with a lot of people's expectations."

He turned to the door, paused with a hand on the handle, and glanced back.

"One more thing—your poker face? Solid. But blink more. Your eyes give away more than you think."

With a wink and a two-finger salute, he slipped out, the door whispering shut behind him. A few feathers lingered in the air before drifting slowly to the floor.

Loid stared at the door for a long moment, his expression unreadable.

"That guy's not just checking in. Something's up. But what? What the hell is happening out there?"

He thought, looking away as he paused, staring.

"Shit, did I really forget to blink? Damn, it's really getting harder to have to act pathetic. Imagine having to blink." Loid scoffed.

***

The day dragged after that. Classes passed in a blur of whispers, stares, and sidelong glances.

The air in school felt different—charged, like static waiting to spark. Kazuo barely said a word all day, and Loid didn't blame him. It was hard to talk when everyone was watching.

When the final bell rang, Loid avoided the front doors entirely and made his way through the empty back corridors of the school.

His destination: the old back gate. Long condemned, rusted, and mostly forgotten, it was their usual escape route when ditching.

Sure enough, Kazuo was already there, leaning against the warped fence like a sentinel. His arms were folded, his expression unreadable. And next to him—unexpectedly—stood Momo Yaoyorozu.

Polished, poised, and almost glowing with polite enthusiasm, Momo waved with the grace of a debutante.

Loid blinked. "The back gate? Really?"

Kazuo nodded. "Trust me. Between your new persona and Hawks showing up like a goddamn meteor, walking through the front with you would be chaos. Hell no."

Momo stepped forward, clutching her bag with both hands. "Kazuo told me you two were heading to train. I'd love to come along, if that's alright."

Loid looked at Kazuo.

Kazuo shrugged. "She's curious. Plus, she asked nicely."

Loid grinned. "I mean, sure, as long as you can get over the gate by yourself."

Momo tilted her head, confused. "Gate?"

Kazuo sighed theatrically, slipping off his shoes. "We didn't wait here to just escape all the eyes. This is our exit. Always has been."

With a breath, he crouched, then launched himself upward—

VUANK!

His body arced gracefully, grabbing the top of the gate with practiced ease before flipping over and landing lightly on the other side.

Momo's mouth fell slightly open in amazement.

Loid rolled his shoulders, smiling. "Better keep up."

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Honestly, I wasn't planning to get anything crazy in terms of powerstones, but WOW!

Considering we only have a few chapters and not a lot of views yet, I'm really surprised.

Can't thank you all enough, this really does give me the passion to keep going and post at least 2 chapters a day for you guys.

So, enjoy. You all deserve it!