You had done nothing but cry and sleep for a week. You were filled with anger, rage, and pain. You were furious. You hated Endeavor with a burning passion. It was his fault your brother was dead. You felt so useless. You couldn't get out of bed. Aizawa, Hizashi, and Rumi had taken care of the kids. Hawks and Griffin had begun with funeral preparations. You didn't want to deal with anything. You didn't want to have to walk down an aisle as people whispered condolences to you. You didn't want a symphony of apologies; you wanted your fucking brother back. You laid in bed, staring at the wall, when there was a soft knock.

"Come in," you mumbled. You glanced at the door, and it slowly opened. Nemuri was standing there, her eyes red and puffy from crying. Her hair was tied back, and her outfit matched yours, the grieving couture of a hoodie and sweatpants.

"Room for one more?" She asked softly.

You sat up and opened the covers on the bed. She walked over and dropped her purse, and she crawled into bed with you. You help each other as you cried. She loved your brother. In another life, she may have even become your sister in law...but that was another life now. A life that would never happen. A life that seems like a dream now. This life wasn't a dream; it was a nightmare.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Griffin walked into the Hero Commission and went straight into Endeavors office. He looked up and sighed when he saw her. "What do you want?" He scoffs.

"I want you to resign...and leave Japan," she growls.

"Excuse me?" He asks, laughing a little.

"You will step down. Hawks will become the number one hero, and you will leave Japan. Tonight," She snaps.

"I'm not going anywhere. What makes you think I'd listen to a monster like you?" He laughs. Her ears twitch, and she takes a deep breath. "Tell me, Griffin...does Hawks know? Does he know about you? What you are? Do you think he'd defend you after he finds out?" Endeavor smirks. Griffin's eyes widen, and she feels her body shake.

"They'll send you back...." Endeavor smiles. "All I have to do is say the word, and they'd take you back to that laboratory...is that what you want, X2435?" He smiles.

Before he can blink, she tackles him, slamming him onto the desk. Her pupils are tiny, and he wings and tail are puffed up. "Don't you fucking call me that. I'm not going back there...not again...you better keep your fucking mouth shut, you god damn child abuser," Griffin snaps. Endeavor's eyes widen, and she grins.

"Yeah...I'm not stupid, Enji...you think I can't tell what you are? Threaten me again, and I'll fucking kill you. You deserve to die for what you did to your children and wife," She growls, baring her fangs at him. He kicks her off of him, and she growls. He gets off the desk and lights his hands up with flames.

"Am I interrupting something?" Nezu asks, standing in the door frame. Griffin looks over, and her wings and tail soften again.

"Nezu," she smiles a little.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Endeavor asks as his fire goes out.

"I've come to take Griffin to U.A.," Nezu smiles.

"Over my dead body," Endeavor snaps.

"That can be arranged," Griffin smiles.

"She is an asset to our institution and the protection of our students. I've requested she stay on campus until this is all dealt with," Nezu smiles.

"NO! She will not step foot on the fucking campus! Look, just because you two came from the same fucking lab...."

"That has nothing to do with it, and might I remind you that talking about those events is strictly prohibited," Nezu says angrily.

"She isn't staying there," Endeavor scoffs.

"She can stay with me," Hawks says softly. Nezu turns and looks up at Hawks. "I have a spare room..." he shrugs.

"I don't want to impose," Griffin says softly.

"It's no imposition," Hawks says quickly.

"I'd prefer if Griffin stays with us," Nezu says softly.

"Nezu, it's ok...I'll be fine," she nods a little.

Nezu sighs. "Alright...thank you, Hawks. I appreciate your gracious hospitality to my friend," Nezu smiles. Hawks nods, and Nezu and Griffin walk out.

Nezu looks up at Griffin. "Arlis, what if Hawks–"

"Nezu, everything will be ok. I'll take my meds. Everything will be fine," she nods a little.

He sighs. "Alright..." he says softly.

Hawks walks out and smiles. "Ready?" He asks. She nods a little, and they walk out.

"Need a lift back to school?" She smiles.

"No, thank you. I was never a fan of flying," Nezu smiles.

They nod and take off into the sky, the stars sparkling all around them. Hawks glances at Griffin as she flies, a small smile on her face. She looked just as beautiful in the moonlight as she did in the sunshine. He quickly looked away, trying to focus on not crashing into a building. They get to Hawks' apartment after checking Griffin out of the hotel she stayed at and landed on his balcony. He walks in, and she looks around.

"Woah...you have a nice place," she smiles a little.

"Thanks. Um, let me show you to your room," he smiles and walks down the hall. He opens the door, and she walks in.

"Hawks...maybe I shouldn't stay here...You don't really know me and I–"

"Any friend of Y/N and Koa's is a friend of mine. Please..." he smiles a little. She nods a little and looks down. He walks over to you and hugs you. "I'm sorry..." he whispers.

"It's ok...I just...can't believe that he's gone," she sniffles.

"We will make whoever did this pay," he whispers.

She nods, and he cups her cheek. He feels his cheeks pool with heat as he looks at her. She smells like roses and honey. His wings twitch a little, and he clears his throat.

"Umm, the bathroom is right over there. I'm down the hall if you need something...I'll see you in the morning," he nods a little.

"Ok...Goodnight, Keigo," She smiles a little.

"Goodnight, Arlis," he smiles. He walks out and shuts the door. He walks to his room and shuts the door. He takes off his hero costume and combs his fingers through his hair. "Be cool...be cool...everything is cool..." he mumbles. No, it wasn't cool. He felt so nervous around her. He slipped his shirt off and sighed. He pulled on some grey sweatpants and sat on his bed, trying to clear his scattered brain.

Arlis walks into the bathroom and shuts the door, turning on the shower quickly. Her hands shake as she pulls off her hero costume. Her body is covered in scars from numerous surgeries. She looks in the mirror, and tears spring to her eyes as her wings wilt.

Daddy, I'm sorry!! Please! Please don't let them take me!! Please! I'll be good! I swear!! Please! What did I do!?

She shakes her head and quickly gets into the shower. She shoves a washcloth into her mouth and screams into it as the hot water hits her skin, her wings disintegrating, a swirl of pink and purple dripping down her body, washing into the drain, into nothingness. She sobs as she feels her tail melt away, her body aching and shivering. She drops to her knees and wraps her arms around herself as she cries. The last of her wings melt off, and she wails, trying to muffle her cries.

Keigo's head snaps up, and he runs out of the room. He gets to her door and knocks. "Arlis, are you ok?" He asks. Silence. He opens the door and looks around the room. He walks to the bathroom door and knocks again. "Arlis?!" He says, his voice filling with panic.

He hears a soft whimper, and his heart drops. He kicks open the door and walks to the shower. He opens the curtain and gasps seeing her on her knees, hunched over, holding herself as she cries. Her back has two massive open wounds where her wings used to be.

"Oh my god," he shuts the water off and grabs a towel. He wraps it around her, and she winces. "I've got you," he whispers.

He picks her up and carries her to the bed, laying her down carefully. He grabs another towel and rushes to her side. He looks away and covers the front of her body with the other towel. He pulls the one on her back down, just enough to see the scars.

"What happened?" He asks sadly.

"Please...just go...please...y-you shouldn't...I'm a monster," she mumbles.

His eyes widen. "You aren't a monster," he says softly. She starts to cry again, and he quickly goes to the other side of the bed. "Should I bandage them?" He asks.

She shakes her head agian. He nods and walks over, and turns off the light. He gets into the bed and pulls the covers over her, leaving her back open to not irritate the wounds. He pulls her to his chest, her hair and ears soaking his body.

"What are you doing?" She sniffles.

"I'm not leaving you alone like this...I told you...I've got you...now rest..." he whispers.

She wants to say no. She wants to kick him out and tell him to stop with the little pity party. But for once, this doesn't feel like pity. It feels genuine. Protective and loving. Her body shivers from exhaustion. He fluffs his wings and wraps them both in a cocoon of his wings, instantly warming her body up. She closes her eyes and falls asleep, the smell of cinnamon and the beating of his heart relaxing her. He holds her tightly, his brain rattling. He was furious. Someone hurt her. Someone did this to her. Someone had given her those scars...and someone had taken her wings.

"You aren't a monster, Arlis...whoever did this to you is."