You were still worked up from embarrassing the Number 2 Pro Hero. But to be fair... he really did bring it upon himself with that bet.

When you had told Hawks that he was cute when he was flustered... you were doing backflips in your head when you had leaned in dangerously close to him to say that. It took every ounce of control to not blush the shade of a tomato when you veered close enough to catch a whiff of his soft cologne. But you wondered... did he become flustered because he embarrassed himself in front of the entire Pro Hero world? Or was it because of you - on how you inched towards him; mustering up the best seductive smile you could conjure up?

Regardless of which reason, you had him stumped for words. That much was obvious. And you would gladly take this victory for today.

You were now in a room down the hall with Aizawa. He was practically your mentor for the time being; as he was explaining where you would be transported to - and what the next test would consist of. You only had about an hour breather before you were going to be escorted to the next challenge.

"Most of the Officials and the Pros will have an option to view you on a live feed from here..." Aizawa continued. "Or watch you from the sidelines. And mind you... the Pros who stay to watch the next tests, are typically the ones who are interested in granting you an internship."

You leaned your lower back up against a table; your arms crossed as you listened to Aizawa.

"The second test is split into 2 challenges. You must get through 1 Villain Bot armed with excessive firearms to proceed to the next group of multiple, lower-grade Bots. The lower-grades are just as big... but less weapons."

"Christ. It's like 3 or 4 tests total!" You exclaimed. "Not 2, like you originally stated."

"Things change." The Pro Hero continued. "The Hero Commission can change these things on a whim. I only go by what was done the last time. And with the display you put on in there...." Aizawa masked any form of emotion, but the determination in his voice was easy to detect. "Who knows if they'll change it even more in the next hour for their own curiosity."

"Government corruption." You seethed. "Corruption is government intrusion into market efficiencies in the form of regulations...like changing the tests that are supposed to grant you opportunities. Instead - they try to bring you down due to their own... 'curiosity'. It's the same here as it was back home. Just different circumstances." Without thinking you pounded the table with your fist. And at the same time, someone walked through the door. "What the fu-..."

But before you could finish, you realized who just walked into the room.

He casually closed the door behind him; crossing his arms against his chest - and acted as if you were the most amusing thing in the room.

"Uhh, I'm sorry, Hawks." You rapidly blinked your eyes, ashamed that your temper flared for a split second - as he apparently witnessed the end of it.

"Oh, by all means, please continue." The winged-Hero mused as he leaned up against the door. "I love a fiery woman."

Your mouth hung slightly open as you just blankly stared at him.

Hawks stared back - that amused smirk never leaving his face.

It was a few seconds before you shook your head as if that would bring you back to reality. "You just made it awkward."

"I did?" Hawks questioned.

"You did."

"I did."

"Yes... you did."

"Okay, we've established that I did."

Aizawa's eyes darted from you to Hawks - completely dumbfounded at what your relationship was with the Number 2.

"Hawks, what do you want? Shouldn't you be heading over to Ground Omega?" Aizawa's voice gruff with impatience.

"I just wanted to come in here and wish this little Bird good luck." The Number 2 exclaimed as he walked over to you.

He then leaned over you; his face hovering just over your shoulder as the stray strands of his hair brushed the side of your cheek. "I'm sorry I underestimated you, Baby Bird." His voice but a whisper; sending your whole body to shiver under his tone alone.

He leaned slightly back to get a good view of your face... and as usual, he was not disappointed. But your stiffened posture made him sigh.

In the short amount of time he's known you - Hawks was piecing together that you must find him attractive in one way or another. And that was insanely flattering to him. But he wanted you to feel comfortable around him... safe.

You - on the other hand, wanted to ask him so many things. Like why was he so flirtatious with you? You only thought that it was just how he was when you had first met the Pro Hero... but now, he seemed a little relentless. You couldn't lie to yourself... you liked him. But how did he feel? He did want to 'go on a date' with you... but that was through a bet. Was he just joking?

Hawks then suddenly flicked your forehead with a grin. "Stop being so tense around me."

You nearly went cross-eyed, but noticed his smile soften as he gazed into your eyes. "Makes me anxious." He continued, his wings lowering in a somewhat disappointed state. "I wasn't lying when I said that I wanted to get to know you."

You were so captivated by the winged-Hero's response that you almost jumped out of your skin when Aizawa cleared his throat - forgetting that he was still in the room. "Would you stop patronizing my student, Hawks."

"Aye yo, sir!" Hawks mused as he saluted the Pro Hero beside him.

But just as Hawks was about to leave, he began to stare at your mid back. As if something caught his eye.

And this wasn't the first time he'd done this. He gawked at the same area when you first met the Pro... him insinuating that he was simply making sure you had no more injuries to treat.

Hawks then walked around your figure, standing directly behind you as he peered a little closer; piercing his lips. He then placed his index finger upon the arm of his yellow visors - flipping them up and down over his eyes, to his forehead, and then back again.

"W-what are you doing?" You finally managed to ask.

"Oh! Nothing!" Hawks exclaimed; that wide smile of his hiding something he wouldn't fess up to. He then turned towards the door waving a farewell hand over his shoulder. "I'll see you at Ground Omega, Kid! You've got this!"

"Oookay." You hesitated, but then something finally hit you as you whipped towards Aizawa. "Ground Omega?! Like... the forest-like area with rocky hills and cliffs?? I thought you said Ground Beta was next?"

"2 phases." Aizawa stoically replied holding up 2 fingers. "Pay attention, L/N."

You scratched the back of your head in mild frustration. If this is what it took to become a Pro Hero... then so be it.

********************

The sounds of birds traveled on the light breeze that rustled the trees around you.

You stood in a small opening at Ground Omega with Aizawa beside you.

Hawks, a few Officials, and even Endeavor stood at the tree line just a few yards away. The rest - in an observation tower just up ahead.

You pawed at the dirt with your shoe with your hands in your pockets - whilst trying to listen to Aizawa.

You were so full of confidence in the smaller arena before this... now your nerves were a jumbled mess. You had an idea of what you were up against, but the outcome was scaring you. And as a trainee, that was the wrong frame of mind to have.

"This high-tech Bot will use the terrain to its advantage so..." Aizawa paused as he stepped closer to you. His hair then stood straight up, his eyes faintly illuminated red, and his scarf vibrated around his shoulders. You felt a stiffened aura around him, as if he were activating his Quirk to get your full attention... and it worked. "Use your advantages. Every. Single. One of them." He eyed you with those piercing eyes - almost as if trying to tell you something that he didn't quite know himself. You couldn't help but to gulp and nod back.

The Pro Hero's features went back to normal as he continued. "But don't over exert yourself. They are throwing a powerful foe at you first - in an attempt to wear you down. So try to manage your strength and reserves. Because you're going to need it for the next test."

"Oh, so... kinda like cooldowns in a video game." You smiled.

Your analogy was ridiculous to Aizawa, but right nonetheless as he sighed and nodded.

And with one final glance, Aizawa turned to join the rest; standing at the tree line.

You stood there, looking up to the still overcast sky. The gray clouds hovered over the sun - the yellow light fighting to shine through with no luck.

You inhaled deeply; preparing yourself. But that moment of preparation was disrupted as soon as a deep rumbling trembled the ground beneath you.

The rocks vibrated around your shoes; the dirt forming into small whirlwinds from an incoming pressure. You then instinctively bent your knees, and extended your arms slightly - taking a defensive stance.

Your hair violently blew back as you stood your ground. And what sounded like a ship horn at a sea harbor - the sound pierced your ears and thumped at your chest.

And just beyond the top of the tree line overhead, a massive hunk of cyber-looking machinery came hovering in the sky.

The barrels of weaponry patched every crevasse of the robot; the technology looking futuristic.

Your eyes widened. "What the fuck is this?!" You yelled to yourself. "Am I going against a damn Transformer on steroids?!"

You looked over at Aizawa, Hawks and Endeavor. All 3 of them were looking up at the monstrosity that you were put up against.

Aizawa - His features hard to read. Almost as if he expected as much.

Endeavor - Slightly surprised at what kind of technology UA had recently mustered up.

And Hawks... His wings fanned out as he craned his neck upward, his eyes formed into slits, and his stance relaxed. He then looked down to meet your gazing orbs - as a slight crooked smile bestowed upon his features as if telling you... 'Don't underestimate yourself. You've got this.'

Your crooked smile in return was just as comforting to him - as you then looked up to the challenge above you.

The guns upon the machine locked on your form as you then heard the loud 'BUZZ' emanate from the speakers on the watch tower.

The signal to start the test.

You looked down, seeing your veins illuminate - your power acting almost on its own; ready for combat.

You lowered your hands; facing your palms outward as a visible growing energy swirled around them.

Kicking off with your heels, you took off at full speed in the opposite direction of the Bot; trying to put some distance in between you and the threat - so you may come up with a plan to bring it down from the sky.

The sound of guns loading signaled for you to turn around and shield yourself.

You quickly raised your arms and crossed them to form an 'X' in front of you; creating a barrier of energy that blocked the incoming projectiles. You whipped around once again - now dodging every bullet, laser stream, and anything else the machine projected your way.

This went on for a whole 4 minutes, and you still couldn't come up with how you would get close enough to even damage the Bot. You went to run for the trees, but to your surprise, the machine stopped and lowered it's weapons.

You turned around to see Aizawa with a type of remote control in hand - obviously the panel to direct the man-made mass in the sky.

But before you could question anything, a soft material wrapped around your frame. From your chest and to your legs - the fabric hardening and immobilizing you completely.

Aizawa's scarf.

The scarf then pushed you harshly against a tree trunk, causing you to wince at the force.

The Pro Hero then appeared before you... and he didn't look too happy.

Hawks was right behind him; his face riddled in confusion as he cried out. "What the hell, Eraserhead?!"

"Hawks." Aizawa stated. "Stay where you are."

Hawks stopped just a few feet behind you - his stance rigid as the winged-Hero wanted to rip you from Aizawa's personal attack.

You grit your teeth at the restricting fabric around your body as your teacher focused on you.

"Why are you holding back, L/N?!" Aizawa glared, now catching your full attention as that wasn't what you were expecting him to say. "There is a reason why I had that Bot in the sky. You have something that you're hiding. Something that you've perfected in manifesting with your Quirk. I want you to use it."

Your eyes were wide, and your breath hitched. How did he know...? Your wings...

Your eyes then involuntarily lifted to the sky; the look of longing to not be afraid of who you were, to embrace what you could do, and not be ashamed of any kind of repercussions. And the more you thought about it... you realized that you were still holding on to the world you came from. The world who denied you; turned its back on you...

Hawks studied your gestures, and noticed your gaze into the open sky.

He knew that look... that look of wanting to be free of whatever past was haunting you. To make something of yourself. To just... fly into the endless sky and let the winds take you down whatever road you fell upon.

He knew... because he had been there.

"NO ONE is going to judge you." Aizawa sternly stated. "Sometimes holding on does more damage than letting go. So... let go of whatever is holding you back."

Your lashes hooded over - the corners of your eyes threatening to spill tears. And the first person you looked to... was Hawks.

And the winged-Hero noticed this. In your moment of realization - you had locked eyes with him. Him and no one else. And this sent shivers throughout his entire body - his wings ruffling in response to the foreign emotions that he was feeling.

In your moment of gazing at Hawks - you admired at just how beautiful he really was. And even though you barely knew him, you found such motivation and comfort within that man already. But you didn't want his sympathy. You wanted him to think of you as a strong and independent character. And you would prove that right now.

The scarf loosened around you, and you found a whole new reason to conquer these tests. And that 'reason' was staring straight at you - with his stunning crimson wings ruffled, and his golden eyes now black with recognition.

A muffled grunt left your lips as you roughly pushed away the remnants of Aizawa's scarf. A new spark of determination flooded through your veins as you dug your heels into the ground, and raced off towards a cliff just beyond the trees up ahead.

Aizawa was right... why were you being so secretive? Was it your lack of trust with some of the relationships that you've already formed? You've met so many kind souls in this world that have been more than supportive of you.

The students of Class 1-A. All Might. Aizawa. Hawks...

If they were to fully trust you... you had to give them a fraction of trust in return.

Aizawa then lifted the hand-held control panel for the Villain Bot; pushing a button to resume the battle.

Hawks stared at you as you neared the drop-off of the cliff you were heading straight for - his protective side emerging. Did you have a death wish?

Aizawa saw the bird-like Hero ready his stance - as if he were going to take off flying towards you - but the teacher stopped him with an open palm in the air. "Hawks." Aizawa warned. "Remember... don't underestimate her again."

Hawks cocked his head to the side as his brows pinched together - but complied as he relaxed his posture, and his eyes never leaving you. 

And as soon as you reached the cliff... you jumped.