Chapter 20: Explain

Authors Note: I really didn't want to leave you hanging with how the last chapter ended >_< And also... Happy Birthday to meeeee! :)


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Maybe it was due to your numbness, but you didn't even flinch when you had heard the knocks against your sliding glass door.


You didn't even stop playing the piano as you casually looked over to see Hawks' face pressed up against the cold glass. A pleading look drowning him in the heavy rain outside.


Typically you would laugh at such a sight... but your face held no emotion. So you nodded for him to come in - as the door was already unlocked.


You turned back to your hands flowing ever so gracefully over the piano keys. A song both beautiful and sad filled the room.


You heard the sliding door open, and the ruffling of some feathers. Probably him ridding the water droplets from his wings and clothes.


But as soon as Hawks came to stand beside the bench you were seated upon, his blazer was already off, and he looked fairly dry for the most part.


As Hawks inched closer to you, you side glanced his way. His eyes silently asked for permission to sit beside you.


And fully understanding with what he was asking, you gently scooted your bottom over; making plenty of room for the Pro Hero.


You continued to play; focusing your eyes back down to the instrument. The only thing that was keeping you grounded at the moment.


Hawks sat there in silence, but his attention was trained on your ever moving fingers. Almost as if he were absorbing what you were playing.


And then to your surprise, Hawks softly placed his fingers upon the keys - coming in at the chorus of the song.


He played perfectly.


His hands moving as elegantly as yours as he started to play the backbone - and you the melody.


The two of you were perfectly in sync - and you couldn't help but to turn to look at him.


Your mouth slightly agape, and your E/C eyes glossed over with a whirlwind of emotions.


This man was as beautiful as the notes he played.


And when the song came to a stop, you deeply sighed. "Is there anything you can't do?"


"Keep your attention."


You really couldn't apologize to his response, because he did hurt you. What you heard come from his mouth hit the core of your heart.


So you stayed silent.


Hawks inhaled deeply; the frustration clearly in his face as he struggled with his words.


"What you heard... I didn't mean for you to ever hear. Because what I said is FAR from the truth. Please let me explain."


You stayed where you were; your face hanging low towards the ivory piano keys in front of you as you waited for his explanation.


Taking your immobility as a sign that you were there to listen to him, Hawks continued.


"I was trying to protect you, Y/N. The President was wanting to take you in for training. Extensive and harsh training to enter the fucked up world that I'm currently in. And they were looking for any excuse to do that..."


You still didn't look at him; as your mind mulled over with what he was saying.


"The Commission wanted to know if we had relations... because if I had expressed what you truly mean to me... then they would have leverage over me." Hawks' voice cracked as he thought of what the Commission would possibly make you endure. "I've already put you in danger in other aspects. Simply by being seen with you publicly. And I am SO sorry for that. My own selfishness of wanting to get to know you; wanting to be near you took over my instincts. And I reached for what I wanted anyway."


"You tried to stay away, didn't you?" Your thoughts reminded you of that month Hawks had practically disappeared as you trained with Aizawa at UA.


"Yes." Hawks' tone saddened. "But only because I thought I could keep you safe that way. From a distance. But as you can see... that didn't really work out so well."


You huffed, but still kept your eyes trained to the piano in front of you.


"Seeing you... run from me tonight because of something I said..." Hawks inched closer to you. "Caved my heart in. It was then when I had realized... that I should've just been honest with the President and you. I am not the one to decide your life. You are strong. And I'm fast enough to take down whatever comes in your way. And if you're willing to be apart of my fucked up world... Fuck the Commission."


You finally looked up to lock eyes with the man beside you.


His hair was disheveled, even more than usual.


His eyes were dull and glossed over with pain.


His body was ridged with tension - as his tense muscles could be seen protruding against the fabric of his button-up shirt.


And in this vulnerable state that he was in... you thought he was still a sight for sore eyes.


"I've been filling in the dreams of everyone else." Hawks exclaimed. "And finally... I see that it's okay to have my own."


There was no way in hell that this man wanted to break your heart. He would have burned in an inferno a million times over - just to never see you run from him like that - ever again.


You felt like an idiot tonight - jumping to conclusions.


You stammered over your words. "I-I am so sorry th-..." But before you could finish, Hawks quickly gripped the back of your neck with his hand - the other against your cheek - as he pulled you in, and collided his lips with yours.


You held no hesitation as you parted your lips unto his - instantly giving his tongue access to yours.


You wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled his face closer - as Hawks' lips covered yours fervently.


Him - suddenly feeling parched for your contact - swept his wet tongue across your lips before entering your mouth once again. You scraped your nails across his back - the friction of the fabric of his shirt generating a burning sensation under your fingertips.


His tongue circled the tip of yours, and you took a shallow breath that sent a tingling sensation up his spine.


And before you could slide off of the piano bench into a more comfortable position... Hawks slowly leaned back. His warmth leaving you sooner than you wanted - and already feeling cold without him.


"Don't you dare apologize for tonight." He stated.


"Well... if that's how you get me to shut up... I might have to apologize more often."


Hawks finally cracked a smile, and the cutest chuckle of relief escaped his mouth.


"No, really..." You mumbled. "I really am sorry. You practically had just told me that your current circumstances were dangerous. And you warned me that something you might say or do would possibly upset me. You asked me to let you explain if that were to happen... you asked for my trust... and I failed to give you that."


"Hey, Kid. If I heard you telling someone that I meant nothing to you, I'd probably react the same way you did."


"Hmmph." You huffed. "I also think that I'm just... scared. And that's hard for me to admit to. Subconsciously - I guess my fears took the wheel, and I was just looking for any excuse to run."


"Well that's no way to approach a relationship."


Your heart skipped a beat as you were taken aback by Hawks' last words.


Was he asking you to be his girlfriend? What did he mean by that?


But just as you were going to ask him what he meant, a loud and disturbing explosion ignited outside and into the ebony sky.


The shock waves from such a blast shook your entire penthouse, and Hawks shielded you without a second thought - as his massive wings wrapped around you instinctively.


You found yourself in a red hardened cocoon; waiting for the Pro Hero to release you.


Satisfied that there wasn't going to be another blast, Hawks released you from his protective cage.


The both of you jumped up from where you were sitting, and raced outside onto your balcony.


The orange and yellow flames danced about a mile away - a clear sight of the destruction you both heard just moments ago.


Police sirens echoed in between buildings, and the commotion within the city erupted into cries of panic.


"What the -..." Hawks' words trailed off into the light breeze. "Hey, Sweet Stuff - you gonna be alright?"


You nodded your head. "Yeah, but... what the hell is going on?"


"I'm about to find out. Please stay here and lock all of the doors. Including your patio door."


"Yeah, Okay."


"Hey..." Hawks turned to look at you - and you hadn't realized the look of worry that spread across your face. "I'll be back." He reached out his hand, and gave a gentle reassuring stroke under your chin.


You half smiled, and before you knew it - the Pro Hero jettisoned from your balcony - flying at speeds that were not humanly possible... right towards the turmoil ahead.


You shook your head; wrapping your arms around yourself and dreading of what Hawks could possibly be facing over there.


Was it terrorists? Villains? Was it a natural explosion? Was it... the League?


Your overthinking is going to get you into more trouble one of these days.


Maybe one of those days... was tonight.


You pierced your lips and rushed back into your house to change your clothes.


Hawks won't be too happy if he saw you show up at the scene - nor did you have your Provisional Hero License just yet. So if you engaged in any combat... that would be illegal.


But you couldn't just sit around and wait. That wasn't you.


You were a trained military official. Skilled in combat, weaponry, and even your powers were coming up to par.


If anything - you could help bystanders stay out of harms way.


Nothing you couldn't handle, right...?


You didn't want to overthink anything else. Instead, you changed your clothes and stood on your balcony once again - thankful that the rain had stopped... for now.


And as you set your eyes in the direction you were heading - your wings sprouted, and you took off as fast as you could towards the unknown wreckage.


This was proving to be a very... very long night.

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