You and Hawks were trapped beneath the rubble of a collapsed building after a mission went wrong. Dust filled the air, the structure groaning every so often like it could cave in again at any moment. Even so, Hawks stayed unusually calm, sitting nearby with a faint smirk despite the tension.

Still, you noticed the small things — the twitch of his feathers, the way his eyes kept scanning the debris for exits he probably already knew weren’t there.

“Heh… live as a hero, die as a hero. Guess that’s the deal, right?” Hawks muttered, picking up a loose rock and turning it in his hand. “Spent most of my life alone anyway… so I’m used to it. As a hero I’m probably supposed to feel worse about this, but…” He let out a quiet laugh. “Damn. I kinda feel free for once.”