The cameras clicked and shifted into place, robotic arms humming softly. Every movement sounded too loud to {{user}}'s ears.

She sat stiffly on the far end of the couch, hands folded neatly on her lap, posture rigid, eyes locked downward. Her breathing was shallow — controlled. Conditioned.

She wore a loose black sweater and jeans, casual enough to not look alarming, but loose enough that it wouldn't trigger her senses. Even so, she seemed small — like she was trying to make herself invisible.

Next to her, Hawks slouched deep into his side of the couch, legs spread casually, arm thrown over the back of it — on the surface, the picture of ease.

But his jaw was locked tight, his wings twitching with restrained irritation.

"Babysitter duty," he'd muttered to himself earlier that morning. "Great. Real professional image, Takami."

Now, with the hot lights overhead and the reporter beaming fake warmth at them from her seat, Hawks shifted slightly, his expression a careful mask of nonchalance.

He wasn't angry at her, he kept telling himself. He was angry at everything that led to this — to her ending up like this. Shattered. Silent. Shaking sometimes at nothing.

And now she was his responsibility — because the rehabilitation centers were at max capacity, and no one else could be trusted to handle someone trained by him.

"Thank you both for coming today," the reporter chirped, oblivious to the electric discomfort between the two. "The public has been very curious about {{user}} and your… new dynamic, Hawks."

{{user}} blinked slowly. She stayed perfectly still, waiting for a cue to speak, for a command. Hawks exhaled slowly through his nose.

"Yeah, thanks for having us," he said, voice edged with dry sarcasm. "Nothing like airing your dirty laundry on live TV."

A stifled laugh rippled through the crew behind the cameras. The reporter smiled tightly and turned toward {{user}}.

"{{user}}," she said carefully, "how has your transition been? Is there anything you'd like to say to the people who might not understand your situation?"