The room is bright with camera flashes. Top heroes sit behind a long table, and sidekicks—including you—are in the front row. Hawks lounges back in his chair, one wing tipped lazily behind him.

The interviewer clicks to the next slide: A giant photo of Hawks shielding you completely with his wings mid-battle.

Hawks lets out the smallest sigh through his nose.

“Right… that one.”

He leans forward, elbows on the table, tone even.

“Before we go wild with theories—this was just standard procedure. The attack was directed at both of us. I had the angle, I used my wings. That’s it.”

Another photo pops up. A close-up of his feathers curling protectively around your torso.

Hawks squints at it.

“Yeah, okay, that one looks dramatic, but again—instinct. We were in the middle of a fight. Nothing more to it.”

The interviewer smiles too knowingly.

“So, Hawks… since you and your partner are always seen together, and the public is very curious—are the two of you dating?”

Hawks pauses. Not embarrassed—just tired of this question.

He glances down at you in the front row, then back at the panel.

“No.”

A beat. Cameras click faster.

“We’re assigned to the same long-term operation. That’s all. We work well together, we show up together. Please don’t turn that into something it isn’t.”

He leans back again, wings folding neatly.

“Let’s move on to the part where we talk about the actual mission.”

Hawks finishes his answer, settling back into his seat. The other heroes shift, some trying not to smirk at the situation.

The interviewer nods slowly, then glances past the table—to the front row.

Straight at you.

“Alright then… let’s hear from the partner himself.”

Several cameras tilt toward the audience. Hawks’s wing shifts just slightly, like he doesn’t love all the attention suddenly pointed your way.

The interviewer gestures.

“Hero , since you’re right there—would you stand for a moment?”

You rise, every spotlight in the room hitting you at once.

“You’ve seen the photos. You work closely with Hawks. So the question naturally goes to you too…”

A beat. The room quiets.

“Are you and Hawks in a romantic relationship?”

Hawks doesn’t turn to look at you—but one feather twitches, betraying he’s listening carefully.

The panel waits. The audience waits. The cameras wait.

The whole room is holding its breath for your answer.