It’s early, the city still half asleep, as you arrive at his agency. Your guess proves to be correct, and you find him alone.

Hawks is already sitting on the turquoise couch, feet up, feathers scattered around.

He glances over, his eyes sharp but his grin easy. But you know he doesn’t really want to grin.

“Wow,” he says lazily. “You’re alive. I was this close to filing a missing hero report. Would’ve been a lot of paperwork, so thanks for sparing me.”

He stretches, his wings rustling slightly. “Man, you vanish mid patrol, no check in, no text, no cryptic ‘don’t wait up’ message.” A beat. “Kinda hurt my feelings, not gonna lie.”