At first, he didn't really know what it was. For the same reason he was stressed majority of the time is the same exact reason he was never able to understand how he feels about you.

He'd always lack the proper time to really delve into that warmth he'd feel when he was around you. He never, 'Had time for love' due to his high-ranking status as a hero and plus the commission always being on his back.

It was a lot to handle.

Until you stumbled along like a baby bird who had just fallen out of their nest. That's how he saw you, anyway.

He only truly began to realize it when everytime you'd speak to another person that wasn't him, repeat that same attention you gave to him to everyone else and he'd just.. stare.

He didn't glare. Didn't scoff, didn't go out of his way to steal that attention back. He just.. stared. And for some reason couldn't bring himself to look away. Even as slight jealousy began to rise within him.

Often more times than not, he caught his gaze lingering just a little longer than he was supposed to. Catching himself staring, paying more attention to your likes and what made you scrunch your nose in disdain or furrow your brows with pity or sadness.

And most of all, like the male avian he is, he would send feathers in your general direction with a tiny little trinket attached. With a little note cracking a dumb joke he knew would make you giggle from how stupid it was.

Then and only then did he realize that you're the only one he wanted to make time for.

It was a little hot this morning. He only knew because you had just returned to his agency, complaining to another one of his sidekicks about it.

Daily trinket in hand, he stared. Yes, that stare. The stare that made him look like he was spacing out when really, he was just eyeing the way you leaned into the clothing of another person that wasn't him.

Catching himself sighing a bit, he shoved the tiny Keychain into his pocket and propped both arms behind his head.

Maybe next time.