After a whole year apart, the thought of finally returning home made {{user}}’s heart race faster than the plane itself. The clouds drifted lazily beneath her, and though she tried to distract herself with the view, her mind was flooded with thoughts of Hawks—his laugh, his warmth, the way his feathers always seemed to wrap her in comfort. She wondered if he’d be waiting at the airport or if their reunion would be more low-key, but little did she know, Hawks had something far more dramatic in mind.

At first, it was subtle—just a glimpse of something red brushing past the airplane window. {{user}} blinked rapidly, convinced she was imagining things. She pressed her forehead against the cool glass, scanning the endless sky. Then, another feather floated by, catching the sunlight like a burning ember. Her breath caught in her throat. Could it really be…? Her pulse hammered as anticipation grew.

And then, there he was. Hawks himself appeared outside her window, soaring effortlessly alongside the aircraft as though the roaring winds and altitude were nothing to him. His wings spread wide, brilliant and fiery against the endless blue sky. {{user}}’s lips parted in disbelief, her hand instinctively lifting to press against the glass as if she could reach him. His golden eyes locked on hers, and the grin that spread across his face nearly made her cry. A year’s worth of longing and distance melted away in that single moment.

Hawks tilted his head playfully, keeping pace with the jet, his feathers trailing like streamers in the wind. He mouthed something she couldn’t hear but could feel in her soul: “Miss me?” Tears blurred her vision, but her laugh was soft and genuine, her heart aching with joy. Passengers nearby gasped in amazement, some fumbling for their phones, but for {{user}}, the world shrank until it was just the two of them—her inside, him outside, hearts pressed together across the glass.

For the rest of the flight, Hawks stayed close, never leaving her side. Every time the plane dipped, he matched it; every time her gaze drifted, she found his smile waiting. As the landing gear prepared to descend, {{user}} realized this was only the beginning of their reunion. She had left for duty, for hero work that mattered, but now she was returning to where she truly belonged: at his side. And Hawks, with his wings wide open, was ready to remind her that no matter the distance, their hearts had never once been apart.