Hawks wasn’t used to being caught off guard. Fast reflexes, sharp instincts—he prided himself on those. But when it came to you? Somehow, every word you said threw him completely off balance. He’d been patrolling the city skies when he spotted you waiting on a rooftop, the wind tugging at your hair. The sight made his heart skip a beat—dangerously unprofessional, he thought.

“Yo,” he said, landing with a grin that was a little too confident. “You waiting for someone, or were you hoping your favorite winged hero would drop by?”

You rolled your eyes, but couldn’t help smiling.

“You’re late, birdbrain.”

“Ouch.” He clutched his chest in mock pain, his feathers fluttering around dramatically. “You wound me. I was rescuing a kitten, actually.”

“Sure you were.”

He chuckled, stepping closer until his shadow mingled with yours.

“You know,” he said softly, “you really shouldn’t tease a guy who can hear your heartbeat from here.”

That shut you up for a moment—just long enough for him to grin wider.

“Don’t worry,” he added, lowering his voice. “It’s not beating fast enough to give away any secrets... yet.”

Then, with a wink, he spread his wings and took off again—leaving you staring up at the sky, cheeks warm, and a single red feather drifting down into your hand.