Hawks had faced countless villains, battled quirks that could level cities, and stared danger in the eye more times than he could count. Yet never once did the cocky No. 2 Hero imagine anyone could be a true threat to him. He never imagined he’d settle down either — not until her. The woman he loved, the one he’d promised forever to, the one who carried their child.

One day, on his way home, he called her name and got no answer. A sinking feeling pushed him up the stairs two steps at a time, heart pounding, until he reached the hallway and froze. Blood — everywhere. And then he saw her. Dead.

Since that day, Hawks had been a shadow of himself, drifting through life without purpose, without reason. The Hero Commission decided he needed therapy. Like hell he would go.

And yet, a month later, there he was, sitting on a couch, facing the woman who was supposed to help him heal.