"So...you're telling me...that it's us...Two fuckwits, barely adults...against thirteen villains?!" I whisper-shouted right into Hawks' ear, which was already covered by his muffs.
"Yup." He said pointedly; popping the P. "Heh, maybe I should've let the kid tag along..." My glare was burning holes into him; I could see it, but he kept trying to act casual.
"Are you absolutely fucking insane? Like...seriously...did your brain get salmonella poisoning from a bad fucking nugget? This is suicide..!" We were hidden on the rooftop; the sun long gone from the sky, and below us were a gang of nasty looking villains.
"Nah, this is average..." He yawned; his wings flapping a little as he shuddered. "Anyway, I want you to like, shriek them all into the corner. Then I can restrain them with my feathers! Easy done, then we can go get a feed!" He looked mighty proud of himself for coming up with such a plan, but I wasn't having a bar of it.
"Yeah...nah...Y'know, I'm not a big fan of that melon of yours, hun..." I muttered sarcastically; shoulders hunched to my ears.
"Hmm? Not hungry? We could always head back home and fu-" I slapped my hand over his mouth; squishing his cheeks up.
"That's not happening for a month, at least...Not after this bullshit..."

This is a death sentence...I don't know what I'm doing!

Vermilion appeared in my peripherals as Hawks curled his wing around me.
"You're gonna ace this. I've got your back, Sunshine." I didn't want to look at him. I knew that he'd be sporting that goofy, charming smile, and I'd just give in and go along with this idiocy. Who was I kidding? I was already gonna go along with it.
"F..fine! Shriek them into a corner, aye..? How hard could it be..?" Rolling my shoulders, I stood up; allowing my two gnarled wings to form.

At least I'll get to haunt his dumb chicken ass if I die..!

"Assfuck..." I grumbled as I did a swan-dive off the edge of the roof. I thanked the gods that they were all grouped together, because I wanted to get this over and done with so I could return to insulting my air-headed blond. One of the men turned around; the unsightly frill around his neck closing up almost like a flower.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS DAT?!" He shrieked, right before I did the exact same thing.

I s h r i e k e d.

It was chaos within seconds. The sheer power of my amplified voice sent them all flying into the far wall, and in the blink of an eye they were all just a pile of groaning bodies.
"Told ya it was easy!" I glanced over my shoulder in time to see Hawks' feathers jumping from his wings; reducing them to ugly little nubs as he landed awkwardly. The flurry of vermilion swept over the gang like a net; keeping them trapped against the floor. "Now all we gotta do is call the cops and hand 'em over!" I was kind of glad that I couldn't take my eyes off him. If I had, I wouldn't have noticed the figure racing towards him from behind.
"W..watch out!" I panicked; leaping into the air and swooping towards the attacker.

Fuck! I missed one! I knew I'd screw this up!

The man cried out as I landed on top of him; my wings spread downward so they acted like a cage. His hazel eyes were wide, and they were filled with fear.
"I yield! I give up! Don't eat me!" He wailed; almost hyperventilating as I glared daggers.
"Shit, I didn't even hear him...Thanks, Sunshine!" Hawks said cheerfully as he whipped out his phone; the last few of his feathers coming to relieve me of holding the villain down. I stood up and stepped back; rubbing my arms as I just stared at the concrete. I had known I wasn't cut out for heroism, and the fact that I had missed one only furthered my point. If I hadn't seen the bastard, Hawks could have been killed.

And...he looked at me...like I was gonna kill him...

"I'm so proud of you!" I wheezed as Hawks lifted me off the ground in a bear hug; obviously already done with his phone call. "You're pro material already! My teaching skills are out of this world!" I just let him squeeze me; staring off into space. I felt almost...villainous. It wasn't the first time, but it didn't make it any less distressing.
"H..Hawks..?" My voice was quiet, and the moment he heard it, all his attention was on me.
"What's wrong, Sunshine?" He looked concerned; cupping my cheeks with his gloved hands. "You did so well...You should be smiling..." I sighed; leaning into his touch.
"The...look on his face...it..." I trailed off as my boyfriend squeezed my cheeks; lifting my face and grinning that glorious grin of his.
"Doesn't my face say otherwise? You were flawless!"

I...I want to believe it...but...

"If you don't agree, ask the nation! That helicopter up there isn't just passing by, ya know!" I stiffened; peering up into the sky to see none other than the Channel 46 news helicopter hovering over us. Somehow, I hadn't even noticed it before, but now I was ready to throw up the extra pack of nuggets Hawks had made me eat at lunch.
"I'm gonna kill you..." I growled; baring my teeth, even though he still had my cheeks smooshed together.
"If you must, may I be fucked to death..?" He purred; completely ignoring the cat calls and wolf whistles erupting from the trapped villains. Hot faced and seething, I shoved away from him and began stalking away into the night; my wings twitching behind me.
"Get fucked!"

"That's what I'm trying to do!"

------------------------------------------------

3:19am

That's what my clock read as I tossed and turned in my own room; having refused to succumb to the boyish charms of my air-headed boyfriend slash boss. It felt wrong to be sleeping alone. It was...quiet.

Sucking up any ounce of pride I had left, I slipped out of my bed; the icy touch of the floor biting at my bare feet. Silently, I crossed the hall and entered Hawks' room; squinting into the darkness at the lump under the covers.

Out like a light...Guess he didn't miss me as much as I missed him...

Dejected; I was about to turn away when I heard bed springs creak.
"Noooo...Don't take my sunshine away..." The man whined; his voice groggy as he reached out towards me. I could barely make out his eyes, but from what I could see, they looked sad; as though he was begging me not to turn around and leave him alone again.
"I'm...I'm not gonna sleep with you, chicken shit..." I muttered; contradicting the way I almost sprinted over to him.
"You kidding..? I'm beat...I just wanna wrap myself around you and sleep for a month..." He yawned; immediately curling his arms around me when I slipped under the covers and resting his head on my chest. His warmth was exactly what I had needed, but I still had overwhelming thoughts nipping at my mind.
"H..hey...babe..?" I irked at the use of such a pet name, and Hawks slightly tilted his head to look up at me.
"Mmm?" He only had one eye open, and it was fading fast.
"I...was wondering...would...you still wanna be with me if I didn't wanna be a hero..?" My fingers began to comb through his ashen locks, and he hummed contentedly.
"I fell for you before we even spoke, Sunshine..." He murmured; peering lazily up into my (E/C) eyes. "You could be a professional sock folder for all I care...It wouldn't change a thing..." I scoffed lightheartedly; moving my hand from his hair to his droopy vermilion wings. They were so soft, and they shivered a little under my touch.
"I'm just...not sure I'm cut out for heroism...I...I just don't wanna lose you if I back out..." I confessed quietly. His arms tightened around me, and his legs tangled with mine beneath the duvet.
"I'll say this before I pass the fuck out..." Another yawn rumbled from Hawks' throat as he squished his cheek into my breast. "Whatever you choose...I'm cool with it. I know I pushed you into being a hero...but only because I see the potential you don't...You're stuck with me, Sunshine...and you better believe I'm gonna wife the fuck out of you real' soon..." My breath hitched at that declaration, but I didn't respond, as his light snores had already began to fill the void of silence. Comfortably trapped within his snare of affection and tangled limbs, I closed my eyes.

You really do move fast...don't you..?

***I hate this chapter so much I wanna bury it in concrete ooff - I've said it a thousand times...I can't write fights! Anyway...I forgot Icarus existed whoops 🙃***