I didn't announce myself as I flew down through the open skylight, landing as quietly as I could, trying not to alert my husband.

It still sounds so strange, calling him that...

After placing my satchel on the dining table, I glanced across the room, spotting one of our many blankets...inching across the floor?

For fuck's sake...

Muttering mild profanities to myself, I marched over and yanked the blanket up, one of my poor Roombas beeped with what I translated as a thank you before nyooming off into another room. That noise, however, seemed to officially announce my arrival, and I heard somebody begin to skip up the hallway.

"Where's my Sunshine?!" I uttered a low sigh as Hawks appeared, making a beeline towards me with his arms outstretched.
"This is a great way to break my vacuum." I muttered, holding the purple mink blanket up in my hand, the other coming to rest on my hip. He slowed down, his arms drooping a little along with his wings.

"What, no hugs and kisses? I'm sorry, it just kind of took me off guard when I got back." He laughed it off, running a hand through his windswept blond.
"Right. Just like the last time..." Rolling my (E/C) eyes, I folded the blanket, tossing it over the arm of the couch before turning to face him. "I'm making coffee. Want any?"

"Nah, I'm good. I am lacking some vitamin W though...The W stands for wife!" Grinning, Hawks danced over to me, opening his arms again, but I allowed him to embrace me this time. There was only so much I could ignore when it came to the winged man, and I felt horrible for not wanting to be around him.

"Dummy..." I mumbled under my breath as he squeezed me tight, holding my breath so I wouldn't catch his musky scent. Hawks chuckled as he dipped in for a kiss, but I hurried to spin my head, catching it on the cheek in place of my lips. That was when I felt him stiffen up.
"So, uh...How was work? You didn't answer my calls yesterday, so it must have been pretty busy..?" He asked, releasing me and stepping back, watching me stride towards the percolator.

Why should I tell you that when you won't tell me what you get up to?

"Not really. I spent the majority of yesterday sparring with Tokoyami at UA, so I was tired." I explained briefly, bending to collect my favourite mug from the lower cupboard. "Before that I was dealing with paperwork."
"Ah...Sounds pretty fun..."

The silence that fell upon us was painfully heavy. I was internally battling it out, wanting to both wrap myself around him and just reject his presence altogether. It just kept getting worse each time he came and went.

"H..how about we order in some chow and watch (F/Show) tonight? Cuddle up on the couch like we used to, hmm?" Hawks sounded like he was grasping at straws, and I ground my molars together before answering rather curtly.
"I already have plans to have dinner with Hakamata tonight. You can come, if you want."

Why can't I just deal with this like an adult?!

Unexpectedly, Hawks didn't start whining or moping about my attitude, instead, he just leant against the dining table, looking to the ground.
"Yeah, sounds like a plan..." He tapped his fingers against the wood, flickering his gaze to me on every offbeat. "I really missed you..."

I waited until I had finished pouring my coffee, grabbing the jar of sugar and staring at it for a stupidly long amount of time.
"Yeah...I...miss you too..."

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

"...So it has been quite the godsend, having her help out these past few weeks." Best Jeanist concluded, dabbing around the material where he had been passing his food through. Hawks nodded, rolling a meatball around with his fork as his head rested in the palm of his hand.
"Glad to hear it. Didn't I tell you she'd make a great hero?" He gave me a warm smile, which I returned with a plastic twang. I was beyond uncomfortable.

"Oh, before I forget, (Y/N). Your new costume should be ready in about a week." Our blond companion informed me, and I brightened up a bit.
"Sweet! Thanks so much, Mata." Hawks, on the other hand, seemed to be rather taken aback by the news.
"New costume? Didn't you like the one I helped design for you?" He asked, sounding disheartened.

I did, but...

"As pretty as it was...it doesn't protect me enough. This new one is made of resilient materials, and covers a heck of a lot more...Plus it suits my quirk..." I explained, refusing to make eye contact so I wouldn't feel any guiltier. "My bad. I neglected to mention it..."

"No no! It's fine! I'd much rather you be safer, Sunshine! Can't wait to see it!" When his hand came to rest on my knee under the table I almost pulled away. My chest hurt, and my mind was in just as much pain. What was wrong with me? I loved Hawks more than anything, but I just couldn't handle it. There were too many secrets.

Once Best Jeanist had taken his attention away, I yanked out my phone and quickly sent a message out, placing it on the table beside me when I had finished.

To: Maddest Banquet of Darkness

- Call me in five minutes. I need a scapegoat.
- Well, scapebird in your case.

Those were the longest five minutes of my life, and my heart was gradually crawling it's way up my throat, ready to topple out of my mouth, right onto my dinner plate. When my phone finally began to ring, I slowly picked it up and hit accept.
"(Y/N) here."

"You asked me to call you?"

"Oh, now? I mean, I'm in the middle of dinner, but if you need me to come out then I can be there in ten." I replied, feeling Hawks' eyes on me.

"I did not request you to...Oh. Now I understand what you meant by scapegoat." Tokoyami played along, sounding kind of perplexed. I was sure I would be asked a series of questions the next time I met up with him.
"Nah, it's fine. I'll see you shortly, okay?"

"Have a pleasant evening. I hope I have provided you with the excuse you need, (L/N)."
"Bye pretty lady!"

Ending the call, I stood up, grabbing my handbag from the back of my chair.
"Sorry, I have to sign some paperwork I missed out on from earlier. Washi said the station called for it." I nodded to Best Jeanist, then turned to Hawks. "I'll see you later." Instead of a frown, he just gave me a loving smile, his cheek squishing against his hand in a way that made my heart ache.
"Sure thing, Sunshine. I love you."

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

***HAWKS POV***

The distance that grew between us as she walked out of the restaurant wasn't just physical. My eyes remained on the doors long after she left until a cough caught my attention.
"You need to talk to her."

Turning to Best Jeanist, I finally allowed my frown to take over and my wings sagged behind me as I leaned forward in my seat.
"It's...more complicated than that...There's a reason this is all confidential, otherwise I would've told her right off the bat..."

Nobody has any idea...

"Listen, Hawks..." The number three tented his fingers in front of where his chin likely was, closing his eyes to compose himself. "I have been spending a great deal of time with (Y/N), as you know. Yes, she is very concerned about whatever all of this confidentiality is about, but it doesn't stop at this mission."

Pushing my plate further away, I planted my elbows on the table, staring back at him.
"What do you mean?" I really didn't have a clue. All of our problems began the moment I accepted the mission, so what else could there have been?

"(Y/N) knows almost nothing about you. How would you feel if the person you loved was almost a stranger?" The lanky man questioned me, not giving me a chance to respond. "Not to mention all of this time away lately. I know people have different coping mechanisms, but she truly needed your presence more than anything, and you weren't there for her."

That was for her own good...

"I know...Believe me, I know...and I can't even begin to thank you enough for looking out for her while I've been...working..." I sunk down on the table, staring at the salt and pepper shakers between us.
"I merely kept her company. That woman has been looking after herself since day one, and I'm honestly in awe by how strong she can be...However..."

However..?

"She's in pain, Hawks. She misses you, and she loves you, and she's terrified that you are going to become part of her known pattern, as somebody who leaves. She has been working herself to the bone trying to keep her mind off of what she thinks may happen. You need to wake up to yourself and talk to her before she decides to file for a divorce."

I felt like I was about to vomit. I nearly leapt up from my chair, my hands slamming onto the table, eyes wide with panic.
"D..did she say that?!" My voice was choked with terror. I couldn't lose her. She was the one good thing I had in my life, and even though I knew for a fact she would be better; safer, without me, I couldn't let her go.

"I am not at liberty to reveal personal conversations between us, Hawks." Best Jeanist stated, leaning back. "But no. She didn't explicitly state that. Just speak with her when she gets home tonight. You have no idea how therapeutic words alone can be."

Instead of sitting back down, I rounded my chair, pushing it back under the table as my hands clenched around the wood.
"She's probably already home...I could hear Tokoyami clear as day on the other end..." I muttered, struggling not to let my emotions overthrow me in the public eye.
"So, what are you going to do?" Best Jeanist asked me as I turned tail, hurrying off past waiters and other diners, my wings nearly knocking them all flying.

"I'M GONNA SAVE MY FUCKING MARRIAGE!"

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***Next time: I don't have any smart hints for this. It's gonna be emotional as all fuck.***