Attempt (Hawks x Male OC)

3: Confrontation

"I'll be with you in a minute!" Ai called out from the back room. He hadn't expected someone to come in so close to closing time, he had completely abandoned the storefront and started watering the cutting garden in the back. 

He smoothed out his apron and walked to the front. It was a woman in a suit, looking every bit a professional. Ai got a lot of office workers because his store was prime real estate. He loved seeing sleepy men and women stumble in near closing to buy flowers for their spouse back home. 

This woman didn't seem tired at all, so Ai got right into it. "Welcome to Dove, what can I help you with today?" He asked with an excited smile.

"You are Fujiwara Ai, correct?" The woman asked, barely letting Ai finish his greeting. The white haired man just nodded, a little taken aback. "I'm from the hero commission. I am here to discuss your involvement with one of our heroes, Hawks.". 

A feeling of panic washed over Ai. Hawks had warned him about the commission coming after him. They couldn't actually do anything of course, but it was still a little nerve wracking. Quickly he started the plan he and Keigo had come up with. "Just let me close up the shop first." He said, turning the sign in the door around. He excused himself to the back room to put his apron away and texted Keigo. 'They're here'. 

"So, you want to speak with me about Keigo?" Ai said, awkwardly standing beside the woman. He didn't have an office downstairs and there were no chairs except at the arranging stand. The woman flinched at his use of Hawks' first name but forced her expression back to neutral. 

"If you two believe this sort of prank is amusing, I will ask you to stop immediately. Do you have any idea how much damage has been done to his reputation since the scandal?" The woman pressed, obviously furious. "Mr. Fujiwara, you can not deceive us.". 

"Why would I deceive you? This isn't a charade, its a relationship." He answered casually. He swore the woman's eye twitched. 

"Fine, if you believe this-" She searched for the right word "foolishness is genuine, then you are mistaken. We know Hawks more than he knows himself and he is not homosexual.". The woman went on, "I understand that your choices are your own, but in a country like Japan you will ruin his reputation. He could not possibly be serious about you so please stop destroying his career.".

"Destroy his career?" Ai asked incredulously "Its barely been 3 months. And Keigo knows himself perfectly well, he can make his own choices.". The woman fumed at this. "As far as I've seen all the publicity about our relationship has been positive, even more so when my identity was revealed. It seems Japan is not as close minded as you believe.". 

"Need I remind you that the Hero Commission is a powerful group? I'm sure your business would be unable to survive it if we decided to unearth some secrets." The woman said smugly. 

"What secrets are there to tell?" Ai asked, playing clueless. "The fact you bought this store with your grandmother's life insurance?" She challenged. 

Suddenly the door swung open and Ai beamed, making the woman turn around. Hawks had finally arrived, dressed in ripped jeans and a t-shirt with a maroon jacket swung over his shoulder. "Ai!" He said, trying his best to act lovesick "Sorry I'm late! Patrol ran long.". 

Ai took the opportunity to loop his arms around Hawks' neck and pull him into a hug. "I apologize for cutting whatever you two have going on short," Keigo began "but Ai and I have dinner plans tonight.".

It was a complete lie. They didn't have anything planned until a gala Keigo had to attend on Saturday but luckily he had gotten the text in time to swoop in and save Ai. 

"Are you serious about this Hawks?" The woman asked harshly "You aren't even gay.". Keigo flinched at that. No, he wasn't gay, but he was trying to keep Ai from knowing that. He didn't want the smaller man to feel awkward or uncomfortable being his fake boyfriend just because of Keigo's mini sexual crisis. 

"I don't know what you're talking about." He said, stretching his wing out to cover Ai "Now please leave so my boyfriend here can lock up.". 

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

"Jokes on her though, 'Dove' was my grandmother's quirk. She was my introduction to flower arranging and gave me the money to pursue it." Ai giggled. The two had decided to actually go out to dinner and found a nice place nearby where Ai could recount everything the woman had said. 

"How did they miss that?" Keigo wondered aloud "Like, how did they think that was blackmail material?". Ai shook his head. "I have no idea.". 

The atmosphere was so nice. The conversation was more personal than any they had before. For a moment Keigo wondered if this is what it was like to be normal. To be 23 and go out to eat, go to school and date like a normal person. 

No matter how popular hero work got it was never going to be the norm. Hawks' situation especially, he was raised to be a hero but nothing quite felt-

His thought was interrupted by Ai nearly slipping off the chair. Instantly his wing was there to catch him and nudge the smaller man back into his seat. Yeah, he shouldn't overthink things. He let his feathers linger on Ai's arm for a moment longer before quickly retracting them. 

Hawks resolved not to tell him. Ai didn't need to know he was straight, although was he really straight if he liked Ai? That was beside the point. He wasn't going to tell Ai unless they got into a real relationship. 

That was probably just wistful thinking though. 

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

Welcome to hell, we have kazoos.

I feel like absolute shit and need more cute romantic things to write for this fic to keep me from ending it all. Suggestions are very appreciated! 

Stay Tuned!