Of Cat and Bird

Two - A Hero

I opened my eyes and looked around. I was lying on my back and the first thing my eyes landed on was the door. I was lying in a bed and my arm and leg were heavy. My head turned and I realized I was in a hospital room.

It was quiet except for the buzz of the light overhead, and a machine whirring beside me. I glanced up and saw that there was tubing leading into my arm. So they installed an IV into my arm. It had to have been painkillers because I knew I had broken bones but felt no pain. Only exhaustion.

My eyes closed and then reopened. As tired as I felt, I didn't want to sleep. I wanted to learn more about my surroundings. This hadn't happened to me before and I had never woken up in a different place than I had fallen asleep before.

I leaned forward and looked at my arm and leg. They were bandaged and casted. I sighed as I leaned back and then groaned.

"Oh, you are alive."

My head whipped to the side and saw a man standing by the window, looking out. I was stunned because he was silent and I felt no sign that there was somebody in the room with me.

"I thought I was alone." I whispered.

It wasn't meant to be a whisper, but it came out that way. I was weaker than I thought I was.

"Nope. Not alone. Because I am here."

I threw my head back and groaned. What was he trying to pull?

"Yeah, I know. That was lame anyway." He said.

Then my eyes widened as I realized who I was looking at. The large wings behind him, and that jacket that he was known for wearing.

"Hawks..." I mumbled.

He turned around and smiled at me, pointing at himself with his thumb.

"That's me! I pulled you out of a crazy wreck. You almost died, but I managed to pull you out of the way in time." He said.

"Thank you, Hawks." I whispered.

"Actually..."

He walked forward and leaned over me on my bed. I stared at him and he was smiling at me with a bright smile.

"I'd prefer if you call me Keigo. Now, nobody else knows this about me, so keep that a secret, alright? I'm trusting you." He said.

He leaned back and smiled at me once again. Then turned his head to look out the window again. The sky was changing colors.

"Look at that, the sun is setting." he said.

"Why are you trusting me? You don't know me." I asked.

"I don't know. I just feel like you're someone I can trust. And that's something that doesn't really happen."

"Okay... thank you. ...Keigo."

His head turned quickly to look at me and he was still smiling. He nodded his head and held a thumb up.

"See? It works, doesn't it?"

I could barely register what he was saying, and my vision blurred. Maybe I hit my head when I fell. Whatever the reason, I once again lost consciousness.

When I awoke again, I looked at the window but Hawks was gone. Why was he there in the first place?

"That's weird." I mumbled.

"What's weird?"

My eyes flicked to the source of the voice, and I found Nagisa looking at me with concern. I smiled and reached out to her, thankful to see she wasn't injured.

"When did Hawks leave?" I asked.

"Hawks? I don't think he was ever here. Are you alright? Did you hit your head?"

She approached me and I shook my head. Her hand stroked my cheek and then she gasped as her eyes widened.

"Wait! Did you dream about Hawks?" She asked.

Was it just a dream? Well, maybe I did dream about him saving me because I just saw him on Nagi's phone in an interview.

"I guess I did." I said.

"Aw... so you do like heroes. And your favorite is Hawks it would seem."

I stared down at my lap. It had to have been a dream. It made sense that it was because Hawks told me his civilian name. Nobody knew his name and everybody just knew him as Hawks. He wouldn't ever tell me his name. But my dream self did choose a nice name. Keigo sounded great.

And that was when I realized something else. Hawks was handsome in person. It may have only been a dream, but thinking he was in my room, and seeing him that close to me made me realize that he was actually a little attractive. And-

"Did you hear me?"

I glanced up and Nagisa was looking at me again, this time frowning. My face turned red as I smiled at her.

"Sorry, I was thinking." I said.

Her frown turned into a sarcastic grin and she put her hands on her waist.

"About Hawks? Is that why you're red?" She asked.

"No. I-"

"You looked away from me. You're lying."

I glanced back up at her and tried to sit up. My vision blurred and I reached up to grab it. I definitely hit my head. I looked up at Nagisa again and she sat on the edge of my bed.

"You don't look so great. I'm going to go get the doctor. I also have to get going. You've been out for so long. I was hoping to see you awake before I had to leave, and I did but... it's already time for me to leave."

"What!? It's morning? But..."

I shook my head and regretted it because it made me dizzy. But the sun was setting when I dreamed Hawks in my room. I had to forget that dream. Hawks wasn't visiting me. He didn't visit the people he saved in the hospital.

"Yeah, lay down would you? I'll be back after work. Get some rest and I'll see you later. I'm sorry I can't stay, but I'll make sure the doctor knows you're awake. I love you sis."

Nagisa leaned forward and kissed me on top of my head and then stood. She smiled again before turning and leaving the room.

I sighed and leaned back. I figured that there wasn't much else for me to do but wait for the doctor to come in. I closed my eyes and waited. It seemed like forever by the time the doctor came by, but when the door slid open I opened my eyes.

They widened at the sight because I knew I wasn't dreaming this time. Hawks was walking into my room. He looked at me and then stepped toward my bed.

My face turned red, remembering the dream I had. Hawks was really in my room this time. He was really here, and I was right, he was more handsome in person.

"You're awake. Good. We need to have a conversation." He said.