Feather Bound

Chapter 13

"Hawks...?" you said cautiously, observing as his breathing seemed to randomly quicken, and his eyes stared blankly ahead. You were thoroughly perplexed by the sudden shift in his demeanor. He had changed his attitude with you multiple times today, and it was starting to feel like an emotional rollercoaster.

He appeared frozen, and you couldn't help but notice how he clenched and unclenched his fists, as if he were in the midst of an anxiety attack. It was a sight all too familiar to you, a remnant of the trauma from your past. The blank stares, the trembling hands, and the rapid breathing were all too similar to the times you faced your ex, during your worst fights. Whenever he yelled at you, when he demeaned you and told you that you were worthless and would never amount to anything. But what had transpired to trigger this reaction in Hawks now?

Concern flooded through you as you struggled to figure out what was happening. You couldn't quite grasp what might have triggered it. You were both having a good time, and this was the game he said he wanted to play. Had it been a noise you hadn't heard, someone talking nearby about something that brought up a bad memory, or even the game itself? Regardless, you were thoroughly perplexed by it all.

You reached out gently, your hand moving toward him, and you grasped his wrist in an attempt to draw his attention back to you. It was your way of offering support, remembering how physical touch had always helped you in moments of anxiety. You weren't sure if it was something he was used to, but you wanted to be there for him. "Hawks?" you repeated, and he looked down at you, his eyes wide and filled with sorrow, before they suddenly hardened, and he jerked his arm out of your grasp, taking a deep breath.

"I can't do this," he said firmly, taking a step back and avoiding your gaze. Your brows furrowed, a sense of dread creeping into your stomach as you noticed his growing agitation and the restless twitching of his wings behind him. Memories of your past experiences with your ex resurfaced, making you uneasy. The last time someone had acted like this with you, it had nearly escalated into violence.

"But you said you wanted to play—" you started to say, but your words were abruptly cut off when he suddenly spread his wings. You flinched at the unexpected motion, a brief wave of fear washing over you as his wings extended in frustration and he crossed his arms, fixing you with a stern gaze.

"No, I don't want this!" he exclaimed, his frustration palpable as he began pacing in front of you. An uncomfortable silence settled in, and you felt the weight of onlookers' eyes fixed on the two of you. You glanced around and noticed people were indeed staring. The teenagers who had surrounded him earlier were now watching your direction, their whispers sounding like deafening screams as you grew increasingly uncomfortable.

"Okay," you muttered through clenched teeth, your face burning with embarrassment as you desperately sought a way to defuse the situation. "Then let's just go. It's not a big deal—"

Before you could finish your sentence, he turned to face you abruptly, and his eyes narrowed with a dangerous intensity. You swallowed nervously, realizing in that moment the origin of his hero name; he looked every bit like a predator.

"No, you don't understand. I don't want this," he snapped, gesturing between the two of you. "I don't want to do this anymore, and I certainly don't want you," he said with a frigid, cutting tone, now pointing a finger directly at you. Your heart twisted, and your chest felt constricted with pain. You had hoped his statement would be the end, but he inhaled sharply and continued, "I've been trying for weeks to get you to quit, but you just keep coming back."

He advanced toward you, and you instinctively retreated, your back pressed against the obnoxious dance machine. Tears trickled down your cheeks, and you cursed your own vulnerability. The last thing you wanted was to show him that his words had affected you. He leaned in, his face mere inches from yours, and you sniffled as you held his gaze.