A Taste For Chicken

Halcyon - Part Four

The hero agency was buzzing with excitement. The visiting heroes from the HPSC were coming and going, and Chickadee had taken it upon herself to make a batch of sweets to thank them. In the agency's cozy kitchen, she stood by the counter, her brow furrowed in concentration as she carefully measured out ingredients. Her apron was already dusted with flour, and the sweet smell of baking filled the air.

Hawks walked in, drawn by the aroma. His red wings folded neatly behind him, he leaned against the doorway for a moment, watching Chickadee work. There was something endearing about her focus, the way she bit her lip as she mixed the batter.

"Need a hand?" he asked, stepping into the kitchen.

Chickadee jumped a little, not having noticed him there. "Oh! Hawks, you scared me." She laughed, her cheeks turning a slight shade of pink. "Sure, I could use some help. I'm making cookies, but they keep coming out a little too crispy."

Hawks smiled and rolled up his sleeves. "Let's see what we can do." He joined her at the counter, and they worked side by side, the awkwardness of their situation softened by the simple task at hand.

As they worked, Chickadee glanced up at him, her eyes curious. "Hawks, I've always wondered... what's it like having such a cool quirk? Your wings, I mean. It must be incredible to fly."

Hawks paused, his expression thoughtful. "It has its perks," he said, keeping his tone light. "But it wasn't always easy. Growing up with them, it was... challenging."

Chickadee nodded, "I can imagine. Kids can be pretty harsh." She hesitated, then added, "It's so weird sometimes, you know. Not having a quirk? Sometimes I feel like I don’t really belong here."

Hawks looked at her, his eyes softening. "You belong here, Chickadee. Quirk or not, you bring something unique to the team. Your kindness, your dedication... that’s what makes you special."

She blushed again, focusing on the dough she was rolling out. "Thanks, Hawks. That means a lot."

For a moment, they worked in silence, a comfortable quiet settling between them. Hawks glanced at her, feeling a rare sense of ease. "You know," he began, "Seeing those people in the slums really reminded me of how hard I used to have it. I felt so... I dunno apathetic. For a long time I was just so blank... But it made me stronger in the long run, I guess."

Chickadee looked up at him, her eyes wide with empathy. "It must have been really tough. But you turned out amazing, Hawks. You're a great leader and an even better friend."

Hawks smiled, touched by her words. "I'm not really that great of a leader but... Thanks, Chickadee."

Just then, the timer went off, signaling that the first batch of cookies was ready. Chickadee hurried to the oven, pulling out the tray with a flourish. "Let’s see how these turned out!"

The cookies were perfect this time, golden brown and smelling divine. Chickadee beamed, and Hawks couldn’t help but smile back. "You did it," he said, giving her a light nudge with his elbow.

"We did it," she corrected, her smile radiant. "Thanks for helping, Hawks."

As they arranged the cookies on a plate, ready for the visiting heroes, Hawks felt a warmth spread through him. Chickadee glanced up at him, her eyes bright with gratitude and he felt his wings puff up as the chill of excitement ran down his spine. There was something so thrilling and innocent about this little work crush. He wanted to hold onto the feeling as long as he could, at least until he'd have to let it go.

"How's it going with that lady, by the way?" Hawks asked, helping pick up some of the bowls while Chickadee wiped down the counters, "She seems like a hard-ass."