My Rugged Heart [Hawks x OC]

Chapter 7

Something hit the library window. Or knocked on it. Jerking her head up from the old textbook she had been studying, Akane stared at her laptop screen, not wanting to look over at the window right now. Because she was sure if she looked at the window...

She glanced that way. Instant regret.

Hawks waved with one hand and held up his phone with the other. Then he tilted his head to the side in the most birdlike way and lifted his bushy eyebrows.

Quickly, she looked around to make sure no one else was in that part of the library. They seemed to be alone. Well, she was alone. And he was hovering outside the window. Akane made a shooing motion with both hands and tried to go back to reading. She had a medical history paper due the day after tomorrow.

Something slammed against the window.

Akane's shoulders lifted as she shot at glare at the persistent pro. He had his face smushed against the window.

"Hirano," he mouthed, "Hey!" He shifted so it was just his forehead against the window. He looked ridiculous.

Akane hid her face so he wouldn't see her struggling to not laugh. That would simply encourage him.

Getting up, she made multiple upward motions toward the roof. At least one of her friends had shown her how to get up there the other week. They had watched a citywide drone show from there.

Hawks grinned and darted up to the roof. Akane considered going back to what she had been doing, but she had a feeling he would just come back and start the same routine all over again. What did he want, anyways?

Quickly, she gathered her laptop, pens, and notebook. She left the book since it was a reference book; she would put it away later.

She made her way through the quiet stacks and to the stairs that led to the roof. Maybe she would get to finish her research today, if she was lucky. If Hawks tried to get her to go get food or something, she was going to fend him off. She was also going to simply go back downstairs if he started asking her questions about her vigilante work. After helping with that girl the other week, she had helped out a couple more times, but she had been able to fly away from those. They hadn't spoken since that other time, though.

Akane had her hand on the door when it opened for her. Hawks smirked. "Whatcha reading?"

"Nothing now," she said, closing the door behind her. None of the other nearby buildings were as tall as the library, so they wouldn't be spotted. "You know, it's a fact that most birds go unconscious after knocking their heads into windows."

"I must not have done it right," he said, "But hey, have you noticed it's also a fact that we spend a lot of time on roofs or wires or light poles? So we're abiding by that bird stereotype."

Again Akane crushed a smile. She leaned back against the door. "Did you need something?"

"Your phone number."

Surprise rushed through her. "W-why?"

"So I can text you?" he said, "Communicate?"

"I thought we were doing fine the way we were."

"That's not really..." He pursed his lips and let out a breath. "I was, um..." A smile worked its way onto his face but didn't reach his eyes. "When you helped that girl the other day, I was worried about you. If we're being honest."

"Are we being honest?" she asked, mainly to have something to say rather than, 'oh my gosh, I thought you wanted my number because you're interested in me in a you-like-me kind of way.' She still couldn't stop herself from blushing at the idea. Not that she liked him that way. But he was attractive. If they were, in fact, being honest. Still, he was a pro that loved the spotlight and she wanted nothing to do with that.

"I am," he said, "But it's okay if you don't want to—"

"We'll exchange numbers," she said, getting her phone out of her pocket and unlocking it. "Here. Text your phone from mine."

His grin was real and infectious. "I promise you won't regret it."

Akane put her hands to her face and dragged her fingers down her cheeks as he tapped rapidly on her phone screen. "Your chipper reassurance makes me instantly reconsider my decisions."

With a flourish, he handed the phone back to her. She read the text he had sent himself: HI HAWKS THIS IS AKANE HIRANO'S PHONE CONGRATULATIONS MISSION ACCOMPLISHED YOU CAN LEAVE NOW

When she looked up, he was already in the sky, his take off silent this time. She hadn't even heard the whoosh of his feathers. Shielding her eyes, she watched him give her an idle salute before he flew back off toward downtown.

Later that evening, when she was working on her paper, she picked up her phone. She read the text again.

Akane: this doesn't give you permission to message me at two in the morning wanting to go get take out or something

Hawks: whyyyyy not

Akane: no

Hawks: I won't

Hawks: I'll try not to

Hawks: but why not?

Akane: Because I like sleeping!

Hawks: But I have late shifts sometimes

Akane: Most of your patrols are during the day, don't even try

Hawks: I said sometimes not all the time :)

Akane: details, semantics

Akane: still no two am texts

Hawks: when you're the one asking ME to go get food at two in the morning i'll do a happy dance

Akane: mhmmm

Hawks: Do you need me to rescue you from homework?

Akane: It's night.

Hawks: Right

Akane: Which means, if I'm not mistaken, it's not your patrol. So no, you can't save me.

Hawks: hah

Akane: goodnight Hawks

Hawks: sleep well whenever you do sleep, Hirano