eternal || hawks x reader

Chapter 2 || Wings

"hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without words, and never stops at all, and the sweetest gale is heard; and sore must be the storm that could abash the little bird that kept so many warm. i've heard it in the chillest land, and on the strangest sea; yet, never, in extremity, it asked a crumb of me."

- hope is the thing with feathers

"Hawks, this is Y/N. Y/N, this is the No. 3 Pro Hero."

The man that stood before me was of average height with a slim, narrow build. His feathery ash blonde hair was swept fussily backwards with some front tuffs sticking up in arcs above his head. Thick eyelashes adorned his triangular eye-shaped with two little black triangles just below his tear ducts. Meanwhile his eyes were a honey golden-brown and there was some faint stubble on his chin. His ears were also pierced, the studs resembled dark squares and barely visible under his yellow headphones that looked like they were for protection purposes rather than just Hero decor.

His attire consisted of a black shirt with a wavy sort of gold pattern - like a ripple in a pond. Over that, he had on a tan jacket with a high collar. The insides and cuffs of the sleeve were lined with white fur, his hands enveloped in black gloves. His shoes were simple black boots and an "A" shaped, yellow tinted visor rested on his masculine features. Last, but not least, a large set of bright crimson wings with feathers that gradually lengthened the further down they went rested on his back.

I stood up from my chair, virtually ignoring Fuji's attempt at introducing us. I didn't care about his rank or his name, the only thing I was transfixed on was his wings. I ended up only a few inches away from him, Hawks peering down at me with a quirked eyebrow and an amused smirk. He didn't say anything, as if he was waiting curiously to see what I'd do next.

My fingertips grazed the vivid red feathers that were soft to the touch, each long and narrow one tensed; quivering slightly. A small breath of air escaped his mouth, almost resembling an incredibly faint groan. Rough, broad fingers wrapped around my wrist and halted my inspection of his wings. I looked up, noticing the faint blush on his embarrassed face as he advertently avoided my gaze.

"Watch the wings, kid."

He let go of me as Fuji spoke, "You're to be Hawks sidekick for the total of one year. If you learn how to work well with others and instill a sense of teamwork, the President is willing to let you become a full-fledged Hero and we'll revisit the Littlest Angels Orphanage rescue case."

My eyes widened. If I just became this bird's sidekick for a few months I'd be allowed to search for Haruto, Rae, and the others? With the Hero Public Safety Commission behind me with their vast resources? I clenched my jaw in thought, I never worked well with others. Unfortunately, if I passed on this opportunity,  my chances of finding my family would become slimmer than they already had been for the past six years. Sure, I wasn't exactly eager to work with some hot-shot Pro Hero adored by millions of citizens but if it got me what I wanted I had to suck it up.

Though, that didn't mean I had to like it.

"Fine." I crossed my arms, Fuji visibly rejoicing as a large smile spread across his face. I turned to Hawks, pushing myself up on my tiptoes to attempt to meet his eye-level. "But I'm no one's sidekick."

"No personal boundaries and feisty? You're going to make a fun little sidekick, won't you... baby bird?" He leaned down closer to my face, clearly over his sheepish reaction at me touching his wings. They must have been rather sensitive to heat up his cheeks the way they still faintly were and that was interesting information to come across. My eyebrows knitted together, the two of us studying each other in our own personal standoff.