Because the sun is just about to set, Hawks almost doesn't see her at all.

Hawk is flying pretty low and the sunlight is almost directly hitting his eyes. Some people assume off the bat the visor is for show, but zooming in the air where his vision is liable to get screwed up by strong gusts, rain, snow, and airborne bugs are just the typical hazards he has to keep in mind. The visor helps so Hawks' sharp eyes aren't obstructed in any way; they're a practical necessity that comes in handy during times like this.

Plus, they make him look cool. Well, cooler.

Against the light, Hawks squints his eyes and directs himself toward the woman. He can make her out the closer he flies; she looks about his age, with flowing hair and a loose dress with that billows around her sturdy legs. The dim light shifts over her body, illuminating her tawny skin; he has a keen sight for detail, but even so, Hawks can't see her eyes.

They're closed, blind to the world around her as she falls, down, down, down, headfirst toward the alley's concrete.

It hardly takes him longer than ten seconds to reach her. Before anyone can so much as gasp or point, Hawks scoops her up right in mid air. He flaps his wings briskly so they go straight up, up, up, into the slowly dimming sky. The stars are just beginning to peek out; there's no moon though.

"Got you." Hawks gives her a winning smile as he fixes his grip. "That was close. You okay, little lady?"

The woman hasn't opened her eyes yet, hasn't given any reaction that expresses she notices someone has carried her away from a painful demise.

Then her eyes open. She blinks once, but they look somewhat unfocused but bright. Her lips part to speak and Hawks smell sweet plum wine; he can feel her shudder once in his arms, the ends of her hair swat at his face once. He can smell her shampoo.

"Bit chilly up here huh? Guess we can't stay to enjoy the view." Hawks gives her a playful, but gentle grin, making sure she doesn't shift and risk falling in his hold. "How are you feeling?"

She is still gaping at him vacantly; as Hawks tries to assess if she has any injuries, her fingers come up to just graze his jaw.

"What…?" Words fail her and she blinks once more and looks at him with vapid disbelief, retracting her hand like she touched hot iron. "Am I in heaven?"

Hawks can't help a cocky grin. "Would you believe that's not the first time I've heard that?"

"I…"

The corners of the woman's lips fall to form a small frown, almost puzzled, as she looks at the building they're headed to; the roof is flat and most of the space is taken up by the ventilation system and some construction materials, but it's blocked off with a fence to avoid accidents, so Hawks figures it'll do. Jokes aside, the woman is likely tipsy and in shock; before they do anything else, Hawks will give her a moment to catch her breath and gather her thoughts.

"I'm still alive."

If her desolate tone wasn't enough of a tip off to just what had really gone down, the woman's eyes seem to lose all trace of lucidity and recognition. Hawks arms tighten their hold just slightly, a precaution until he sets her down on solid ground.

She isn't fighting him or trying to twist out of Hawks' arms; her body has gone limp, empty gaze is on the roof. Hawks doesn't let her go until his own feet are firmly on the flat surface. It's the end of the day and there's no one working; she gives the surrounding area one long look. Hawks chances to speak up.

"That would have been a pretty nasty fall."

"I didn't think...not many people are just walking around in this area, what with all the renovations."

Hawks understands. She thought no one would know until it was too late.

"Are you hurt?"

"No." she takes a few steps back, arms hugging herself as she hangs her head. "Thank you. I recognize you now. The Winged Hero, Hawks. Do you patrol here often?"

"I was actually on my way to get some fried chicken." Hawks is only half joking.

"Oh. Sorry, your dinner-"
"Hey now, don't be sorry."

She tries to smile at him. "You're very nice...can I just go now?"

"Usually I would need to call you an ambulance or take you to a hospital."

"A hospital? Gor what exactly?"

"To see if you sustained any injuries."

The woman's face grows pale. "I'm really fine though, I didn't even get a scratch."

Hawks shakes his head. "Sorry, but it's sort if a legal thing."

She stares at her feet. "Can't I just go home?"

"I'll take you home myself once I fill out the report."

"Report? Oh no, you can't!" Hawks is taken aback by the sudden sharpness. The woman's words are devoid of hostility or anger, but she looks ready to fall to her knees. "Please, I don't want anyone to know!"

"Look, I'm not trying to give advice, but the professionals might actually help. You could talk to someone. You almost died today."

She looks at him like he had just slapped her and Hawks feel inexplicably guilty for a moment. He doesn't personally want to intrude on obviously personal subjects, but rules are rules, and he can't get out of it. Still, it's hard. Her eyes are so dark and wet with unshed tears; she looks very much like a child begging not to be punished.

"Then...if I say I was watching the sunset and tripped and fell, would you get into trouble?"

"No, but that's not the point."

She smiles suddenly, sadly, but sincerely all the same; it's for no longer than two seconds, but the impact knocks the wind out of Hawks before he can say another thing.

"You are very nice." she sighs softly. "Mr. Hawks?"

"You can call me Hawks. Or angel, if you prefer."

Hawks tries to prod her smile back into place, but all she can manage is a weak grimace.

"I'm sorry."

"I'm not."

Surprisingly, it's not every day Hawks swoops in to catch a cute girl in his arms like something straight out of a movie. In any other scenario, he'd be cracking more one liners and grinning wide enough to split his face in two.

This is not the time to make light of things, but Hawks can't keep dead serious either.

It's better she regards him as a bit of a clown. It's less daunting and the gravity of the situation is already catching up to her. Obviously there's a number of implications to being interrupted while trying to kill yourself. Depending on who knows and whether the person is even ready to talk or do anything about it, things can get that much more difficult. Hawks knows the gears are turning in the woman's mind. Her firm dismissal to address what just happened speaks volumes. Backing her into a corner and forcing her to confront the repercussions that come from being put in the spotlight due to her suicide attempt won't do her any favors.

Still, Hawks can't pretend he feels good leaving her alone, even though he knows that he can't help her more than this. He did his part and legally and ethically speaking, he has to back off, no matter how much it unsettles his gut to just go.

"What now?" she asks.

"If you hang on, I can take us to the hospital in no time. Check ups covered by us, so don't worry about your insurance. After they give you the okay to leave, I can escort you home."

"Thank you. I won't try to fall again. I wouldn't do that in front of someone."

Hawks doesn't remark she probably shouldn't do it at all. He just secures her in his arms once more and tells her to hang on.

"Oh, hold on a sec." Hawks slips off his visor. "Here, so nothing flies into your eyes."

"That's okay, you'll need to see better than me. Besides, I'm keeping my eyes closed." she pushes her hair off her shoulders to get it out of his way when they take off.

"You sure? Nice view tonight."

"I'm….scared of heights." she looks almost sheepish. "I drank a little before I went on the roof. Dulls my nerves."

Hawks waits to make sure her grip is solid.

"Okay, don't move around too much; I won't let you fall."

She thanks him and Hawks immediately wonders if she's thanking him for keeping her safe and feeling relieved to have not died or his consideration in general.

"Am I too heavy?"

"Nah. I can lift a lot and my wings help with the load." Hawks wants to make a quip as he flaps through the open sky; below them a few people are stopping to state and take pictures. He doesn't warn her; her head is ducked into his chest and her hair is obscuring her face mostly. Her eyes are closed but her blank expression flickers into curiosity when she hears his stomach growl.

"Oh right...your dinner-"

"No worries. Don't think on that. I'll give up fifty ten piece meals for this."

She doesn't look comforted in the least. Hawks finds his eyes flicking back over to her face, her closed eyelids.

He wonders why but knows he can't ask that. So casual chat it is.

"Do you work in that building?"

"No."

"What'd you do?"

"I'm a personal support worker."

"A what?" Hawks isn't just trying to talk over the whistling wind. He's never heard of that title.

"It's a fancy way to say babysitter really. I work for a mother-well, her son. He can't speak or walk very well."

"Ah, you help him get around?"

"I help him eat, dress, change, clean up...his mind is like an infants."

"How old is he?" Hawks smiles. He can feel her body relaxing; this is a good topic.

"He's sixteen. He's a good boy and the mother's very kind to me; she takes care of him alone; he can be grumpy and start pinching when he's upset. He's a big kid and unpredictable, so most people are too scared to get too close."

"You're his hero."

She frowns. "Huh?"

"Not many people like doing that kind of work. Without you, he might not be able to stay with his mom."

"I guess. But anyone could do it really. I've just always liked taking care of kids." she gives him a shrug and a light half smile.

"Got any of your own?"

Hawks knows he's screwed up when she opens her eyes and just stares at him dumbstruck. She looked empty before; now she looks ready to cry.

"Uh, hey-"

"No. No, I don't."

Her voice is surprisingly level for someone who looks ready to fling herself right out of his arms. Hawks tenses up and gets ready for that exact thing, but she doesn't stir.

"I'm sorry."

The silence is shattered when they both break into light chuckles. They spoke at the same time.

"No, I'm sorry, I didn't-"

"Oh no, you didn't, I shouldn't have-"

"No, I-"

They both continue to chuckle nervously through the awkward string of condolences and attempts to amend for an imagined slight. Before they can get out another word, they're both laughing loud enough for the people below them to hear. Hawks' ribs hurt and tears are streaming down her face by the time they land in front of the hospital entrance and he gently sets her down.

"I-I'm so sorry!" she tries to say through wiping her face and covering her smiling mouth. "This is so dumb, I just-"

Hawks grins and looks on as she bends over double; a couple going inside stare at her in disapproval as they wheel in an elderly. Hawks is tempted to give them the finger and when he whispers this to her, she erupts into another fit. He assures her he won't actually do it though.

"Just one of the setbacks of being a pro I guess." Hawks sighed and shrugged his wings. "Gotta be professional."

Her smile turns dry. "But it's a sacrifice you're willing to make."

"You got it, little lady."

She is smiling in unguarded amusement but her features lapse into dread once more. They're near the check in desk; Hawks takes the initiative, explaining the situation. He keeps the details vague; an accident during an outing to watch the sunset, a little bit to drink, and the unfortunate loss of balance. The receptionists asks no further questions, just smiles and hands over forms needed to be filled out before the doctor can be seen.

Hawks feels anxiety radiating off the woman next to him as she sits down heavily in a waiting room chair, clipboard in lap and face uneasy.

"Hawks…"

He starts; he realizes he was staring at her the whole time. "What's up?"

"I don't know what to feel." she looks at him from under her eyelashes. "But you know, I haven't laughed like that in a long time."

Hawks hesitates, careful with his words. "Ya know, you won't be able to laugh like that again if-"

"Yeah. I know."

"Just something to think about." Hawks stands up and stretches his arms, cracks his knuckles. "Well, I need to fill out that report, but once I'm done I can take you home. Unless, you'd rather a family member or-?"

"I don't really know anyone who could come get me. Besides, if I did, I wouldn't want them to know." she answers honestly. "You don't have to. I promise, I won't try anything."

"Aw, humor me won't you? I don't get many chances to walk a girl home or take the train."

"I can pay for the fare-" she stops, realizing he's being funny.

"Did you seriously just forget I had wings?"

She smiles self deprecatingly and Hawks wishes he hadn't spoken.

"Anywho, as long as some disaster doesn't break out, I'll be able to take you home. I mean, part of my job is seeing to the safety of the public."

"Alright...thanks."

"No problem, see you in a bit."

"Um, wait."

Hawks pauses; she was standing lingering at the entrance beside him.

"I...I've heard about you before, actually. I didn't recognize your face, but your name is nearly everywhere."

"You don't say? I'm honored."

She bites her lip. "I remember hearing you were a prodigy and how when you were just a kid you had rescued someone. I...I didn't think much of it. I don't think much at all about what's going on around me. It's all I can do to just…"

Hawks puts a hand on her trembling shoulder and she seems to seize up.

"You don't have to explain anything to me."

"It's not that, it's...it just popped into my head while we were flying, that story. It made me smile, that you've always been so kind. It was a nice thought. It's nice to know people like you are real. It's….I feel so dumb." she gives the floor a watery smile and runs a hand over her forehead. "I thought you were an angel with red wings." another laugh escapes her. "Who ever heard of an angel with red wings?"

"My looks have been noted to be out of this world." Hawks gives her another toothy grin and she can't help returning it, albeit more shyly.

"Right. Well, if you get called in before I'm done...thank you. It was nice to meet you. It's be even better if...you know..."

"It doesn't matter how or why."

Hawks gives her a shallow bow at the waist; she looks torn between laughing and crying and that does not sit well with him. It's absolutely important she is smiling, at least before he goes. He can't leave her like this, still troubled and feeling guilty for needing help. As if not being able to reach her in time and her dying would be less of an issue.

"I'm always happy to help and put a smile on someone's face. Will you try to keep smiling until I come back?"

"I...I'll try." her touched expression turns unsure and anxious. "But what if-? It's okay if you can't-"

Hawks holds up a hand; he doesn't want to hear it.

"Even if I get held up and it's the middle of the night and you already go home, I'm coming back. Just hang here, have a coffee, and take some time to think. I'll be back." Hawks' easy smile returns. "So, it'd be super cool if you didn't walk out before then."

Her face is grim. "But hospital coffee is the worst."

Hawks shrugs. "I'll give you change for the vending machines, and then-"

He cuts himself off. Her face breaks out into an apologetic, yet giddy grin.

"Got you."