Birds of a Feather Collection
A Flower for You
— Hawks knows you love flowers and takes you one everyday. No matter what.
You love flowers. And Hawks made sure to always bring you some.
No matter the day, time, or occasion, he would always bring flowers to you. It's always a different one everyday too. Hawks guessed that being gifted the same old, cliche rose would get tiring and meaningless after the first time. So when he discovered you were actually a big fan of flora and knew a bunch of random facts about them, he jumped on the train. His plan: give you a different one everyday and learn something from you.
Red roses were your least favorite–bad start on his part–but you nonetheless knew that red ones were for romantic love. Enduring passion. Certainly what he felt for you, Hawks thought. When he asked you what your favorite rose would be, you said orange ones. He learned that day that you loved them because they meant enthusiasm and passion. How fitting, he remembered thinking, since he loved those things about you as well.
So he started to pick out bouquets everyday in the hopes to bond with you.
From you, he learned pink carnations meant 'love of a woman' and, you teasingly added, to never give a woman striped carnations. Never, he replied, keeping to himself that you would be the only one he would ever bother gifting any to.
From you, he learned hydrangeas meant heartfelt emotions and gratitude to the recipient from the gifter for being understood. Hawks found it strangely fitting that he picked those out in a whim; he certainly felt grateful to you for accepting him as he was. Both the hero, and the lonesome man he couldn't help but be without you.
And from you, he learned tulips–especially the reds one he chose–meant a declaration of love. Alright, maybe Hawks looked that one up on his own meaning to both surprise you and confess.
He had never seen you happier. You told him that you felt the same ever since the first time you met. If Hawks never believed in love at first sight or even the notion of soulmates, he certainly did now. He wanted nothing but to be with you for the rest of your lives.
Hawks had to learn the significance of poppies for himself. Red hadn't been your favorite but you told him that as you spent more and more time together that it became a color you found comfort in.
"It's the color of your wings," you said, "how could I not love something that's a part of you?"
The fondness that surged through him at your words almost brought him to tears. It never quite did though. Days with you were filled to the brim with happiness and laughter and love.
And that's all he wanted to remember you by.
Gently, Hawks laid the single bouquet of poppies before the tombstone. Beautiful a day as it was, he brought a long a beer for himself and a small bottled pop for you. You never liked liquor.
Hawks went on to talk about how things had been since the last time you two spoke. All Might retired, so he became the new No.2 hero by default. Endeavor became number one though the populace doubted he could amount to the legacy All Might left behind.
"He ain't bad, though." Swirling the can in his hand a few times, Hawks dipped back his head to drink it all in one swig. "And I'm in trouble again, angel. The higher ups have me doing some real bad stuff. It's despicable. You wouldn't be the least bit proud of me." A sigh left him, his shoulders slumping down in defeat. "But it's for the good of ending a far worse evil."
Hawks knew you would understand. His hand reached up to the golden ring hanging from a necklace on his chest , finger fiddling with the band.
It's matching set laid with you.
"Wish me luck, angel. I'll come back tomorrow. Hopefully with a better story to tell you." He moved the bouquet closer to your tombstone, some of the crimson petals falling from the flower as the breeze blew.
Maybe next time he'd bring a more uplifting one.
You love flowers, after all. And Hawks would make sure to always bring you some.