Birds of a Feather Collection
Out at Sea
— Hawks and the reader go on a date to an aquarium.
Surreal didn't begin to describe it. Months on end, you and Hawks flirted like birds during mating season, exchanging quips here and there during work hours. Being the new intern at his office had its perks, you supposed, seeing you got much attention from everybody. But you never thought that your quick-witted yet subtle flirting would ever get you anywhere. That was until Hawks asked you out on a date. In the midst of processing the whole thing, you mindlessly said yes and when asked what you would like to do, you said the first thing that came to mind.
And you guessed an aquarium was an okay place for a first date. That most of the inside exhibits were dark was a definite plus. Helped hide the furious blush that you hoped wouldn't leave your cheeks a permanent crimson. Wishful thinking, you know? But as you traversed through the dimly lit corridors, pointing out a few interesting exhibits as you went, you couldn't help feel a little claustrophobic. That it was a weekend made it a little worse too; way too many people crowded the small corridors making it hard to move an inch in any direction. Or even breathe fresh air for that matter.
Soon enough, you found yourself lost in the dark with only the light of the exhibits to light your way but Hawks was nowhere in sight. Not even his ridiculously flashy wings could be seen among the crowd. Gosh. Getting lost was definitely not a good start to your day.
Before you could even head back to wait outside for him, you felt a hand wrap around yours. Warm and tightly gripping your hand, it pulled you out ahead if the crowd into a more open area. It wasn't until you saw downy feathers falling to the floor that you realized whom it'd been.
A cheeky grin spread across his face now that the two of you were much less sardined in that hall. "Caught myself a cute one here."
"Thanks for the safe," you tell him somewhat out of breath and trying to hide your face in your hand.
It's when you try to pull your hand away but find that you can't that prompts you too meet his amber eyes that seem to almost glow in the dim lighting.
"Let's try to keep together, okay?" As Hawks says this, he somehow sneaks his fingers through yours. Not like your protesting much about it though.
A simple nod from you gets that charming smile out of him as he guides you both down the corridor to keep watching.
The next closest exhibit was sea lions and seals. As you exited the dark hall and into a tunnel of clear glass underneath their tank, that became more than clear. The giggling of of children caught your attention and walked over to one particular sea lion that kept playing with the kids by making faces through the glass anytime they got too close. Chuckling at it, you felt a pair of arms slither their way around your waist as Hawks leaned in to watch from the comfort of your shoulder. You seriously hoped he could not hear just how furiously hard your heart was beating at the moment.
Hawks's features contort into a makeshift grimace, too exaggerated to be a real one but one nonetheless.
"Sea animals are so weird."
"They're adorable," you retort, shuffling closer to where the sea lion was after the kids moved on.
"They're also the saddest," he further added to make his point.
"How so?" Though paying attention to the conversation, you entertained yourself by drawing circles near the glass. It was quite amusing to see the sea lion chasing after your hand, jaw agape and eyes somewhat bulged out.
"Poor things are trapped in tanks most of their lives."
"There's some that live in the ocean too, you know."
"Same thing," he clarified, "Just because you can't see the walls doesn't make it any less of a prison."
Pursing yours lips as you thought more about it finally got you to lower your hand and leave the sea lion be. "I didn't take you for such a downer."
"Sorry, love. Sometimes my midlife existential crisis pop out unexpectedly."
Though you knew he was joking, a part of you had an inkling he might have been more truthful than he led on. Hawks quickly diverts the subject away though as he takes you out of the tunnel and into the fresh outside, or at least an open area. More like the kids' interactive section; Hawks pointed out the petting tanks that instantly had you dragging him to the nearest one.
Manta rays were cute when they weren't humongous ass beasts that could kill you. Sitting on the ledge, you carefully stuck your hand in to touch the nearest baby manta ray that laid serenely buried in the sand.
Turning up to Hawks, you smiled and said, "Touch it."
"Oh no," he dismissively waved one hand at you, his smile never leaving despite how suddenly squeamish he became. "No, I'm good. You enjoy that."
"There's nothing wrong with it."
As you try assuring him of this, you see that one ray in particular keeps making rounds around the tank, lifting its light brown flipper up to receive the petting of the many lined up to give it. Finding it the perfect chance, you get Hawks by grabbing him by the hand and getting him to bend over to reach down at the water. Though he protests and his wings flutter a bit coinciding with his struggle, you're fast enough to hold his fingers in place for long enough. Just as the ray passes by, your fingers and his touch the smooth albeit a little slimy back of its flipper. It amazes you almost instantly how you felt Hawks shudder in your hold. The mere sound of it makes you chortle before bursting out laughing. Hawks simply wipes his hand on his pants, rolling his eyes at you despite a smile coming onto his own lips.
"Laugh it off, go on. It's the last time that'll happen."
"Whatever you say." Having your fill of the petting area after a few minutes, you both washed your hands and before you know it, hook your arm around his without batting an eye and take him away. "Come on, I think the penguin show is starting soon!"