Yuri let the wind flow through her hair as she sat on top of her apartment complex. It was her one day off tomorrow and it honestly felt like this night was never-ending. She sat on the ledge letting her feet dangle off the edge. Her nightgown blew slightly and the wind whipped her hair around her face making her fiery curls dance like flames. She pulled her shawl closer as the chill caused goosebumps to rise over her skin but she couldn't help but feel more alive looking over the city from such a high vantage point.
"Hold tight, baby bird!" Hawks beamed, "I'm going to show you the view of a lifetime!"
"Hawks!" Yuri cried out, "Put me down! We're going to get in trouble!"
"Only if we get caught!" Hawks laughed as he set her down on the railing of a satellite antenna. Yuri's legs quivered as she looked down taking note of how high up they were.
"Don't look down, silly," Hawks gripped her chin pulling her eyes up to the skyline. The sun was starting to set leaving golden rays to bath the city in a warm hue. Purple mixed in with the orange as the sky was painted in the colors of the sunset. The colors danced across the sky and over the windows of the skyscrapers. Windows turned into mirrors as they reflected the light out causing the city to glow and light up with a light that made it seem ethereal.
"Wow," Yuri breathed, "It's beautiful."
"Isn't it?" They stayed quiet. Both content with watching the sun slowly dip down below the cityscape. Yuri's body shivered as the temperature dropped along with the sun. Wrapping her arms around her, she felt the weight of a jacket drop onto her shoulders and the smell of cinnamon and sandalwood filled her nose. Looking up she caught the eyes of the boy who had been the light of her life since she was 8, his eyes were a molten gold that seemed to shine bright with power hidden beneath and swam with an intense emotion that Yuri couldn't place. His mouth is a soft smile bringing prominence to his handsome features. A gust of wind broke their staring contest as it whipped her hair into her face and the skirt of her school uniform flew up. Yuri immediately pushed her skirt down trying to keep some sense of decency as her face flushed with embarrassment. A warm, rough hand brushed her cheek pushing her hair out of her face and bringing her attention back to the boy in front of her. Yuri's breath hitched as his thumb brushed across her cheek.
"Hawks," Yuri started her heart pounding in her chest.
"Call me by my name, Yuri," Hawks whispered. His voice dancing in the wind.
"Keigo," Yuri smiled at him, "Thank you for this."
"Anything for you, baby bird," Hawks dipped his head and their lips met.
Yuri felt a stray tear run down her cheek as she thought about their first kiss. She smiled as she wiped it away. It was from that point their whole relationship had shifted with him and with Touya. They all needed each other and relied on each other. To stay safe and to stay sane. Their bonds grew and grew as they continued to explore the new territory of each other mentally, emotionally, and physically. Those were some of her most treasured memories and she would hold onto them no matter what she went through. Her hand reached up to lightly grasp the locket that hung around her neck. It's gold glinting in the city lights as Yuri looks down on it. Hawks and Touya had given it to her on her 15th birthday. The front of the locket was a piece of a red feather that had blue glitter swirling around it. The feather was no doubt donated by Hawks and the blue glitter to symbolize Touya's flames, all encased in clear resin. It contained a single picture inside. A picture of the three of them at the cherry blossom festival before it all went to hell.
"No! NO!" Yuri struggled against the guards as another set dragged Touya's body away, "He's not dead! He'll get back up!" The guards pushed her back causing her back to harshly smack against the wall as she fell to the floor.
"Yuri!" Hawks yelled as he ran towards her, "Are you okay?"
"It's Touya. They're taking him away," Yuri sobbed into his arms trying to get back up, "Please he'll get back up! He won't fail." Yuri's pleading fell on deaf ears as the guards continued to stare them down and Touya's body was no longer in view.
"Touya is dead, Herja," A cold voice rang out from behind them. Yuri spun around to come face to face with the Hero Commission's president. Yuri clung to Hawks as she sobbed into his chest. His arms and wings wrapped around her forming a protective barrier; shielding her from the world that surrounded them. Her own wings dropping down in despair.
"Give him back," Yuri whimpered into Hawks' chest, making his arms tighten around her.
"We've obviously let this little charade of yours continue for too long. Separate them. I will not allow her to bring him down," The president ordered. Two rough hands grabbed her by the waist and yanked her away from Hawks.
"Hawks," Yuri cried, reaching out, "Please no!"
"Yuri!" Hawks reached out trying to grab her hand, "Let me go you bastards!"
"Please don't let them take me! Hawks please," Yuri struggled to try to get free of the arms holding her up. She watched as Hawks wrestled against the guards holding him down and the quirk suppressant clamps shut on his wings rendering them useless. A collar was snapped around her neck and a similar clamp resting heavy on her back pulling her wings down leaving her with only her body to fight with. She kicked and screamed. Throwing her fists down, doing anything to get away. To get to him.
"Yuri!" She heard him scream out as she was carried out the door.
"Yuri!" It sounded closer than before.
"Yuri!" Her eyes snapped open and met golden eyes, "You know it's not safe to sit on the ledge. Especially crying. Makes one think something bad might happen."
"It's a good thing I have it on the highest authority that the resident hero likes to save damsels in distress," Yuri rubbed the palms of her hands against her cheeks trying to rid the evidence of her emotional breakdown.
"The highest authority?" Hawks drawled, taking a seat next to her.
"Oh yes," Yuri said, balancing herself so that she could face him, "The authority of someone who has worked with him since he made his debut and has practically been a slave to his agency since."
"Very much the highest authority then," Hawks laughed, "So dear damsel in distress, what brings you up here so late at night?"
"Enjoying the view of the city," Yuri said.
"What? Was it so pretty it brought you to tears?" Hawks teased.
"Something along those lines," Yuri rolled her eyes, "Brought back some memories." Yuri brought her knees up to chest looking out onto the city that was just as lively as it was during the day. The wind blew harder, making her shiver and pull her shawl tighter around her body. Maybe bringing a blanket or dressing appropriately would've been the better course of action. The scent of cinnamon and sandalwood invaded her nose as well as the soft warmth of a jacket being draped over her shoulders surrounded her body. Its familiarity made her breath hitch.
"You really shouldn't be out here in just that," Hawks pointedly looked at her lack of thick clothing. Yuri stared at him. She felt her cheeks flush as she pulled his jacket around her trying to hide her body from his view and his judgement.
"Shouldn't you be on patrol?" Yuri shot back, her brows furrowing.
"Mockingbird and Jay are out tonight so I am not needed as much," Hawks replied, not giving in to her rise.
"Finally learning to rely on your sidekicks?" Yuri smiled.
"I guess so," Hawks shrugged, "It lets me have some down time every once in a while. To save certain damsels."
"Gods, you're never going to let it go are you?" She groaned.
"Never!" He had a cheesy grin on her face. Yuri laughed as she turned back towards the city letting her feet dangle once again. The wind was dieing down but the hair held a chill in it. She was sure her nipples were showing through her thin purple nightgown in protest to being exposed to such temperatures. What she wouldn't give to be back on that antenna drenched in his warmth and drowning in his scent.
"Yuri!" Hawks snapped his fingers in front of her face, "We lose you to memories again?"
"Something like that," She hummed, "A past life that was an eternity ago. Nights like tonight just bring it rushing back."
"It must not have been a very good life to bring you to tears."
"It had its moments. Sometimes I wish I could go back and help those I left behind, but then I would miss out on all the wonderful people I have met here."
"Family?" Hawks questioned.
"They were all I had, so I guess you could call them that," Yuri agreed, bringing her hand to her locket once more drawing his eyes to it. Had she been paying attention to him, she might've noticed his eyes narrow at it, "We were family, friends, lovers. Anything we could be for each other, we were."
"Why leave then?"
"I didn't have a choice in the matter," Yuri sighed standing up, "It was a matter of survival. As much as I wanted to stay, the pull to live was a bit stronger. Probably why I was never cut out to be a hero. Besides the lack of a quirk issue."
"Self preservation isn't a bad thing!" Hawks protested. "And a quirk doesn't make the hero!" Yuri turned her back to the city letting the slight breeze that remained flow over her body as she raised her arms.
"No it isn't but it doesn't make the choices I made any easier to deal with," Yuri said, raising herself onto her tiptoes. Hawks scrambled up holding his arms out to catch her. A peaceful smile spread across her lips as she looked at him.
"How about you rescue an actual damsel," Yuri leaned back and let herself fall. The apartment complex was tall, standing at about 36 floors but if given the right momentum one would hit the ground fast.
"Yuri!" Hawks screamed after her, his arms stretched out in front of him. His wings held tightly to his body letting him pick up the speed of his fall. Yuri laughed as she reached up towards him. She fell for what seemed like ages. The apartments were blurs as she fell past them. Her nightgown lashing at her legs and his jacket curling around her almost as if to cradle her. Her body felt alive with energy as adrenaline pumped through her. Each passing story brings more and more uncertainty if he would catch her. Warmth snaked around her waist as the breath was knocked out of her as her momentum was stopped suddenly and suddenly she wasn't going down but up. Yuri squealed as he flew up with her, her arms wrapping around his neck to keep close. He flew higher and higher past the roof and towards the clouds.
"You are one crazy girl, you know that?" Hawks snorted. Yuri was sure he had meant it to sound condescending, but the smile that stretched across his face ruined the sentiment.
"You love it!" Yuri said breathlessly, "It got your blood pumping right? Makes you feel alive!"
"Do you often jump off buildings?" Hawks looked down at her inquisiting, "Do I need to fear for your life more often?"
"Oh by the gods, no!" Yuri keened, "At least not without a parachute."
"I doubt that very much."
"Why is that?"
"Because you just did it! If you wanted this view all you had to do was ask." Hawks held one arm out bringing her attention to how far up in the sky they actually were.
"Shit!" Yuri panicked, tightening her arms around his neck, "Put me down!"
"You can handle jumping off a building but not being up here?" Hawks asked incredulously.
"For one I didn't jump, I fell. Two, that is more plausible to the human body than floating in the sky!" Yuri argued, "Now put me down!"
"Sheesh, you think someone you just saved would be a little more grateful."
"I'll be grateful when you put me down!"
"I don't know," Hawks mused, "I quite like holding you this close." Yuri felt him squeeze her closer to his body. She was not wearing enough clothes for this, her face heating up as her breasts pushed up against him. Yuri looked up at him and was pleased to see his face had a tinge of red dancing across his cheeks. Their eyes met and time stilled. His hand dragged slowly up from her waist caressing her arm stopping once it reached her cheek. Yuri leaned into his hand as it cupped her cheek; his thumb sweeping across her cheek bone. She could get lost in those eyes forever. The molten gold seemed to burn into her as if seeing under her very skin down to her soul. Her eyes flickered to his lips briefly before fluttering back up to his eyes. Yuri's heart was pounding in her chest so hard and fast that it wouldn't be surprising if Hawks could feel and hear it.
"You should probably be getting back to the agency," Yuri whispered, keeping her gaze locked on him.
"Probably," He whispered back, his eyes swelled with heat and emotions that Yuri couldn't name, "I feel like I've done this before." Yuri froze.
"Oh yeah?" Yuri sighed, "I bet you tell that to all the girls you bring up here."
"No," Hawks said with such force it had Yuri pulling back, "You're the only one I have ever done this with, but it feels like I've done it a million times. With you."
"Hawks? Are you okay?" Yuri asked trepidation seeping into her voice as his face scrunched up.
"My head is killing me," Hawks groaned, "What is this?"
"Maybe we should land? That doesn't sound good," Yuri said looking fearfully at the height they were floating at.
"No I'm-SHIT!" Hawk lurched forward, his eyes dulling. His wings coming to a stop. It took a moment but then they were plumeding down.
"Hawks?! Hawks please this isn't funny!" Yuri cried over the roar of the air rushing past them. His face twitched but his wings made no notion of moving.
"Hawks! Hawks come on!" Yuri sobbed. The collar around her neck started to beep. If only… If only she could help. She grabbed his face, her heart aching at the pain etched in his face.
"Hawks! Snap out of it!" She yowled, bringing her hand down on his cheek with a harsh SMACK! "KEIGO!" Hawks blinked a couple of times before focusing on her face.
"Hawks c'mon! I know I made a stupid move falling but I really don't actually want to die!" Yuri pleaded tears springing into her eyes as they approached the rooftop of her apartment fast. His eyes widened, but his wings didn't react.
"Shit!" Yuri wrapped her arms around him forcing him on top of her. If they were going to fall she would at least try to save his life. He deserved to live! Yuri scrunched her eyes up in preparation for the impact. Tears streamed up off her face. This wasn't how it was supposed to end! They were only partially done with their plan, it's too soon! Yuri screamed and tightened her grip waiting for the pain. But it never came. She felt his arms move and the slight vibrations from his feather that suggested flight. They hovered about a foot from the concrete that would have painted their deaths before collapsing onto it. Yuri panted as she tried to reign in her terror. Looking over, Hawks was on his hands and knees panting as well.
"Are you okay?" Yuri crawled over to him.
"Stop! Don't come any closer!" Hawks lashed his hand out at her, making her jerk back. Her chest panged with guilt and hurt at the clear rejection. Her face must have shown her hurt as Hawks stared at his hand with confusion and a bit of guilt.
"Yuri-" Hawks started.
"I'm so sorry!" Yuri apologized, bowing down until her forehead hit the ground, "I'm so sorry for having put you in such a position! Had I known this would happen I never-hic- I never would have done something like that. Please forgive me, Hawks." Tears streamed down her face and small sobs wracked her body. She couldn't breath, her chest was tight and the rooftop felt entirely too small for the two of them. Gods, she was such an idiot. Yuri stayed bowed waiting for acknowledgement, for anything.
"Yuri, get up," Hawks' honey voice blanketed over her. She shook her head furiously, "I should be the one apologizing. I almost got you killed!"
"No-hic- no it's my fault," Yuri sobbed into the ground, "Had I not pulled such a stupid stunt, this never would have happened!" Hands fell heavy on her shoulders as he attempted to pull her up, Yuri held her ground attempting to stay in the low bow.
"Baby bird, please get up," Hawks whispered into her ear. The old nickname made Yuri pause, her breath hitching as she tried to get her sobs under control.
"What did you call me?" Yuri asked, her voice hoarse. Hope bloomed in her chest.
"Baby bird. That is what I called you isn't it?" Yuri slowly raised her bowed head to face him. His expression was open and honest; Yuri couldn't detect a single inkling of deception.
"You remember?" Yuri questioned. Her body tense and on guard. It couldn't have been that easy. If it was she would have tried it years ago, but this? This wasn't right, "You can't possibly remember. The president said they took those memories."
"Took my- what are you talking about?" Hawks stared down at her, suspicion clouding his eyes.
"Why did you call me that?" Yuri demanded. Her hackles were raised and the collar beeped.
"It is what I called you, isn't it?" Hawks reached out, but Yuri flinched back, "Back in high school?"
"High school?" Yuri whispered, a cold feeling consumed her chest as the hope that was building died out.
"Yeah," Hawks slowly leaned forward, his hand still outstretched toward her.
"Fuck," Yuri shook her head frantically. Tears streamed down her face as she pulled herself up, "Should've known."
"Yuri, what is-"
"I can't do this," Yuri took another step back putting more distance between the two of them, shrugging out of his jacket letting it fall to the ground, "I can't do this!"
"Yuri! Wait!" Yuri spun on the balls of her feet and ran. Her bare feet slapped against the concrete of the rooftop as she ran towards the door and away from him. She didn't stop when her chest began to burn. She didn't look back when she heard him yell after her. She ran and ran until she reached her apartment. Yuri slammed the door letting her back hit the door shut as sobs made her body shutter. Grief, rage, frustration poured out of her body as she cried. She couldn't keep doing this! With a shuttered breath, Yuri crawled towards her coffee table where her phone lay buzzing. His number flashing on her screen and the picture of his face glaring up at her. Each call Yuri rejected another popped up not even a moment later. Yuri continued to ignore the calls and in the few seconds of reprieve between calls she pulled up a familiar unsaved number. The ringing seemed to go on for ages as she waited to hear the voice she sought to hear.
"Hello?" A deep raspy voice answered.
"Please. I don't think I can keep doing this," Yuri sobbed, "I want to go home."
"What happened?" The voice took a sharp edge.
"I can't deal with this," Yuri could stop crying, "I can't do it!"
"Okay, okay, just breath. Listen to my voice," The person on the other phone made exaggerated breathing, "That's it. Just breath. Now, are you at your apartment?"
"Yes," Yuri let out a weak whisper.
"Okay. I'm on my way," The voice grew distant and Yuri knew from the rustling of clothes he was getting ready to come over.
"No! It's too dangerous," Yuri protested.
"You are hurting and need me. I'm coming over."
"But-"
"No buts. Keep the door unlocked. I'll be there shortly." The line went dead and all Yuri could do was curl up on her living room floor and wait.
"Why does it have to be this way?" Yuri whispered as she felt her eyes grow heavy.
-With Hawks-
Hawks could only stare at the back of his secretary as she ran from him. His head still pounded from the sheer intensity of memories hitting him. Hawks didn't understand. Why did he forget her? It made no sense and her comment about the president only confused him more. His head throbbed as Hawks tried to think further back. He had a vague recollection of his childhood and teenage years but nothing in detail, but it never really bothered him until now. Why couldn't he remember?! With an aggravated sigh, Hawks bent down to pick up his coat. He brought it up to his nose where the faint scent of Yuri was still present. The scent of cherries and what could only be described as the midnight sky. Almost like vanilla but with a darker deeper smell to it. The scent tugged at something in the back of his mind but no matter how hard he tried to focus on it, it would only cause a sharp pain to pierce through his head again. Similar to how it felt up in the sky with Yuri. Hawks froze, a slight blush staining his cheeks. What was he doing? First, he almost kisses her and now he's revelling in her scent? This was too out of character for him. Hawks shrugged on his coat and fished for his phone. Mockingbird and Jay had texted saying all was well and he should take the rest of the night. Feeling the blood rushing through his head it might not be a bad idea.
Looking back down at his phone, a glint of something caught his eye. Hawks reached down and picked up the small gold necklace. Yuri's necklace. It must have fallen off during the fall. He caressed the top half of the locket where the blue glitter seemed to glow around the small crimson feather that lay in the center. Hawks released a fast breath as he opened the locket up. He stared at the picture before quickly shoving it in his pocket. This whole thing was crazy.
His flight back to the agency took little to no time as most of the streets were devoid of life. It was still early in the evening but Hawks couldn't find it in himself to leave just yet.
