ENJOY!!!!
Disclaimer: I don't own Storm Hawks. And I'm not the only one…


"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"
However many times Aerrow had heard the familiar words (and not in the stand, mind you), he would always bite his lower lip, turn away, and answer, "I can't."
When he first heard the words, they had come from fourteen year old Finn, who had simply wanted to know what he thought about their friend Piper. But instead of replying, he snapped his lips shut and walked away.
Over time, he learned that silence was not an acceptable answer, for every time he gave such an answer, the question would echo in his head, 'truth' being a prominent word that would sever the last string of his patience and force him to snap. So when the agonizingly familiar words were spoken by anyone, a lovely dark-skinned face with a pointed chin and stare-worthy eyes carnelian orange eyes would appear, and he would repeat his usual negative.
But lately, he had been forcing out the answer to the question. He had been doing this for three years; maybe it was proving tedious for him to say, and he was getting tired of answering. Or was it the seventy-something pairs of eyes that would rest upon the lovely tactitionist every day?
She had certainly grown up during those three years, and may I remind you that every pair of eyes belonged to a guy?
Men would steal even a glance at her, and the commanding officer of the Storm Hawks was left seething… with jealously? Had the time to acknowledge his feelings for the crystal specialist finally come?
Yes.
It certainly has.

The Condor stopped at the Wayside, and all the guys but Aerrow rushed out into the pub, Piper still tinkering with crystals in her room. Even Radarr hopped on Junko's shoulders and gave his best friend a 'come on!' wave. The commanding officer followed his friends, but not before noticing a familiar Slip-Wing Fighter Ultra. Wasn't that Starling's ride?
Figuring she was probably inside, he went into the pub, which was noticeably dimmer. A voice boomed, "Aerrow of the Storm Hawks! Come to the stand!" and immediately the place brightened.

"Finn, you better have called us all here for a good reason".
"Don't you worry, Starling", the sharpshooter replied. "It's all good…".
The violet-haired Interceptor narrowed her cypress green eyes at him, then caught sight of her fellow Sky Knight.
"Ah, greetings to you, Aerrow", she said with a friendly smile.
"Yes, Aerrow, salutations", said Harrier who sat three seats away from Starling.
"Hey everyone", he responded with a wary tone. Besides his squadron, Starling, and Harrier, other familiar faces present were Starling's sister Nightjar, Dove, Suzi Lu, Billy Rex, Burner of the Third-Degree Burners, and some others he did not know the name of. Everyone had a glass and/or plate with them.
"And what brings you all here?"
"A real important issue", Suzi Lu drawled from a seat that faced the main counter. She blew a pink bubble before continuing, "Blondie here says that it's somethin' between you and Piper girl."
"A little shy, eh?", Billy Rex chuckled from behind her.
The redhead flushed, and, with everyone hooting, whistling, or murmuring to each other, Junko escorted him to the seat next to Finn.

The blonde took out a book and placed his leader's left hand on it.
"Alright dude, you know how it goes. Place your other hand over your heart."
"Finn, what's going on here? And is this Piper's diary?!"
The wingman tensed.
"That's Piper's diary?!", Nightjar screeched. "Idiot, she's going to kill you once she finds out!!!"
Finn earned three smacks in the head: one from Nightjar, one from Dove, and one from Suzi Lu.
But he quickly recovered. "Aerrow, my man, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"
"Finn, what's this all about?"
"Have a thing for Piper, don't ya?"
"FINN!!!"
"Fine. Places everyone!" As soon as everyone sat neatly in one row, he said, "Aerrow of the Storm Hawks, you have been accused of hiding your feelings for your strategist/ navigator/ crystal specialist Piper, hesitation of revealing your feelings to her, and making it way too obvious that you see her more than just a friend. How do you plead?"
"Innocent, your Honor", Aerrow answered.
"Objection!", Starling called from the 'witness stand'. "I find that a lie."
"Yeah, man", Billy Rex exclaimed. "I second that notion. Yer diggin' yer right-hand lady!"
Radarr scribbled minutes like crazy.
"Evidence is needed, you know", Finn replied, though, with that smirk on his face, he knew there was no evidence needed to prove the obvious liking between the two Storm Hawks. "Oh, I know! Let me show you all a picture." He pulled a little gold frame from his pocket and said, "This is where it all started."
He threw the picture at Suzi Lu, and when she looked at it, she gave a little squeal. "Aww."
It was a picture of a seven-year-old Aerrow kissing a seven-year-old Piper on the cheek, a blush appearing on the girl's face.
The Blizzarian showed it to Billy Rex before throwing it to Starling.
"Hmm, how nice of you, Aerrow. A last-minute birthday present?"
"A dare", the blushing Sky Knight answered. "Finn…", here he gave the said sharpshooter a steely glare, "…called me a wuss and said I couldn't kiss a girl."
Everyone hooted and whistled and clapped their hands.
"A picture's hardly proof", Aerrow mumbled quickly, trying to defend himself.

"Oh, really?", questioned the Interceptor. "Let's talk about encounters, shall we? When you first introduced me to Piper, she squealed and said I was her 'most favorite Sky Knight ever'. Then you gave her this look, and she called me her second favorite Sky Knight. It's obvious you are her favorite."
She sipped her cloudberry shake smoothly and smiled as everyone hooted and whistled.

"Hmm. Playing favorites, is she?", Harrier asked with a bit of sneakiness. The redhead vainly tried to hide his blush. "Remember the competition in Terra Rex for the Phoenix Crystal?
When Piper and her opponent Plover gave a presentation of their Sky Fu skills, I remember the look you gave as you watched her. Not only did you show evident admiration, but you looked as if you were 'checking her out'. If I may perform my best imitation of how you looked at her…" The Rex Guardian crossed his arms, placed his chin into two fingers, tilted his head upwards and smiled.
The hooting and whistling and the 'Woo-woo!!!' came louder and louder, and Aerrow blushed redder than ever. Anyone could've sworn he had been pummeled in the face by tomatoes and didn't do a very good job of cleaning himself up.

"How about the Atmos Grand Slam Race on Saharr?", Burner called from the far left. "Heard your girl got kidnapped before the Race. You asked Finn there where you strategist was. He didn't hear you right and gave you another answer, but you looked worried as you readied yourself."
"Oh, oh, here, will ya?" Suzi Lu tapped her hand on the table for attention, and when everyone lent their ears she gave her testimony. "And the Festival in Blizzaris…remember when Billy Rex said 'no girls training in the back country'? Piper looked real mad 'bout it, and you said she could ride with you. But she said no, and you looked rejected, you poor thing."
Everyone gave a playful but heartfelt 'awww'.

"See, Aerrow my man, everyone here thinks that you should be with Piper. So, do you plead guilty to your 'charges'?"
"What do Piper and I have in common?! Why should we be together?!!"
"You are blushing too much, Sky Knight!!!", Dove called from her seat next to Starling. Aerrow snapped his lips shut in surprise. "Am I?"
"Um, yeah. See here, you and Piper are leadership types, ya know?". Suzi Lu started off. "That's a similarity."
"And they're both intelligent and innovative", Burner added.
"They're both smart. REALLY smart", said Junko.
"They both have a knowledge and respect for Sky Knight legends", Starling reminded them.
"You two are crushing on each other, and you both are denying it", Finn said. "I can practically hear your teeth grind everytime she speaks to some guy, and don't tell me it's a habit or something like that."
"She has grown up", the redhead mumbled, but it came out unexpectedly, like a hiccup.
"She certainly has", the blonde agreed. "I was just thinking the other day, 'Piper needs to go out a little more, 'cause I don't think she's getting any oxygen in that crystal lab of hers. Maybe I ask her out sometime. And she is looking good…maybe I should get some tips from her about her hair…"
Without knowing it, the sharpshooter was voicing his thoughts. Everyone slowly turned their heads to him, their eyes disturbingly wide; Nightjar had dropped her cup in her lap, but was taking no notice that the iced tea was soaking her lap.
"…oop, looks like I'm not the only one whose noticed Piper today. Look at that guy, staring at her. Haha!!!! He has no idea he's drooling. Just wait until Aerrow notices this; he's gonna beat the crap outta…"
"FINN!!!!" Said Sky Knight was the first to come back to reality.
Nightjar giggled.
Her sister glanced at her. "What's so funny?"
"Did you hear that last part? You know, when Finn says, 'Just wait until Aerrow blah blah blah, he's gonna beat the crap outta…', and then Aerrow growls, 'FINN!!!'. If you think about it, it sounds like Aerrow's gonna beat the crap out of Finn!! HAHA!!!!"
The many pairs of wide-open eyes were now directed at her, everyone thinking she was insane or something.

"Good idea, NJ", the redhead growled, turning his attention to his somewhat scared wingman. "Maybe I should beat the crap out of you! Why did you make everyone come here and try to convince Piper and I to get together?!"
"Finn had notzhing zo do with zhis!", Dove exclaimed.
The captain's anger cooled. "What?"
"Yeah, he didn't bribe us or anything", Burner explained. "We all came because we wanted to."
"Feelings are obvious between you and your strategist", Starling added.
"And we wanted to be sure you saw that", said Billy Rex.
"C'mon, man. Think about it", Finn said, gesturing to the Sky Knights that sat opposite to him. "Don't you think you and Piper are meant to be together if it takes this many people to make you understand?"

Aerrow stayed silent, absorbing the information. Although this had to be the most twisted court case he had ever heard, every bit was true. He had denied liking Piper as more than just a friend, hoping the feelings would go away; instead, they had grown into something else he couldn't really explain.
He loved her many-faceted intellect and her fiery energy, the way she was able to calm him down and fire him up at the same time. He admired her fighting skills and her work with crystals and battle plans.
He saw her every day, but everytime he looked at her carefully, he found it a challenge to pry his gaze from her, especially her beautiful orange eyes. And now that she had grown lovelier and her midnight blue hair was down, it was time he faced the music.
Was it finally time to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

"Yeah. I do."
Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at him.
"Did he just…?"
"Oh my gosh…"
"He said it…"
"Yeah, everyone", he answered. "I have feelings for Piper. No, I love her."
He turned to Finn. "Yes, I plead guilty to the charges."
"Tsk, tsk", the blonde reminded him. "You forgot something."
His commanding officer sighed wearily. "Yes, I plead guilty to the charges, Your Honor."
"I thought so. The verdict has found you, Aerrow of the Storm Hawks, guilty of hiding your feelings for Piper, hesitation of revealing your feelings for her, and making it way too obvious that you like her. I sentence you to kiss her in the next three hours or I'm gonna ask everyone here to tie up the both of you until you kiss. Okay, can someone hand me a glass and a spoon?"
Dove lent him her set, and, banging the spoon against the glass, called out, "Alright, Court…uh…wha-what's that word again?"
"ADJOURNED!!!"
"Oh, right. I knew that", he answered sheepishly while everyone groaned and rolled their eyes. "Court Adjourned!!"
And at that moment, a familiar face stepped into the pub.

"Hi everyone!!! It's so good to see you all!!"
Piper ran over to the line of Sky Knights and gave everyone a warm hello and, to some, a hug.
"What are you all doing here?"
Suzi Lu smiled. "Just talkin' over some…stuff…with Aerrow there." She cocked her head in his direction.
"Hey, Piper, I saved you a seat." He patted the chair next to his.
"Oh, thanks!" She walked over, sat down, and ordered a tall speckleberry shake and a slice of chocolate cake.
Without warning, Aerrow spun her around on her swivel chair, cupped her face in his hands, and captured her lips with his own.
The loud whoop of approval from the nearby Sky Knights was ear-splitting, but the two Storm Hawks could care less. The carnelian-eyed girl wrapped her arms around her leader's neck to deepen the kiss, while the redhead feathered his hands through her midnight blue hair.
Piper was the first to break away. "You like me, don't you?"
"No", Aerrow answered. "I love you."
"Is that the truth?"
"The truth, the whole truth…", he gave her lips a little kiss, "…and nothing but the truth."

"You might wanna get an extra straw", Finn whispered to the waiter, plopping down in his seat with a satisfied smirk.


Good enough for you all?!
I hope so!!
Because I like this one!!!!

See ya all soon!!!
Love,
Lady Azar