I wasn't planning on continuing the oneshot prologue about our Storm Hawks OC squadron, but I figured even though I won't have the time to give them a full story like some of our other groups, I can at least give them a few oneshots of their adventures and such.

Just a note, these oneshots are not in chronological order. Also, if you came here for some actual Storm Hawks action, you are in the wrong place. This is about mine and Dingo-Sniper's fan made squadron.

We do not own Storm Hawks, which is property of Asaph Fipke; we only own our characters, the Blackburn Jaegers and original content associated with them.

This particular oneshot was originally only posed on my deviantART alongside a picture. The basic idea for it is that Crow, much like Piper, has succumbed to the Binding and is slowly dying. In his final moments, Crow confesses his true feelings for Osprey.

"Phoenix Flare…" Crow muttered, "Come on, Phoenix Flare!" he tried again, his voice straining as he struggled to stand up straight. The glow of the crystals in his hands dimmed until there was no radiant light at all. Crow looked at his weakened hands with defeat before looking up to see Osprey pinned to the ground by Dark Ace. He roughly stepped on her shoulder to keep her to the ground before holding his blade only a few centimetres from her face.

"Any last words, Blackburn Phoenix?" Dark Ace taunted. Osprey simply glared and said nothing, keeping her eyes looked with Ace's in defiance.

Crow reached for his Night Shot rifle and shakily readied the rifle in his arms. His finger trembled over the trigger and he could barely keep the rifle up. He took a deep breath and summoned all the strength he could muster enough to steady the rifle and aim a shot right at Dark Ace. The blast struck his shoulder, though it was mostly deflected by his armour, but it nonetheless drew his attention to Crow.

"Oh, you're still up and running are you? Well not for long!" Dark Ace swung his sword, sending a bolt of electrified red energy hurtling right towards Crow. He narrowly ducked to avoid it, but was knocked to the ground by the blast from the impact.

"Crow!" Osprey quickly swung her feet and knocked Dark Ace roughly onto the ground. She flipped herself back onto her feet and retrieved her katanas that lay nearby. She started making her way over to Crow, who had not moved, but noticed Dark Ace getting back up. With her eyes narrowed at her target, Osprey gathered up all the energy she could muster within her. She jumped into the air and unleashed her signature attack, Phoenix Frostblaze. The fiery and icy blast struck Dark Ace right in the chest, charing parts of his armour and instantly knocking him out as ice partially formed around his body. Osprey sheathed her sword, satisfied with her work before rushing over to Crow.

"Crow!" she cried in worry, gathering him in her arms. "Crow!" she cried again, giving his body a little shake.

Crow suddenly coughed and groaned, before barely managing to open his eyes. "Ossy," he muttered with a weak smile.

"Why did you do that Crow? He could have killed you!"

"H-he would have k-killed you if I hadn't," Crow struggled to speak.

"Come on, let's get you back to the Frigate. Krane can patch you up," she said, as she prepared to help him up.

"No, no Ossy," he said, gripping her arm to stop her from moving. "It's ok. I-I think I'm done."

"What? What are you talking about Crow?" For the first time in his life, Crow could see fear in her eyes. Ever since he had known her, he knew that she was never afraid of anything, or at least she never showed it. He couldn't count how many times she charged into a fight where they were outnumbered and outgunned and she didn't flinch for a second. But now, she genuinely looked afraid. "Why did you do that Crow? You know what the Binding does to you! He could have killed you!"

"I-if I didn't, he would have killed you… I-I couldn't let that happen to you," he whispered weakly. Osprey noticed his eyes starting to droop and lightly shook him to keep him awake.

"Hey, hey! Crow, stay awake! Don't you give up on me!" she shouted.

"I-I'm sorry, Ossy. I guess I'm not as strong as you are," he coughed.

"You're wrong, Crow! You're the strongest person I know; I couldn't have done any of this without you," she insisted.

"You would have found a way; you always do," he said with a weak smile. "That's one of the things I've always loved about you. Ossy, I don't have much time left. I-"

"Don't say that!" she interjected.

"No, Ossy, we both knew it was only a matter of time," he said with a violent cough. "Un-unmastered Biding drains life energy and I'm running pretty low. Ossy, there's something I need to tell you before I-"

"And you can tell me when we get back to the Frigate!"

"Y-you and I both know th-that I don't have that kind of t-time. Please, just let me say what I need to say. Ossy," he began, "I love you."

"Wh-what?" she gasped.

"Please just let me… I've always loved you, Ossy. Ever since the day I met you," he paused to cough into his arm, "when you came bursting in to my rescue. You were so beautiful and I remember it like it was yesterday." Crow lifted his left hand to caress her cheek, weakly wiping away the tear that escaped her eye. Despite his weakened state, he could make out the water forming around her eyes. Any second now they would breach over her eyes and race down her cheeks and Crow knew he didn't have the strength to wipe them all away.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she whispered, her voice nearly breaking.

"I was afraid. It's stupid, I know, but… I was afraid that I wouldn't be good enough for you. You were always so strong and brave… powerful. Someone like me would be unworthy," he said softly.

"Don't say that," she murmured, gently caressing his hair.

"I'm sorry I never told you, Ossy. I just… wanted you to know before I…" Crow's sentence trailed off as his eyes drooped into a close.

"Crow? No, no, no, no, Crow don't do this to me," she said when she felt him go limp in her arms. Her eyebrows furrowed as her lips quivered. She gently shook him, silently praying with all her heart that it would be enough to wake him up. She broke down in an instant; tears flowed down her cheeks and she couldn't stop herself from crying out in despair. She pulled Crow's to her chest and placed her chin on the top of his head, rocking back and forth cradling his body as she cried. She kept telling herself that this wasn't supposed to happen, that Crow was supposed to get better and that he would be fine. But imagining these false promises she made to herself brought no peace or comfort to her broken heart. After what felt like an eternity, she pulled away and held Crow before her as she did before. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you, Crow," she whispered tearfully. She brushed the thick bangs out of his eyes and lowered her head. She lightly shut her eyes as their lips met, but she felt no response from and couldn't hold back the tears that flowed down her cheeks and dropped onto Crow's face. Unbeknownst to her, a white glow began to surround her before it spread to Crow.

Well, that was that oneshot, hope you enjoyed it. Maybe the next one will be about Krane and his past O-O