Chapter 45: A Bird's Heart
Waves lap steadily against the shoreline as Hawks flies over the beach. In the distance, a flicker of fire is the only sign he isn't alone. He and Endeavor stayed back with the students after what happened to help them out along with the islanders.
Hawks' mind feels free as he soars through the island, giving him space to process all that has happened through the last month.
"I can't believe Jean and those kids managed to save everyone here. They wiped the floor with those villains." He sighs, looking down at the sandy beach, picturing himself down there vacationing with Jean.
"Dream on, Hawks." He tells himself as his mind flashes back to kissing Jean. I must have looked like a fool. But... her lips were so soft. He shakes his head, trying push down the dreams. I don't deserve her or a life like that. He tells himself as he jets off from the beach side.
.* * *.
"You're serious?! Like, they really did kiss?" Kitty, wide-eyed, stares back at Mina as she and the rest of the UA girls gather around to hear more.
"What was like?!" Invisible girl asks.
"It must have been so romantic." Momo adds.
"I wish I got to see it. I can't believe he has a girl-." Ochoko says.
"Who has a girlfriend?" Rouge asks, standing at the door looking into the room. The startled girls look over to the auburn-haired woman.
"Hawks! Mina saw him kissing Jean today!" Invisible girl squeals.
"About time, those two have been back and forth with each other for months." Rouge says. "All those fan girls are going to flip."
.* * *.
Still consumed by his thoughts about Jean mixed with his desire to crawl in a hole from the embarrassment of kissing her, Hawks lands next to the entrance of the woods, hoping to find somewhere quiet to perch without being noticed.
He opens his phone and begins scanning pictures of him and Jean as he enters the woods.
"Hey, Hawks!" The unmistakeable, though more reserved than usual, voice exclaims.
Hawks freezes, wishing even more for the proverbial hole in which to climb, as he raises his head to see her gleaming green eyes.
Jean looks away as Hawks' eyes meet hers. Silence ensues for a moment.
"I- uh, Jean- I need to apologize for earlier. I don't know what got into me. I was so worried about you and I- I wasn't thinking and I made a mistake and I'm sorry. Please, just forget it ever happened. I missed you like hell and I don't know what got into me. I saw you and- yeah."
"Hawks, I owe you the apology. I shouldn't have scanned your memories. There were reasons I did it, but that doesn't change that it was violating to your privacy. Trust me, if there was any other way- I didn't want to. We needed to do it because we were worried for your life. We needed to know what we were dealing with in Dabi and the League. And- that sucks that you're sorry for kissing me because- well- I loved it."
Hawks looks back at Jean, sure he misunderstood her.
"I mean- are you sorry because you think I was offended or are you sorry because you wished you didn't."
"Both- I mean, I can't stop thinking about you. This has been the worst month of my life. I miss you and can't stop thinking about you. Losing you feels like the worst thing in the world. I don't want to subject myself to the potential of that happening. You're out of my league and everyone knows that. Nobody wants an orphan like me, especially someone like you. I mean-"
Jean puts her finger up to Hawks' mouth to silence him, then meets his eyes with a kiss. Heat rises to his cheeks as his wings lightly flutter. "Then don't lose me." She smiles back. "Come on, Keigo. We're on this incredible island. Let's go find somewhere to relax and wait for the sun to rise."
If this is a dream, I hope I never wake up. Hawks thinks as he follows Jean to the beach, their fingers interlocking with one another's.