6
"He gave you a feather?!" Hawks heard Aiko gasp as he perched himself on the window in the ceiling. They didn't seem to notice him yet. Yuri was caressing his feather as Aiko seemed to be teasing her. Closing his eyes, he focused on that one feather and what they were saying.
"Yeah, something about not being in any more trouble. Although I'm sure trouble will find him more than me," Yuri rolled her eyes.
"I don't know about that," Aiko giggled, "Maybe you two are made for each other. Both trouble magnets."
"Does that mean we'd cancel each other out?" Yuri asked seriously, "Because I want my boring office life back."
"I don't think there would ever be a boring day with that man," Aiko gossiped, "You would know though. He did spend the last week and a half with you~"
"It's not like that!" Yuri denied, shaking her head making her curls bounce around her face.
"How could it not be?" Aiko asked, "A man like him doesn't drop everything to find just any girl."
"I'm not worth the time and I told him that repeatedly," Yuri said as she tugged at a strand of hair.
"You are so worth it! And I'm sure he sees that too!" Aiko urged. Yuri shrugged in response before turning back to her computer.
"So, what was it like?" Aiko questioned.
"What was what like?"
"Hawks! What was it like having him take care of you? Oh, I bet he would be amazing at it!" Aiko boasted, making Yuri blush, "A soft boy who is all too loving but stern when it matters."
"The man rarely remembers to take care of himself!" Yuri articulated, "I ended up taking care of him at one point."
"Aww, how sweet!" Aiko cooed.
"It's not like that!" Yuri growled, "It's late Aiko, shouldn't you be heading home?"
"Are you trying to distract me?" Aiko asked.
"There's nothing to distract," Yuri said, "Like there's nothing to say. He helped me when I needed it and that was it. End of story. Never happening again."
"Not if I can help it," Hawks said as he swooped down, "I'll come to your aid at any time, little feather." He smirked at the blush that rose to his secretary's cheeks as he leaned down to kiss her hand.
"Agh!" Aiko squealed, "You two are just so cute! I can't even! Yuri, you're going to make every woman a jealous one."
"Aiko! That is not-"
"I'll be sure to hold the hoards off," Hawks winked at his accountant, "Anything to protect my little feather."
"Yuri! You lucky bitch!" Aiko pouted, "I'll give you two some alone time! See you in a couple of days!"
"Aiko! Wait! This isn't-"
"And she's gone!" Hawks observed.
"You ass!" Yuri fumed, "I do not need office rumors running around about me!"
"C'mon, Aiko harmless," Hawks shrugged, "She's a gossip queen so no one takes her seriously." Yuri growled but turned away from him choosing to ignore him instead of replying. Hawks watched closely as Yuri typed at her computer. Her hand came up every so often to scratch at her neck around the thin silver band that rested there. A quirk suppressing collar. Hawks shuddered at the thought of not being able to access his quirk. What was her quirk? He had never asked during his time with her. Actually, he still didn't know why she had to wear it.
"Yuri, what is your quirk?" Hawks questioned.
"Give me one good reason to tell you," Yuri countered.
"I'll love you even more?" he tried.
"No, thank you."
"I have a right to know!"
"Not really. It's private information and not relevant to my work."
"It should be listed then right?"
"No clue." Yuri shrugged, "I haven't used it in quite a while and I don't know if the Commission ever registered it."
"Damn. They didn't register mine until I debuted so I imagine they didn't," Hawks pondered, "How long have you had to wear that thing?"
"I lost track of how long it's been," Yuri said, keeping her eyes on her computer screen, "I believe I've had it since high school."
"Why?"
"Why do you care?" Yuri asked looking up at him. Her expression was guarded as was her tone. This was a touchy subject.
"Quirk suppressants are reserved for only the most violent of criminals and you are the exact opposite," Hawks reasoned, "I see no reason for it to be on."
"You don't know me well enough to make that kind of observation," Yuri deadpanned.
"But you know me well enough to take a beating for me?" Hawks countered. Yuri's hand froze over her keyboard. Her whole body stilled. Now, that was something.
"Don't speak about something you don't understand," Yuri said coldly.
"Then help me understand," Hawks insisted.
"I'm not arguing about this with you again," Yuri said as she grabbed her purse, "You can keep asking and the answer will remain the same. I can't tell you!"
"Because the president told you not to?" Hawks snarked, "Can't you do anything on your own!" Yuri seemed to freeze as she stared at him. Hawks felt a sharp pang in his chest as tears seemed to form in her honey eyes.
"I told you not to waste such energy on me. I'm sorry if I've become such a burden to you."
"Yuri! Wait! I didn't mean it in that way!" Hawks chased after his secretary as she practically ran away from him. 'Idiot!' He reprimanded himself, 'That is the last thing to say to someone!' He grabbed her shoulder making her face him.
"Then how did you mean it Hawks? Need I remind you that you are the one that wanted me to stay!" Yuri hissed shoving his feather into his hands, "Keep your stupid feathers to yourself! I do not need you nor your unwanted help." Hawks stood dumbfounded at the retreating form of the fuming woman.
"Nice going, boss," Mockingbird sneered, "You seem to be losing that charisma of yours."
"I said I was sorry!" Hawks moaned, "What more do you want?"
"You're getting ahead of yourself," Jay pointed out, "Maybe think before you speak?"
"Yeah, yeah," Hawks waved off, "I'll give it a try."
"You're really hopeless aren't you?" Mockingbird chuckled.
"Hopeless?" Hawks cocked his head, "I'm not hopeless."
"You are when it comes to the intimacy of women," Jay jeered. Mockingbird tried to hide his laughter behind his hand but was epically failing.
"For someone who is so popular with the ladies, you sure do suck at interacting with them," Mockingbird snickered. Hawks glared at his two sidekicks.
"Neither of you are giving me a way to fix this!" Hawks puffed. The two sidekicks continued to laugh this time out in the open. Hawks intensified his glare before stalking away.
"Maybe just keep your mouth shut next time, bossman!" Jay called after him between laughs.
"Take her on a date, Hawks!" Mockingbird called out, "Make her feel special! Make it up to her that way!" Hawks paused as a plan formed in his mind. That wasn't a bad idea.
-With Yuri-
Yuri gave an angry huff as she walked back to her apartment.
"Stupid feather. Stupid birdbrain," Yuri mumbled, "I didn't ask for any of this!"
"Didn't ask for what?" A raspy voice asked. Yuri jumped as a man dressed in all black strode out of an alleyway.
"Who are you?" Yuri demanded. She fell into a defensive stance ready to bolt.
"You should know," The man gave a husky chuckle, "An angel will always know her phoenix."
"Phoenix? What the hell are you wearing?" Yuri asked, her face scrunching in confusion.
"It's my blending in outfit," Phoenix said, "It works pretty well right?"
"If you want to blend in with a bunch of gothic criminals maybe," Yuri muttered, "You can't fool anyone with that get up."
"It's worked pretty well so far," Phoenix pointed out, "Now, it is against my honor code to let such an alluring woman walk home alone." Yuri giggled as the tall man held his elbow out to her.
"Then surely you know how to keep your honor," Yuri appealed as she grabbed his elbow, "How is everything going on your end?"
"It's going," Phoenix breathed, "I'm getting close to their mysterious backer. Soon I might be able to see just how involved the two are."
"That's good," Yuri sighed, "And you're okay right? I got worried after I heard about Deika City and then you weren't answering me."
"I'm fine," Phoenix said, his voice held a smile to it, "I have more training than most of the others in the group so I was able to hold my own. Even evolved the amount of flames I can use now."
"That's amazing, Føniks!" Yuri cheered, "I didn't think that was possible."
"Neither did I but I guess stressful situations can cause quirks to evolve in magnificent ways," Phoenix stated, "How does it go with you?"
"I've managed to get my hands on a few of the files the Commission hid at his agency and made copies but trying to get him to our side might be a little bit more difficult," Yuri explained, "He still hasn't remembered anything but he is getting feelings. A familiarity that is nagging at him."
"He is doubting them," Phoenix acknowledged, "He thinks the Commission is up to something but I don't think he knows how to proceed with it."
"Now if only he could trust me a little bit more." Yuri slumped forward, "I thought I was making progress after him spending almost two weeks together but tonight he snapped at me and I don't know if I took a step back or a step forward."
"Wait a minute, he snapped at you?" Phoenix implored, coming to a halt.
"He's getting frustrated with my lack of answers but I don't know where they are hiding their bugs anymore. I know there are some most definitely at the office so I don't think I could tell him right now even if I wanted to."
"That makes sense. We might be able to use that frustration to our advantage. Stress on the brain can cause it to remind itself of similar events."
"True but I don't want to overload his brain. He could end up in a coma if we aren't careful."
"I know, but we could also be killed if we aren't careful," Phoenix reminded as he picked his pace up again, "They let that snake woman go so you need to not be walking around by yourself."
"They let her go!?" Yuri shouted in disbelief, "Agh! I can't win! I feel like the president knows I'm-we-are up to something. She accessed my email."
"Then we should probably go dark for a while again," Phoenix surmised.
"Probably," Yuri sighed. They walked in silence just enjoying each other's company while they had it. They didn't know how long they were going to be separated might as well make the most of it.
"Do you want to stay for dinner? I grabbed ingredients to make Kjøttkaker~" Yuri sang.
"How can I say no to that?" Phoenix chuckled as he followed her into her apartment. Silence descended upon them again as they basked in each other's energy. Neither needing verbal words relying on nonverbal cues and sign language. Phoenix stripped of his undercover outfit as Yuri danced around the kitchen as she prepared the traditional dish from her homeland bringing a lively smell to the air as the spices mulled together.
"I have missed your cooking so much!" Phoenix hummed as he took a big bite, "Playing a villain doesn't pay well enough to ensure a home cooked meal."
"Thank you," Yuri beamed at the praise, "You know I can always make you something and leave it somewhere for you to pick up. We don't need you starving during all this."
"Too dangerous and now that we have a company backing us I think we will have more money for food. They even have a cafeteria!" Phoenix noted.
"Wow," Yuri gaped, "Fancy." They shared a laugh as Yuri leaned into the male's side. His body giving off an unnatural heat relaxing her joints from the cold air. She was going to need to turn her heater on and bring out her winter blankets soon. Her body never recovered enough to enjoy winter as much as she would like to but she made due. Yuri sighed deeply as she slumped further into the couch and Phoenix. He rumbled a low laugh as he wrapped his arm around her bringing her to his chest.
"I should get going soon," Phoenix whispered, "They'll begin to wonder where I am."
"Do you have to?" Yuri whines twisting her arms around his waist, "I've captured you so you're stuck!"
"I wish it worked that way. Lille korpen," he purred sending a shiver down her spine. Yuri blustered as her cheeks gained a warmth to them that slowly spread down her neck. She shifted from her position on the couch and into his lap, bringing their chests flush to each other.
"Before you leave we should make up for lost time and time we will lose," Yuri cooed. She gazed into his ocean blue eyes letting them captivate her as they swam with lust, love, and determination.
"You want to play with fire, lille korpen?" He asked huskily. Yuri nodded. She leaned forward letting their lips meet. His lips were warm as they moved sensually against hers. His tongue sweeping across her bottom lip encouraging her to meet his with hers. Yuri moaned as they met. They spent the night intertwined in each other's bodies. Remembering and reminding one another of each sensitive spot and what it felt like to bring the other to the point of ecstasy. Their bodies moved in tandem with each other. Heated breaths and the sound of skin on skin filled the small apartment as the two lovers renewed their love. The two lovers moved from the couch to the floor to the bedroom each one bringing a new position and a new form of pleasure. Yuri writhed underneath the strong body of Phoenix as he took her to the sky. Her eyes rolling back as his thrust hit that sweet spot deep within her body before both collapsing in a panting, sweaty mess on top of her bed.
Yuri snuggled into his side as she felt her eyes begin to slide shut exhausted from the activities they had spent the night doing. She had no clue what time it was but she had a feeling it was closer to the morning than it was evening. Hopefully, she wouldn't look too worse for wear for work tomorrow. The last thing she needed was Hawks on her case about his sort of thing. Yuri shifted her head onto Phoenix's chest letting the sound of his heartbeat distract her from such thoughts. She stared up at him as the warm light from her salt lamp illuminated his features. His scars. One day they would all be back together and be able to curl in on one another again. Yuri took a deep breath and let Nótt take her as darkness took her vision.
Yuri woke the next morning to a cold bed and a note laying on the pillow next to her. It felt like a dream but the soreness in her body and the note grounded her to reality. Today was a new day and a new agenda! Yuri wanted to focus on the files she had managed to get her hands on as well as any information on that snake woman, Lilith. If what Lilith told her was true then the president was ordering small-time villains or psych ward patients to do her bidding. Yuri hummed softly as she went about her morning routine. Morning workout? Check. Breakfast? Check. Shower and makeup? Check. Now what to wear? Yuri contemplated her closet with a sigh. Her wardrobe was as barren as the rest of her apartment. Her arms still had some bruising and even though it was mostly faded she wanted to keep it hidden from the rest of her coworkers. Settling on a black pencil skirt, a lavender blouse, and black pumps, Yuri made her way to the office.
Translations Norwegian to English:
Føniks- Phoenix
Kjøttkaker- Frikadelle are flat, pan-fried meatballs of minced meat, often likened to the Danish version of meatballs. Classic Norwegian dish