7
"You want me to get in that thing with you?" Yuri asked looking up at the large Ferris wheel.
"It'll be fun!" Hawks exclaimed.
"No." Yuri turned and started to walk away only for a hand to yank her back. She gasped as she lost her footing, falling into the strong chest of the winged hero.
"Give it a try! It'll be fun I promise!" Hawks pleaded, "Please for me?" He looked down at her with his eyes wide. She really couldn't say no to him.
"Fine," Yuri sighed. His wings vibrated behind him with excitement as he pulled her into a tight hug.
"You won't regret this I promise!" Hawks said excitedly, tugging her to the entrance of the ride. Yuri gulped as she looked up at how large the Ferris wheel was. The colorful cages and bright lights made her blink at the intensity. Hawks tugged her into the bright red cage immediately taking up a perch on the bench to watch as they rose up. Yuri jumped as the door slammed shut behind her. She tentatively took a seat across from Hawks keeping her eyes on her lap as her hands clenched the hem of her skirt. She wanted out of here. Yuri flinched slightly as the cage began to move.
"See? The city looks so beautiful up here," Hawks said, "Although it does feel a little strange to be this high up and not be flying."
"Yes, it's very beautiful," Yuri agreed, her shoulders tight with tension. She refused to look anywhere but her lap. Her fingernails biting into her palms through the material of her skirt.
"Aren't you glad you agreed to come?" Hawks asked.
"Yes, of course," Yuri said robotically. The cage started to swing to and fro as the Ferris wheel came to a stop. Yuri felt her abs clench as she tried to steady herself and stay in one spot.
"Are you having fun?"
"Yes, of course," Her heart was racing. This cage was too small and her bra was too tight. Her ears rang as blood rushed through them as her airways clenched in fear.
"Yuri? Are you-" Crrreeeaaaaakkk. The Ferris wheel jolted back to life raising them higher and higher into the sky. Yuri didn't hear the rest of what Hawks was asking her as she focused on breathing. In, one, two, three, out, one, two, three. In, one, two, three, out, one, two, three. In, one, two, three, out, one, two, three. Her heart rate continued to rise as the Ferris wheel came to another stop forcing the cage to swing once more.
"Yuri? Look at me." Yuri felt the warmth of Hawks' hands on her shoulders but she refused to look up. In, one, two, three, out, one, two, three. In, one, two, three, out, one, two, three. Crrreeeaaaak. The cage swung as it started to move again. Hawks' hands slid down her arms landing on her hands. Yuri shifted her gaze catching Hawks' concerned eyes as he crouched before her but her fear was starting to consume her. Yuri flinched as they came to another stop.
"Yuri, you're okay we are at the top. The ride is almost done," Hawks said, his voice low as if he spoke any louder she would crumble. His throaty voice vibrated into her ears but the song the ride was playing was too loud for her to really hear him. The low song was practically screaming in her ear making her curl up into herself bringing her hands to cover her ears. The lights of the ride made her screw her eyes shut as their intensity overwhelmed her retinas. She was vaguely aware of Hawks rubbing her back in soothing circles but the tight space and overstimulation were taking all her attention. Her heart pounded and she curled herself tighter into herself.
Then it stopped. The lights were gone and the sounds disappeared. Yuri's body felt cold as the outside stimulation vanished. Yuri blinked her eyes open taking in the darkness that had surrounded them.
"It looks like the power shut off," Hawks observed. It was pitch black. Yuri's breath hitched as the surrounding shadows seemed to grow. They were too high up for any of the city lights to provide any sort of light for them. The pressure on her chest was getting heavier as the second ticked by and her breathing became more ragged. Her mind registered that there was a movement to the side of her but she couldn't move. Yuri could hear someone calling her name but the sounds of reality seemed muddled almost like she was underwater. Her body shook as the darkness enveloped her being.
"Unacceptable, Herja! I expect you to perform better!" The trainer shouted at her, "You will never hope to save anyone in this country with such a lack of convictions! Just kill the damn thing and be done with it!" Yuri shook as she took in the trembling form of the puppy before her. Her hand clenched around the small knife as she sobbed.
"No! I can't do this!" 10-year-old Yuri cried.
"Then you can get in the box!" the trainer growled grabbing her upper forearm.
"No, please! I'll do anything else! I'll be good! I'll kill it please, not the box," Yuri wailed and tugged back on her arm as they entered a small room that held a single wooden box in the middle.
"You should've thought of that before it got to this!" the trainer barked, "Now, get in and stay quiet!" Yuri's hands were tied behind her back and a cloth around her eyes. She was shoved into the small confined space and all noise stopped. Soft feathers brushed against her skin as they tucked around her trying to shield her from any dangers that may pop out. She couldn't even hear herself breathe. Yuri trembled as she huddled herself into a corner.
"Yuri!" Was that Hawks? She shouldn't be able to hear him. A dull red light beat in the distance chasing away some of the shadows. Yuri gasped as reality came back to her. Hawks had spread out a couple of feathers lighting them up to provide some sort of light in the dark cage.
"Yuri? Are you okay?" Hawks asked, "Stupid question! You're crying of course you're not." Yuri furrowed her brow bringing her hand to wipe the wetness that fell down her cheek. When had she started to cry? The lights were still off and the silence was overbearing but the small lights from Hawks' feathers provided some comfort for her.
"Here hold onto this." Hawks unfurled her hand and placed a glowing feather in it. Yuri stared at it, "What happened, Yuri?"
"I'm sorry. I thought I would be able to handle it," Yuri croaked.
"There's nothing to apologize for. If anything I should be! For forcing you to do this." Hawks shook his head.
"It's not your fault I just don't do well in confined spaces or in the dark really," Yuri placated, "I should've known better." Hawks pulled her into his chest holding her tightly. His wings curling around them like a protective while his lit feathers floated close to them making the small space glow like a lantern. Yuri curled into his chest with her hands clutching the hoodie the hero was wearing bringing the glowing feather closer to her face. The fabric felt soft against her face as she snuggled into it. The warmth of his body surrounding her let her body relax bit by bit as exhaustion flushed out the last of her anxiety. Hawks cooed softly as he pulled her closer to him. The sound vibrating through his chest and into her ear. If this had been any other occasion, Yuri would have blushed and pushed him away but he was so comfortable to cuddle with even with all the muscles he had. He maintained a softness that made him the perfect cuddle buddy. Yuri smiled softly. She was glad that that hadn't changed in the years they've been away.
"I hope this hasn't ruined our date, little feather," Hawks frowned, "It seems whenever I try to do something for you it just ends up backfiring."
"It's not your fault," Yuri reiterated into his chest, "It hasn't ruined anything. I've been enjoying myself." Yuri smiled up at him which he returned if a little weaker than his usual one.
"Yuri, what happened?" Hawks asked, his gaze full of concern. Yuri hesitated before breaking away from his eyes.
"When I first started working for the Commission, I made a lot of mistakes. They expected me to perform flawlessly with very little training. I honestly don't even know what I was performing half the time, but most were to determine my strength, weaknesses and my convictions," Yuri explained, clenching her hand around his feather, "One of their favorite forms of punishment was a sensory deprivation box. A small wooden box, with only a few holes for air but was otherwise completely solid. Soundproof and no light ever entered it. They would tie me up and blindfold me before sticking me in there for an undetermined amount of time." She heard Hawks take a sharp inhale but she continued on.
"Sometimes it would be a few hours and sometimes it would be days. I think the longest I was ever trapped in that box was 5 days. I was so weak coming out of it that I don't even remember what test I performed upon release only that I passed. I haven't been back there since I started working for you, but the scars from its use remain," Yuri mused, "I haven't been able to handle small confined spaces or the dark since. It didn't really even occur to me this would happen as I've never been on a Ferris wheel before." Yuri gave a sheepish laugh at her lack of forethought.
"Yuri," Hawks breathed, "I don't even know what to say."
"There's nothing to say," Yuri said, "It was a long time ago. I've come to grips with it for the most part, at least."
"I hate being without my feathers," Hawks muttered, "I trained very hard to ensure that I can feel and hear anything that comes into contact with them. Without them, I feel empty and exposed. Useless and helpless. It doesn't happen very often but when it does it takes my breath away. If I wouldn't do as they please they would put clamps around my wings, cutting me off from them."
"That makes sense. They're an extension of you right?" Hawks nodded against her head as his head dipped down, "I imagine training with them was very difficult."
"It was worth every second of it. Anything to obtain my dream."
"Worth it, huh?" Yuri asked.
"Well, I got to meet you didn't I?" Yuri felt him smile into her hair as a flush rose to her cheeks. He really has no idea, Yuri thought.
"I'm not that special," Yuri uttered, "You're making something out of nothing."
"You need to give yourself some credit," Hawks insisted, "How could I possibly ignore such a beauty in front of me? Forgive my slight birdish tendencies but when I see something I like I take it."
"You're impossible," Yuri moaned.
"Just admit it! You like all this attention from a big birdman," Hawks teased.
"Whatever," Yuri huffed, crossing her arms.
"You're not denying it!~" Hawks sang. Yuri blushed but didn't rebuff his teasing. It was so nice to be held in such a way again. Familiar arms wrapped around her and wings proving shelter from the world. The only thing that was missing was her own feathers mixing with his.
"No, I guess not," Yuri chuckled, "How long do you think we'll be up here?"
"I'm not sure. They made an announcement a little while ago about it being a maintenance issue," Hawks replied, "Hopefully, it won't be much longer." Yuri hummed in agreement but was content to just relax into his arms. They sat in silence basking in each other's warmth and of the closeness being next to each other.
"Thank you for tonight, Hawks," Yuri said, breaking their silence, "I can't remember the last time I had this much fun."
"Anytime, little feather," Hawks smiled down at her, "I wouldn't mind another night like tonight to happen."
"Neither would I." Yuri returned his smile. Their eyes locked. Gold met brown and the world melted away. Yuri felt her chest well as her breath quickened. Hawks had a faint blush across his cheeks and his wings tightened around her, brushing against the bare skin of her legs. It felt like decades as they sat in each other's arms letting Hawks feathers give them a whole world of their own; lost in each other's eyes. Yuri slid her eyes closed as Hawks dipped his head down toward her. Her breath hitched as his lips inched closer to her own.
"Hawks," Yuri muttered. His arms tightened around her waist when a blinding light filtered in from outside her eyelids.
"We do apologize for the inconvenience but the ride is now functioning properly," A robotic voice sounded through the cage and the music started to play again. Yuri blinked her eyes open. Immediately blushing, she pushed herself back onto the bench behind them. What had she been thinking? Yuri hid her face in her hands as she felt her cheeks catch on fire. She was pretty sure it went down her next to her chest. They spent the rest of the ride in silence both avoiding to look at each other but Yuri kept his feather clenched in her hands as her anxiety spiked with the ride moving. As they excited the ride, Yuri's growing nervousness as to what was going to happen next grew.
"The fireworks should be starting soon," Hawks stated, "We can watch them and then head back. It is getting late." Yuri nodded in agreement and let him lead her to a spot on the grass. Yuri made herself comfortable next to him and the blush on her cheeks had yet to leave her, but Yuri couldn't help but move closer when the wind sent a shiver through her body. She really should've grabbed a jacket.
"Huh?" Yuri gasped as his wing wrapped around her shielding her, "Thank you." Hawks inclined his head in acknowledgment but didn't say anything. His face was scrunched up and he looked quite pale.
"Are you okay?" Yuri asked softly, "We can head out if you need to rest."
"I'm fine, just a headache," Hawks reassured her but his pained expression only made her worry grow.
"Then we should leave," Yuri stated as she started to get up, "Your health is more important than a firework show."
"It's a simple headache, feather." Hawks rolled his eyes at her, "It's not a life or death situation." Yuri stared into his eyes trying to find any hint of a lie but his eyes were open and honest.
"If you say so." Hawks used his wing to pull her into him as his arm wrapped around her waist. Her head tilted back onto his shoulder as she watched the first couple of fireworks shoot off. The loud boom made her flinch a little but she felt safe being in his arms again. Hawks' arm tightened around her waist and Yuri could feel his eyes on her.
"Yuri." Hawks' voice was quiet against the roar of the fireworks, "We've never done this before right?" Yuri turned to him questioningly. His eyes held a far away look that made Yuri's breath catch. Was he? Was he remembering?
"Does this have something to do with your headache?" Yuri asked softly.
"I got a flash of us laughing through what looked like a festival before we went to watch the fireworks." Hawks' eyes bore into her own, "But we've never done this before." Uncertainty was dripping off his words making Yuri debate whether telling him would be a good idea or not.
"We've done this once before in a way," Yuri started slowly, "It was many years ago though. I doubt you would remember such a small occasion."
"How could I not remember you?"
"We simply ran into each other. I had lost sight of the friends I had come with and was beginning to panic before you swooped in and said that you wouldn't leave my side until we found them," Yuri explained, averting her eyes, "We somehow ended up watching the fireworks together."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Hawks demanded. Yuri fiddled with the locket hanging from her neck.
"What was there to tell? I haven't really thought about that night in a while and when you didn't seem to recognize me I figured you didn't care to remember another girl you managed to save." Yuri shrugged.
"Is that why the Commission took notice of you?"
"I don't think so. That was in high school and they approached me in my final years at college so the time gap doesn't make sense."
"High school?" Hawks breathed but didn't make any inkling at continuing the conversation. He turned back towards the show leaving Yuri to feel slightly cold as his wing folded back to his back letting the wind sweep over her once more. This was the first time he had remembered anything to do with her. Was this the proper way to make him regain his memory? Yuri shook her head. Memories came second to the mission. If the Commission realized he was regaining them, he would disappear and it would be a repeat. The firework show was all too slow and too fast at the same time. They sat in silence as their features glowed with each explosion.
Yuri stretched as she stood from her seated position. Her backside was definitely going to be sore from sitting on such a hard surface for so long but it was worth it to have another night like tonight with him. Hawks splayed his wings out shaking any leaves or grass that might have been caught in the feathers and Yuri couldn't help but stare at the beauty of them. Rich in color and huge in span, Hawks' wings were awe worthy no matter what the occasion was.
"Ready to go home?" Yuri nodded letting him scoop her up and take her into the air. There was an awkward air between them as they flew back toward Yuri's apartment. The flight back was quiet and Yuri made sure to keep her grip as loose as possible not wanting to be too close to the already tense man. She closed her eyes as she let the night air blow through her curls causing her body to relax, forgetting all about the tense moment the two shared not moments ago. Yuri hummed to herself a beat she used to sing as a child letting her relive that past for just a brief moment. Hawks' talons scratched at her slightly as his hands curled further around her body.
"You seem to be enjoying yourself?" Hawks chuckled as he looked down at her.
"How could one not?" Yuri beamed up at him, "It gives you a sense of freedom being so high above the city! I can only imagine how it feels without being held."
"Night flying is one of my favorite things," Hawks admitted as he grinned back at her, "Watching the city from all the way up here, the wind between my feathers, it is unlike any other experience I've had."
"That sounds amazing," Yuri responded giddy at the thought of flying so freely.
"I'll show you amazing!" Hawks smirked as he twirled around. Looping them up and down and around making Yuri giddy with excitement. She laughed freely, cheering him on as he did large loops and spun with her held tightly to his chest. They were both panting by the time Hawks gently set her down on her balcony.
"Thank you for tonight Hawks," Yuri said as she smiled softly at him, "I can't remember the last time I laughed so much."
"Any time, Yuri," Hawks promised with a smile of his own. He sat casually on her railing letting the smile of his own soften as a slight blush covered his cheeks, "I look forward to another night like tonight happening."
"As do I." Yuri puffed her chest and swelled all her confidence and bravery as she took a step toward him. She placed a light peck on his cheek before whispering,
"Goodnight, min hauk. I'll see you tomorrow." Yuri flushed and quickly stepped into her apartment as she practically ran to her bedroom. She buried her face in her hands gripping at her curls. What had she been thinking? This wasn't high school. There were lives at stake and for her to just go and do that? Yuri giggled as she thought about the kiss. Her heart fluttered and butterflies swarmed her stomach. It certainly made her feel like she was back in high school.