"I'm going to run to the bathroom; I'll be right back," he said gently, pushing out his chair to stand. She nodded, giving him a soft smile, and he swiftly made his way towards the restroom. He didn't really have to go, but he needed just a second to try and catch his breath.
He quickly entered the bathroom, locking the door behind him before leaning against it with a groan. He sucked in a breath, reaching down to palm himself through his pants. That dress was going to be his undoing; he just knew it. Never in his life had he gotten aroused so quickly before. It had almost been enough to make him dizzy, the blood rushing from his head to his groin as soon as he saw her. He tried every mental trick to get it under control, but he was still half-hard, making it difficult to fully enjoy her company.
He briefly considered taking care of himself to relieve the tension. It would only take a couple of minutes at most. He was no stranger to taking care of himself; he often did so after particularly stressful days at work. It was the quickest way to de-stress, relax, and helped him sleep better than a bath or a sleeping pill ever could. He could simply pull up a quick video, discreetly relieve himself, and return to the table, and nobody would be the wiser.
He sighed, pushing the thought from his mind as quickly as it had come. It was too risky. If he got caught, the Commission would be furious and he could only imagine the lectures he'd get. It would be beyond embarrassing. Plus, it wasn't a very gentlemanly thing to do, especially with his date waiting for him back at their table. Instead he groaned, quickly adjusting himself as much as possible and withdrawing his hand before grabbing his phone. This was all Haruki's fault, she'd definitely done this on purpose.
Hawks: That dress isn't playing fair and you know it.
Haruki: I bet it would look even better on your bedroom floor. What the hell are you doing texting me? Focus on your date!
Hawks: I hate you.
Haruki: I'm glad you're having a good time. Now go get laid!
He chuckled, rolling his eyes as he put his phone away, but the thought certainly was tempting. What would it be like to actually experience those things he'd only watched on a screen before? For the first time in his life, he found himself curious. What did it actually feel like?
Shaking his head, he cleared his thoughts and walked over to the sink, splashing some cold water on his face. It was too early to be entertaining those thoughts, despite the expectations from those around him. They were just having their first real interactions, and it was too soon for any of that. He wanted to try and take this as slow as possible, considering the Commission's plans for them.
He quickly slipped out of the bathroom, pausing in confusion as he approached their table. A young man was sitting across from Y/N, firmly settled into his seat, wearing a smug smile as he gazed at her. His brown hair was slicked back, and Hawks could tell the suit he was wearing was quite expensive. He inched closer, already planning on eavesdropping. He discreetly sent a couple of feathers under their chairs to pick up their conversation more clearly.
"What, are the tags still attached so you can return it after? What idiot saw you and decided to take you out? Don't they know that you're nothing more than trailer trash? I mean, after all, what kind of person abandons–"
He furrowed his brow at the man's harsh words towards her, his gut twisting as he grappled with the fact that someone could say something so cruel. He hardly had time to process or act before he watched Y/N's face contort, her desperation obvious in her features as he saw tears begin to slip down her cheeks.
"I didn't! You took her from me!" She cried out, and he frowned, wondering what she could possibly be talking about. Who was this person they were discussing, and why was Y/N suddenly crying? "You took her from me and left me homeless, and I have worked so damn hard to fight for her back. You just wait."
Anger suddenly tore through him as a puzzle piece seemed to finally fall into place. This must be her ex-boyfriend. This was the man who had talked down on her, the reason she flinched away from him at the arcade. His mind was racing with the new information this little conversation had revealed, but it was time to put an end to this reunion. This would not stand, not on his watch, not on his date. He sucked in a breath, puffing out his wings to make himself appear larger, and started walking towards the table.
"And the idiot who saw her and decided to take her out," he said loudly, inserting himself into their conversation without hesitation. "Is standing right here."
The man suddenly looked up, sneering at him as Hawks extended his hand. "I'm Hawks, the number two hero; you might've heard of me." He usually avoided mentioning his status, but for some reason, he couldn't help himself. It was taking everything he had to control his temper and avoid resorting to violence.
The man sneered back but didn't take Hawks' hand. He let out a disgusted-sounding tut, then turned his attention back to Y/N. Hawks almost spread his wings on impulse but caught himself at the last minute. The close quarters in the restaurant meant trying to assert dominance now would likely disrupt innocent people's meals. Instead, he clenched his jaw, trying to restrain the urge to throw a punch.
"I'll let Himari know you said hello," he snapped at her. Without another word, he stood and disappeared back into the restaurant. Hawks quickly crouched by her side, his concern evident. She was obviously shaken up, but he wasn't sure about the best course of action at this point.
"Are you okay? What was that about?" he asked gently, his curiosity burning as he hoped she would trust him enough to share what had happened. He had missed the start of their conversation, and he was eager to learn more about who Hamuri was and what her ex-boyfriend had meant by her abandoning something. He watched her closely as she nibbled on her lip before letting out a soft sigh.
"Can we please just leave?" she whispered, and he frowned before nodding.
"Let's go," he said gently, extending his hand to help her up from her seat. He then pulled out his wallet and quickly grabbed a few bills, tossing them on the table. It was more than enough to cover the bill. The last thing he wanted was to wait around for their check and risk her ex-boyfriend coming back over to bother her again.
He kept his wings puffed, slightly tilted forward as he followed her out of the restaurant, allowing his instincts to be guided by his quirk. Looking larger could deter anyone from coming near her, and in that small, avian part of his brain, it made sense. He didn't mind letting it take over here if it kept her safe and away from that despicable man's reach. He had no desire for anyone to intervene before they could make it outside.
Hawks only relaxed when they were finally outside the restaurant, where the cool summer air provided a welcome relief from the stuffiness they had just left behind. He stretched his wings, letting them beat the air briefly before folding them neatly against his back. Observing Y/N as she walked over to a small bench. He frowned as he watched her sit down and cover her mouth with her hand, his heart aching as he watched her tears begin to fall.
"Hey, it's okay," he said gently, moving to sit next to her. He hesitated for a moment before reaching out and wrapping his arms around her, drawing her close. He allowed her to rest her head on his chest as she trembled. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you alone like that. Who was that prick anyway?"
"My ex-boyfriend," she sniffled against him. "Kuro. His family owns most of the Upper East Side. They're incredibly wealthy, and unfortunately, he's been raised to believe that money allows you to do whatever you want."
"What was he talking to you about?" Hawks prodded gently, hoping that if he acted like he hadn't overheard everything, she would be more inclined to share the whole story and fill in the gaps. She took a deep breath before sighing sadly.
"He was just trying to make me feel bad about myself. I've never come from a well-off background, and when my parents kicked me out, his family took me in and supported me. That was until... well, until we broke up."
He opened his mouth, ready to pry further, but the sound of a car pulling up to the curb stopped him. He blinked in surprise, and she let out a soft sigh.
"I texted them and let them know I was ready to go. I hope that's okay. I just need some time," she said, and he responded with a small "Oh," tinged with disappointment. They had only just started their evening, and he had weeks to make up for.
"Are you sure? I can fly you home, or, um, you could even come to my place and hang out. We could even play some video games," he suggested, the words surprising him as they left his mouth. It wasn't a bad plan, giving them the entire evening together. It was the perfect excuse to bring out the PlayStation he kept safely hidden in his apartment. He wasn't allowed to play video games – the President considered them too much of a distraction from his work, and if the Commission ever found out, they'd surely confiscate it. But he was willing to risk it just to keep her with him for a few more hours. The thought made him clench his jaw as he contemplated why he felt so... possessive.
She sat up, pulling away from him with a sad smile. "That's very sweet to offer, but I just want to go home. I'm so sorry, Hawks," she whispered, leaning over to give him a soft kiss on the cheek. His breath hitched at the contact, his face warming as he watched her stand. "Thank you for dinner," she added, bowing before quickly making her way toward the car.
The driver held the door open for her, and he watched her quickly climb in. The driver then returned to his seat, and just like that, the car pulled away from the curb. He watched it fade from view with a side sigh before sucking in a breath and pulling his phone from his pocket.
"Can you please stop calling and texting me and just focus on your date?" Haruki cried into the phone. Hawks let out a sigh in response.
"Date is over," he told her, leaning forward to rest his face in his hand. "Her ex crashed the party. I left to use the bathroom, and he was there when I got back. She was so upset."
"Are you kidding me?" Haruki exclaimed, her frustration evident.
"Do you still have a decent relationship with Mamoru?" Hawks inquired.
"I mean, I still talk to him. It's not like I have any choice since he's your handler. Why?" She asked, her confusion coming through in her tone.
"I want all her information, everything." He said, tilting his head back to look at the sky. "Background checks, medical information, anything that the Commission hasn't given me, I want on my desk first thing in the morning and I don't want the Commission finding out."
"But Hawks–"
"Haruki, please. I know it's late, but I need this one favor. I overheard something, and I just need to dig into it a little bit. Can you do it for me?" He pleaded desperately.
"I want a raise," she said firmly, and he couldn't help but chuckle in response.
"It's yours," he confirmed before smirking, "The dress you picked tonight already earned you one anyway." She burst into laughter on the other end of the line, and he couldn't help but chuckle himself.
"It'll be on your desk in the morning. Goodnight, Hawks," she said before hanging up, and he sighed. He turned just as the restaurant door swung open, grabbing his attention. A frown creased his brow as he watched Kuro emerge, engaged in a conversation with another man. They seemed to be sharing a laugh about something he couldn't quite hear as they approached a waiting car. Hawks observed the scene through narrowed eyes as Kuro suddenly reached into his pocket, swiftly retrieving what appeared to be a small baggie. He handed it to the other man, who promptly pocketed it before climbing into the car, which then quickly pulled away.
Hawks had considered intervening, wondering if he should stop whatever was happening. He was fairly certain what was in that baggie, but it wasn't like he could prove it. The last thing he needed was to stir up trouble just to find out that Kuro had done nothing wrong. Then he would have to deal with the police and Commission breathing down his throat about not following procedure. Suddenly, Hawks felt Kuro's green eyes locking onto his own, narrowing as they shared a brief stare-down.
Kuro was definitely up to no good, and Hawks knew it.
He clenched his jaw as Kuro turned and made his way towards him, a smirk plastered across his face as he reached a hand up to wave at him. "Hey, Hawks, got a second to talk."
"I'm not sure I really have anything to say," he said nonchalantly, then narrowed his eyes. "Unless you're going to tell me what was in that baggie just now."
"Awh, aren't you off duty," Kuro said with a smirk before raising his hands. "Just some spices for cooking. Nothing you need to concern yourself with. But I would love to know why someone like you would be taking out someone like her."
"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean," he responded, clenching his fists.
"Of course you know what I mean. You, well, you are the number two hero in all of Japan. That's a pretty big deal, comes with fame, status, and money. It's no wonder why she latched onto you like that, the gold digger that she is," he said, shaking his head before tilting it at Hawks. "The real question is, why the hell would you fall for it."
Hawks' eyes widened at his words, his jaw starting to hurt from how tightly he had it clenched. His entire body burned with the desire to punch that smug look right off his stupid face, but somehow he managed to control it. Thank God the Commission had managed to teach him one useful thing. Before he could even open his mouth to retort, Kuro started laughing.
"Nevermind, I know exactly why. It's the only thing she's good for after all. A good fuck," he said, laughing before his expression suddenly turned serious. He stepped towards Hawks, their chests touching, his face uncomfortably close to his own, but Hawks refused to back down now. It wasn't the first time someone had tried to intimidate him after all and this man was nothing compared to the villains he'd faced. "How's it feel to know I had it first, though, huh? That I know every curve, every inch, every little spot that makes her go crazy. But you should be used to not being first by now, eh? Let me know how I taste, Number Two," he nearly spat, before backing away with a laugh and walking off without another word.
Hawks watched him leave, his eyes narrowed as he struggled to control his impulses. In that moment, he wanted nothing more than to chase that fucker down and show him everything the Commission had trained him to do, but that would come with consequences. Instead, he sucked in a deep breath, trying to settle his own nerves as he grappled with everything Kuro had said about her. If that's what she had dealt with, it explained a lot about why she was the way she was, and suddenly he felt horrible. He'd done nothing but make her relive that for weeks. He let out a deep breath, unclenching his fists before shoving them into his pocket.
He really did owe her far more than an apology and he definitely owed that piece of shit a serious punch to the jaw.