Y/N POV
The wind whipped around me, tugging at my hair as I landed gracefully on the rooftop, my costume rippling in the breeze. Of course, he was already there. Leaning against the edge of the building, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his annoyingly handsome face.
"Took you long enough, Y/N ," Hawks drawled, that familiar glint of amusement in his golden eyes. "Thought you'd be faster. Or are you finally admitting defeat?"
"In your dreams, Winged Wonder," I retorted, my voice sharper than I intended. I really didn't have the energy for this right now. "I got here just as fast as you did. Besides, I was busy actually saving people, not posing for the cameras."
Hawks chuckled, pushing off the ledge and sauntering towards me. "Oh, I save people too. Just with more style, naturally. Speaking of style, that costume color looks terrible on you."
"Oh, shut up," I mumbled, rolling my eyes. I really didn't have the energy for his usual jabs.
Our rivalry was legendary. Since our days at UA, we'd been neck-and-neck, pushing each other to be better, stronger, faster. But somewhere along the line, it had morphed into this constant, irritating banter, a never-ending battle of wits and wills. He was infuriating, arrogant, and undeniably talented. And, deep down, I knew I secretly thrived on it.
We continued to argue, our voices echoing off of the surrounding buildings. My patience was beginning to wear thin, and a dull ache was starting to throb in my lower abdomen. This was not how I wanted to spend my afternoon.
"You know, for someone who's always criticizing my methods, you sure seem to be following my lead lately! Copy cat!" He grinned, that cocky smile that always made my blood boil.
I opened my mouth to retort, but a sudden wave of dizziness washed over me. I stumbled slightly, my hand flying to my stomach as a sharp cramp ripped through me. Damn it. I knew it was coming, but the timing was just awful.
"I... I have to go," I stammered, trying to brush past him. I needed to get home, now.
Hawks, oblivious as ever, blocked my path. "Leaving so soon? Don't tell me the great Y/N is actually scared I'll outshine her."
"Just... move, Hawks," I pleaded, my voice barely a whisper.
He leaned closer, a playful glint in his eyes. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" He reached out a hand, probably to poke my shoulder or something equally irritating.
That was it. I couldn't take it anymore. With a groan, I shoved past him, sprinting towards the edge of the building, my mind solely focused on getting home. I spread my wings, launching into the air, the wind thankfully masking the sound of my ragged breathing.
I landed a few blocks away, ducking into a deserted alley to catch my breath. A new wave of cramps hit, doubling me over in pain.
"Just a few more blocks, just a few more blocks…" I muttered, wings shaking slightly, I forced myself into the sky again.
It wasn't until I was halfway home when I realized the truth. A horrifying realization that made my face flushed red, I knew that I had stained my favorite costume. I could only hope no one noticed.
I landed in front of my apartment building and hurried inside, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. That's when I saw the worst thing possible, more blood. This time though it was on my leg.
The moment I stepped inside my apartment, I stripped off my costume and threw it in the hamper. I then dashed to the bathroom, desperate for a hot shower and a painkiller.
Hawks Pov
Hawks watched Y/N practically run away. He'd been teasing her, as usual, enjoying the way her eyes flashed with anger and playful frustration. But something was different this time. She seemed…off.
Then he saw it. A dark stain blooming on the back of her costume as she flew away. He froze, his brain struggling to process what he was seeing.
Oh.
He knew about periods. He had to in order to get through the hero course and he also had female friends, even if he didn't show it. He knew the cramps, the mood swings, the general misery that came with the territory. He suddenly felt like the biggest jerk in the world.
He'd been so caught up in his stupid rivalry, his stupid teasing, that he hadn't noticed she was in genuine discomfort. He should have been more observant, more considerate. And now, he had probably made her feel even worse.
He sighed, ruffling his feathery hair. He knew he had to make it up to her. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, quickly texting one of his female acquaintances for advice.
A few minutes later, armed with a shopping list and a newfound sense of purpose, Hawks headed to the nearest convenience store.
Y/N POV
An hour later, I was curled up in bed, wrapped in a blanket, alternating between crying and binging trashy reality TV. The pain was relentless, my mood was fluctuating wildly, and I felt like a giant, hormonal mess.
A knock on the door startled me. "I'm not seeing anyone right now!" I yelled, burying my face in my pillow.
The knocking persisted. "It's important," a voice called out.
I groaned and reluctantly dragged myself out of bed. Who could possibly be bothering me now? I opened the door to find my brother standing there, looking slightly perplexed.
"Someone's here to see you," he said, stepping aside.
My jaw dropped. Standing in the hallway was Hawks, his arms laden with bags and a ridiculously large teddy bear. He also held a bouquet of my favorite flowers.
"What... what is this?" I stammered, completely dumbfounded.
He shifted awkwardly, a rare look of sheepishness on his face. "I... uh... I saw what happened earlier. And I felt bad for teasing you. So, I brought some stuff."
He stepped inside, my brother giving him a look of confusion before excusing himself. Hawks carefully placed the bags on my kitchen counter. He pulled out a heating pad, a box of assorted chocolates, a mountain of pads and tampons, and a selection of my favorite snacks.
"I wasn't sure what kind you preferred, so I got a little of everything," he mumbled, avoiding eye contact.
I stared at the haul, my mind struggling to process the scene before me. Hawks, my rival, the infuriatingly cocky Pro Hero, was standing in my apartment, bearing gifts like some sort of awkward, well-meaning suitor.
He then presented me with the teddy bear and the flowers. "And... these. Because girls like those, right?"
I couldn't help but giggle, despite the pain and the mood swings. "Hawks, you didn't have to do this."
He finally met my gaze, his golden eyes filled with genuine concern. "Yes, I did. I was a jerk. And I wanted to apologize. Also, I figured you could probably use this stuff."
I looked down at the mountain of supplies again, a warmth spreading through me that had nothing to do with the heating pad. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to Hawks than met the eye.
"Thank you," I said softly, a genuine smile gracing my lips. "This means a lot."
He relaxed slightly, a small smile playing on his own lips. "Good. Now, get back in bed. And tell me if you need anything else. I'm surprisingly good at raiding convenience stores."
I chuckled, feeling a genuine affection for him that I had never allowed myself to acknowledge before. "Maybe you're not such a bad guy after all, Winged Wonder."
He winked. "Don't get any ideas, Y/N. This doesn't mean I'm going easy on you next time we're on a mission."
"Wouldn't dream of it," I retorted, already feeling my competitive spirit returning.
As he turned to leave, I stopped him. "Hawks?"
He turned back, a questioning look on his face.
"Stay," I said softly. "Just… for a little while."
He hesitated for a moment, then nodded, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "Okay."
He came over and sat on the edge of my bed, and i leaned my head on his shoulder. He was warmer and more comforting than I expected. We sat in silence for a few minutes, the only sound the drone of the television.
Maybe, just maybe, this rivalry of ours was about to take a very interesting turn. And maybe, just maybe, I was finally ready to let it. The warmth from the heating pad and Hawks settled over me, and for the first time all day, I felt a sense of peace. This wasn't so bad after all.