Chapter Text
The chime on the front door sounded, gaining the attention of a few workers at the coffee shop. In walked one of their regulars, a few customers looking at him in awe while the workers were used to his presence.
"Yo!" The number two hero, Hawks, greeted.
"Hey, Hawks," The woman behind the counter, (Y/n), smiled. "What'll it be?"
"The usual, please," Hawks smiled, waving at a few customers that watched him with stars in their eyes.
"Any sugars or sweeteners this time?" She prompted.
"No thanks," Hawks answered while pulling out the chair from his usual spot next to the window. "Keep it as black as my heart."
(Y/n) chuckled at his joke. He never seemed to have an end to them, "Coming right up!"
Sitting down, the feathered hero watched (Y/n) pull out a mug from her cupboard of never ending cups and start making his coffee, which he was sure she had the process down by heart.
This shop he visited often looked small on the outside, but was very cozy and surprisingly spacious on the inside. It was two stories tall, tucked a little farther back than the huge buildings surrounding it. It was decorated in a very simple way with tan walls and a few decorative pictures in frames. The bar was filled with different items--a showcase of the small pastries they served, machines and tools to make the drinks, and a menu of about two dozen different items. The shop had a few tables on the first level, and a few out on a balcony on the second. Hawks mostly enjoyed the balcony given that it was easier to stretch his wings, but (Y/n) mainly worked the first floor, so he compromised and sat there.
What would this place be if it wasn't for her? Surely he wouldn't have been going here that often if not for her. It really was crazy how they first met.
It was about six months ago, Hawks was fighting a twelve foot tall villain that had a quirk that gave their punches a forceful impact. He had gotten hit with one and flew straight into that coffee shop's window, shattering it and breaking a table along the way.
He could remember that moment very clearly. Getting up from the wreckage he saw a girl in a barista uniform covering her mouth with her hands, eyes wide.
Before he could apologize for the window, the girl burst out, "Oh my god, you're bleeding!"
Hawks scoffed, her reaction being a bit different from the usual yelling civilians whose buildings he's crashed into in the past, "Comes with the job." As she opened her mouth to speak again, Hawks rose a finger to silence her, "Hold that thought."
The number two hero flew at full speed out of the shop and back to the fight, eventually winning and taking the large villain into custody.
While his sidekicks took care of the police report, Hawks had made his way back to the coffee shop, finding the girl sweeping up his mess, all customers gone. He was dreading the backlash she would give him from all this.
"I'm sorry for the mess and everything I broke," He tried to get out as quickly as possible to snuff out as much of the fire that was to come. "I will have my agency pay for the damages."
However, when the girl looked up from her cleaning, she only gave him looks of concern. No anger or frustration.
She picked up a box from the counter and rushed over to the hero, motioning for him to sit down, "Nevermind all that. You're still bleeding. Please let me patch you up."
Before he even realized it, the girl had sat him down and started rummaging through her first aid kit, taking out everything she needed to help his injuries.
"Wait…" Hawks started, still trying to comprehend what was happening. "Aren't you upset about your window?"
The girl cleaning the wounds only glanced at him for a second, "Well I'm not exactly thrilled about it, but your life is more of a priority than a stupid window."
"...oh," Hawks said simply. He wasn't used to such a nice treatment after basically destroying someone's property.
After a couple minutes, the girl placed the last bandage over a newly cleaned cut on his cheek, "There. That should do it."
Hawks felt the bandage with his fingertips, brushing it lightly and noting the great work she had done. He turned a smile to her, "Thanks."
The girl shook her head, "No, thank you. You're always risking your life to keep people like myself safe. Honestly, you deserve more than just a simple thanks." Suddenly her eyes lit up at an idea she had, "In fact, I think I'd like to treat you to some coffee."
"Ah, sorry," Hawks cut it short, knowing where this was going. "My agency doesn't allow me to date." It was a total lie, but it was a line that always got him out of these kinds of conversations.
However, the girl just laughed, "You're funny. I'm not asking you on a date." She gestured to the rest of the shop that was still intact after his unexpected collision, "I actually own this coffee shop, and I wanted to treat you for being such a great hero. From now on, whenever you visit my shop, I'll treat you to a free drink. Though you may want to come in again after it's repaired."
This girl was something else. First no yelling and now even giving him something as crazy as free drinks for life? Who was this girl? "What's your name?" He asked without thinking.
She smiled. "(Y/n) (L/n). But you can call me (Y/n)."
And just like that Hawks found himself dropping by her coffee shop for a free drink every so often. Every other week became every few days, and then every other day. Soon, whenever Hawks got the chance, he would stop by, even just to say hello. (Y/n) always greeted him with a smile, making casual conversation here and there, giving him a warm sensation in his chest. She just made it all feel so…homely.
"And of course this is on the house," (Y/n) said with a smile as she put the drink in front of the hero, pulling him from his thoughts of the past.
"Thanks," He said, taking the first sip. He let out a sigh of contentment, "As always, the best I've ever had."
"Always happy to have you here, Hawks," She said genuinely before turning and walking away, Hawks gazing after her as he took another sip.
It was crazy that someone so grounded could pull in another who was only meant to roam the skies.