#guarddogcreates

The thought was entertaining to Volt. What a challenge it would be to find out exactly how to push your buttons, to find your limit. How long would it take you to drop your flirty facade and melt under his gaze? As much of a brat as he was, Volt also enjoyed the power he had when dangling the promise of pleasure just out of reach. Volt wanted to find all the ways to make your guard crumble.

Eddie was almost struggling to keep his cool with you around now. Almost. It was difficult to contain the flustering thoughts that filled his brain whenever he brushed by you a little too closely when making drinks, or how distracted he would become when he could spot you mingling across the bar. Your eyes were always so big and innocent, and it plagued Eddie's mind to think about how they would look, full of tears as he took you to the brink. Eddie knew you would be so good for him.

The Breaker Box boys could have blew a fuse when they saw you walk through the bar doors. Too distracted with these thoughts of you, it was almost surprising to think they may have forgotten just how much harder it would be to keep it all under control with you here now. What a privilege it was to finally have you right in front of them.

Volt couldn't help but lower his voice dangerously, his words of welcome dripping hot with desire and need, "Always a welcoming sight, live wire." You could feel the warmth radiating off of him, the closeness not necessarily new, but... different.. charged.

Eddie slid a drink your way, the liquid dancing around the brim of the glass, "Same as always, spark." While his voice was as steady as steel, there was a deeper rumble that could only be missed by the untrained ear.

Volt was greedy. He wanted to accept what you gave and take even more, he wanted to empty your mind of everything else but him. Eddie was evil. He wanted to break you in all the right ways, he wanted to make you short circuit until you were dumb and feeling oh so full.

They wanted to eat you whole.

The first time Hawks thought he could keep someone around, he submitted to the intimacy and let his guard down. He felt safe, secure, content… After spending his most recent years running and moving faster than anyone else, Hawks understood the sacrifice of slowing down for someone, how it would be worth it, it had to be, if it meant he got to experience the one thing that felt inevitable, yet hard to catch. Finally, he thought, someone was ready to love him just as he had learned to loved them. A week later, Hawks woke up to an empty apartment.. The air was too still, too quiet, and vacant of any trace of a lover at all. It was almost like the whole thing never happened, and the only proof that made him know otherwise was the goodbye note left on the dining room table, and the "I'm sorry" text that lit up his phone screen.

Hawks learned that he couldn't afford to sacrifice slowing down for someone else's sake.

The second time Hawks put himself out there, once he eventually felt ready to try again, he had opted to be set up on a blind date. This was a friend of a friend… of a friend… but he could only fly up from here. The connection, the chemistry, the spark- it was all there, and he couldn't believe it. Hawks had heard about the horrors of arranged dates and the element of going in blind, so the success in the evening so far was almost too good to be true. The conversations seemed effortless, the laughs and smiles were genuine, and not a single mention of being a hero! Maybe it was the wine that paired with the meal, or the rose-tinted glasses, but Hawks could find himself relaxing in his chair, if even just a little bit. That was, until, his date had let it slip about taking him home for the night because "..such a handsome man shouldn't end the night unsatisfied~" To assume that this wasn't enough, and to think of him as nothing more than a pretty face… after how well the dinner seemed to be going? This just wasn't what he was looking for.. Hawks had ended the night early, his mood soured enough to make his wings twitch in annoyance… So he downed the rest of his wine, turned with a small wave, and sent the friend who set them up a text about the night's failure, leaving more than enough cash to cover the bill and the tip.

Hawks knew it was never smart to go in blind, but now he learned that this applied to love, too.

By the nth time Hawks thought he finally had something that stood a fighting chance, he wasn't the same "calm, cool, collected" he was the first time around. He was still patient and understanding, but he was also wary and closed off. Time and time again he had been let down, so now, it was better to decide to take things slow. He had to be cautious and observant, he had to dance around the line between lovers and strangers because he wasn't ready to be disappointed again. But this sort of discretion- the wall and hard exterior that had built up around him over time- was his very downfall.

By then, with try after try falling short, Hawks had given up on love.

Sure, though begrudgingly, a situationship or two had filled in the gaps, but there was nothing permanent, nothing worth slowing down for. There wasn't a single thing that could keep up with him, nothing that made him sure the hushed whispers and secret nights spent in another person's bed would become anything that could sustain him long-term.

So he cut it all off. And now? There was nothing.

Hawks learned that maybe this was something he had to live without.

And actually, Hawks knew that all… this… wasn't love, but it was easier to convince himself that it was. He thought it was possible to heal old wounds with new hopes and relieve faded scars with fleeting kisses. It was easier to believe that he had it all under control.

Hawks was no stranger to love. At least, that's what he told himself.

After trying so hard, there was only so many times he would tolerate opening himself up just to close himself back off again. They say insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a new outcome, but knowing nothing will ever change… Hawks was no insane man.

There was no room for anything else. It was him and his work, and overtime, he learned to be okay with that- He learned to be okay with all the things that came with being alone. It was better this way. It was better because it had to be.

Climbing the ranks, growing stronger, moving faster, flying higher… Hawks was fully committed to the job, and simply nothing else. There was no time… no time for distractions or love or anything else except for the mission. Waiting for others to stop and match his pace was a luxury Hawks could no longer afford.

But then… you. You. You just had to ruin the routine he finally accepted.

Surely you would be the death of him.

You were bright and radiant.. blinding, even, with a laugh that echoed inside his mind, and a smile with warmth so genuine, it could compare only to that of the sun. You, a young, new pro, with speed as quick as his, glowing reviews in the public eye, and determination that hasn't been seen since All Might was number one. Climbing the ranks- soaring- flying to heights that only he alone could reach.

The world wasn't ready for you, was it? Neither was he.

Because, now, there was you.

And suddenly, it was like he was the one who had to catch up.

Wasn't Hawks no stranger to love..? Quite the flirty pro-hero, quick witted with fast remarks and a loose tongue that made others gasp at the absurdity and laugh and roll their eyes. But that was all for show. It was all apart of who he was, wasn't it? It had to be.

He had experience, sure, but… he was rather inexperienced despite the trial and error. He had to be familiar, had to act like someone you've known your whole life but haven't actually met until now. He had to build this sort of trust because a pro hero that couldn't be trusted was a pro hero that wasn't doing their job right. So if he could make someone laugh or blush or shake their head in silly denial, show a side of themselves that lifted the fear and weight off of their shoulders and let them become comfortable in times where life could be too hard? That was enough for him.

It came naturally, and it made him smile to bring a simple joy to others with just his words and flirtations. Maybe it was close to how he really acted when not on the job, but after try and try again, it was hard for him to relax enough to truly be himself.

To him, this was all apart of who he was. And nothing more.

Until you.

Hawks had first met you at a patrol briefing. Spotting you towards the back of the group in a shiny new hero costume, all quiet and shy and buzzing with the excitement of being an upcoming pro, he could remember it clearly.

Everyone had heard about you from your old mentor, and as they stood next to you, it was hard to ignore the pride they carried for you, bragging about the success of your internship with them from your time at UA, and how you would fit right in here after all the interaction broke you out of your shell. Hawks could remember how intimidating it was when he first started, how electrifying it had felt to be in a new headquarters surrounded by people he never thought he'd see off of the big screen.

Thoughts were interrupted by a quick, yet effective, quip from you that made the whole meeting erupt in welcoming laughter and giggles- the smile that grew on his face was impossible to suppress. He watched the tension disappear from your shoulders as the noised died down.

You would fit in just fine.

The meeting bore on as each hero was assigned a partner and then a location for their patrol. Slowly, the room began to empty, even your mentor leaving you with a pat on your back and a small "You got this!" until all that was left were a few workers from the headquarters, heroes that stayed behind to chat before going on patrol, and the two of you.

"…will be taking Quadrant E10. It's right by UA campus, so the area should be familiar."

It shouldn't have surprised him as much as it did to be assigned as your partner for patrol that evening.

He watched as you walked over, something mischievous and unreadable in your eyes, before you passed right by him with nothing more than a "I was hoping it would be you." It knocked whatever words he was going to say right out of him.

Mouth hung open in disbelief, a smile crawled onto his features as he turned to watch you leave, only to see you waving right back at him as you pushed out the meeting room doors. "See you tonight!" echoed back at him, but he was planted in his spot. Hawks shook his head as the sound of your footsteps faded away. What was he going to do with you?

Your presence became a constant in his life from then on out, and his in yours- partners on nights when you were both assigned to patrol, exchanges of "how are you" and "what have you been up to" turning into hours of conversation, casual run-ins on the street evolving into going somewhere for a little drink… You don't know when it changed, but sooner rather than later, you found yourself meeting him for dinner or a light meal before patrol at new places you "just had to try!," or inviting him over for movie nights at your place when the week got a little too stagnant. Maybe it was the occasional "Have fun on your mission!" texts you got from him, or the treats he would bring to you as a surprise when the day felt a little too long, but it was getting harder to ignore the things that pushed you into the limbo between friends and lovers.

You didn't plan to fall for anyone this soon… Neither did he.

"Is it you or the hero work that's makin' my heart race?" Quicker than the wind that hugged the city, and quieter than the busy streets below, he came out of nowhere, red feathers painting your peripheral as his footsteps stopped right beside you.

You laughed, sitting on the rooftop's edge, eyes quick to glance over his form, before returning to people watching, "If it was me, you would know.." You ignored the irony of your increasing heart rate, moving to stand before inching closer, invading his space just enough to leave room for all the things left unsaid.

The tip of your shoes nudged against the boots of his hero costume, feathers ruffling at the shared proximity, before you whispered, "I can do much more to you than this hero work ever will."

Hawks laughed a little as you stepped away, quick to mask the walls within him that slowly crumbled more and more with each moment he spent with you. "Hey, you know-"

You cut him off before he could comment, "I thought you were supposed to be the fastest? Maybe if you flew as fast as your heart raced, you'd be able to keep up with me…" You were quick to depart after that, sending him a playful wink before going down the planned patrol route, and effectively leaving him to catch up.

He knew you were teasing, and he just couldn't be mad.

Hawks watched as you left, light blush from the shock painting his face, a dangerous smile flying onto his lips, and a laugh of disbelief leaving his lungs. He shook his head, wings spreading as he lagged close behind, "What am I going to do with you..?"

No longer did Hawks have to wait for someone to keep up, wish that someone could see the world moving and changing just as fast as he flew… Because here you were, waiting for the world to reach your speed, rather than slowing down for the benefit of anyone else. Just like him.

What was he going to do with you?

The infatuation- the love- hit him like a wall. And yet, all he could do was laugh.

Why shouldn't he?

Icarus laughed as he fell, too.

Regardless, this was unlike you.

You had added a bit of life and... spunk to the lab since you came in accompanying Sky one day, taking on the more dangerous tasks when assisting him and Jayce, not only for "the fun of it" as you liked to say, but also because Sky would turn down the opportunities that seemed... far from safe.

The energy only evolved as you became an official member- there was this fun chaos and happiness within you that infected every single member of Hex Tech, going as far as even getting Heimerdinger to smile on his first big visit to the lab after you were added to the team. Your laughter would bounce off the walls, words of encouragement and bravery aiding their practice, and most of the time, you would all make it out unscathed.

But you were never late.

Furrowed brows graced Viktor's face as he adjusted his goggles, memories of last night flooding his brain as he dissected each one, trying to find some sort of explanation.

He could recall the finishing touches to everyone's outfits in the lab, before arriving at the gala together.. Everyone dressed in all black, with hex-crystal blue accents and jewelry. It was perfect. He had complimented you, very rarely seeing you out of academy uniform. The blush that flooded your face was something he committed to memory.

This was your first gala as an official member of Hex Tech. You had clung to Sky, Jayce, and Viktor so closely, full of nerves and excitement and passion. So when Viktor offered his arm to you, you had stayed alongside him for the majority of the night. It gave him more confidence when talking to investors, and fueled him to stay longer than he usually did. For the first time, the gala seemed to be less dreadful with you pressed to his side.

He remembered sharing a few different drinks with you, all having names he could barely remember and a taste so strong he could almost feel it on his tongue. Maybe it was the uncertainty in the amount of drinks you has shared, or maybe it was the infamous "Piltover Pour," but Viktor was having trouble remembering what had happened towards the latter end of the night..

The clock ticked thirty minutes to the hour, and Viktor remained planted in his seat, goggles removed and long forgotten on the table.

Hushed conversation in a dark corner, people watching and made-up stories, live music guiding the night, Jayce and Sky on the dance floor- oh. Viktor had danced with you, hadn't he?

It wasn't uncommon for Sky and Jayce to share a dance at these galas together. Aside from Jayce's dance with Mel, it was normal to spot them at least once. If Sky had managed to stay for a larger part of the night, and Viktor was nowhere to be found, it made sense for the two to dance together as they represented Hex Tech. A silly tradition, almost.

But Viktor could remember the nerves in his hands as he held yours, the steady pace of walking to the dance floor, and the hushed laughter you shared as you both choppily danced besides the other well-practiced pairs. He could feel the weight of his cane on his arm as you let him steady himself in your grip, the warmth of a closeness shared, and the fuzzy feeling of intimacy never-before experienced between the two of you. He saw your eyes, wide and focused.. He could remember the pink painting your face and the warmth of his own, and how the jokes and steady conversation had turned into a comfortable, playful tension that was hard to ignore.

It was frustrating when the memories that followed started to become fuzzy, blending together in ways that made it hard to understand. Ghosts of touches that shouldn't be shared between friends, the fleeting warmth of your bodies impossibly close as you swayed to the music, glimpses of your head on his shoulder, the gentle rumble of your voice humming to the music...

Viktor was almost besides himself when he could finally remember the gentle static of your lips a feather away from his, broken apart only by the slow dimming of the music.

He remembers leaning into Jayce on his walk home.

Everything after that remained a blur.

The clock chimed gently at the beginning of the new hour.

How much were you able to remember?

Viktor, too lost in thought and focused on fiddling the tools within his hands, did not hear the door open, nor the steady, quiet footsteps walking towards him at the work desk. It was only the gentle hand on his shoulder that finally snapped him out of it.

"You alright?" It was you, finally, you were here. He sat in a silence so charged, you could feel it crackling in the air. He watched you move beside him to the other end of the work table, watched you place and organize your things, before finally sitting and settling in a chair to his side. "Seems like everyone stayed up pretty late last night.." You mumbled to yourself, slowly flipping through notebooks filled with runes and calculations, before stumbling on the page you were looking for, moving to copy the information for the archives.

"It seems so, doesn't it?" The chair creaked as Viktor stood, his cane clinking against the floor as he towered over your seated form, looking over your shoulder at the notes you were copying. The tension in the air could be cut with a knife.

How much were you able to remember?

The sound of a deep breath rattling within your lungs crashed through the quiet, "Is... something wrong, Viktor?" The pen steadily wavered in your hand, the ink hovering just above the page as he stepped back, studying the blush clouding your features. He smirked, something that had almost gone unnoticed, if it weren't for the small tch that left his mouth as he turned towards his chair, leaning back on its arms, eyes glued to the floor as if contemplating what to say next.

"Well eh.. If my hypothesis is true.." His voice dipped low, eyes holding yours like a vice, something certain dancing in the back of his dilated pupils.

"You are in much more danger than you understand." His very presence loomed over you as the words left his mouth, your heart stalling as his eyes trailed over your face and down to your lips, lingering there for a moment too long. You wondered if he remembered how close they had came to pressing against his last night.

"Danger? Viktor, what is that supposed to mean?" Your brows furrowed, pen falling onto the table as it left your hand. Fully facing him, you wondered if maybe you had read him wrong at the gala, if maybe the line that you had both danced around up until now was more solid than you had assumed it was.

"My dear..." He started, eyes dark as he crossed his arms loosely, hand gesturing softly as he spoke, "There is only so much self-control I can exhibit, and you are the very thing that makes my certainty waver." The temperature in the room began to rise, and everything became hot. Viktor could only think about how close you had been to him last night. He shook his head as he turned, the veil between friends and something more falling as he spoke, "Last night... I can only thank our friends for giving me the chance to do this sober."

You straightened in your chair as he spoke, mind reeling back to last night, attempting, and failing, to count the number of drinks you had both drank and shared before even making it to the dance floor. Somewhere between the last negotiation with an investor and swaying in his arms was where you had lost count.

The clock ticked a quarter after the hour, and Viktor's patience wore thin.

"Too bad, though..." You tilted your head in curiosity, eyes trained and focused on his figure as he moved, following his angle to meet the clock. The time made you shrink in your seat, the subtle pounding in your temples a gentle reminder of the hangover you had earlier this morning that made one too many snoozed alarms turn into an alarm completely forgotten.

As Viktor stalked around his chair, he could catch a glimpse of your figure, sending him the message that you understood what it was he had implied. You were late today, too late, almost unforgivingly so, but who was he to deny you the opportunity to make it up to him.

"Don't worry." Viktor's cane rested on his arm as he gripped the back of his chair, dragging its feet along the floor slowly, the scraping sound lingering and echoing off the walls, before it halted as he set it next to yours, sighing as he sat.

His eyes bore into yours, knees touching as he moved beside you, so close you could feel the heat radiating off of his body, but just far enough to leave room for all the things that rattled around in his brain, all the things he had yet to do to you.

"Good things come to those who wait..."