The reversed waterfall hung in midair, frozen like a silver galaxy suspended between heaven and earth.
Shattered droplets hovered around Hawk, orbiting him as though in submission.
It was fear. Utter fear.
Perhaps the torrent had realized it had spoken too loudly just moments ago—now, even the roar of water fell silent.
All was quiet.
Except for the voice that had cut through the stillness, trembling yet clear:
"Hawk!"
His chest still heaving, bare torso dripping, Hawk stiffened. Slowly, he turned.
From the trees emerged Gwen.
Her blonde hair was disheveled, her white jacket damp with sweat, yet her blue eyes shone with unrestrained relief the moment they found him.
"Gwen?"
Hawk froze.
He couldn't believe it.
Not the army, not SHIELD—she had found him first.
How?
For a moment, his mind reeled.
And then—
Time moved again.
The waterfall crashed down once more, though its roar was muted, subdued. Almost… careful. As if afraid of offending the one who had just forced it to reverse.
But Gwen didn't care about waterfalls.
She ran. She didn't know why she had to, but she couldn't stop herself.
She splashed through the pool, the icy water soaking her legs, until she threw herself against him.
Hawk instinctively wrapped his arms around her, turning his back to shield her from the cascade.
A flicker of power—and in the next instant, they vanished from beneath the waterfall, reappearing on the riverbank.
Steam rose from their bodies, clothes drying in seconds beneath Hawk's surging life force.
He looked down. She was already asleep in his arms, lips parted slightly, breath steady.
She had run until she could run no more.
Hawk's mouth opened—he wanted to ask how she had found him here, when even the military had failed.
But seeing her face, hearing the faintest snore, he closed his lips again.
Instead, he sat, cradling her against his chest. Carefully, he reached out, fingers pausing midair before brushing her tangled hair from her cheek.
Half an hour later, Gwen stirred. She stretched lazily, thinking she was in bed—only to open her eyes and find Hawk gazing down at her.
Their eyes met.
Hawk smiled softly.
"Hello."
"Holy sh—!"
She shot upright, face flushing pink, her breath catching.
Hawk rose as well, his joints cracking from staying so still.
Her eyes flicked over him, lingering on the sculpted body that looked carved from marble. The storm in his blue eyes, once hidden, now burned like a drawn blade.
For a moment, she simply stared.
Then her lips curved upward.
"The library. Reading. Remember?"
Hawk caught the teasing note beneath her words—and the faint trace of reproach. He sighed.
"Sorry."
Her smile deepened.
Because this apology wasn't empty. She could feel it.
She held out her hand. "Your phone. Why didn't you answer?"
Hawk blinked, then retrieved it from where it lay beneath his folded shirt. "No battery. I've been here over twenty days."
She tried to turn it on—nothing. Dead.
But when she checked her own phone, the tracking link had already expired. She froze.
Hawk's voice broke the silence. "By the way, Gwen… how did you even know I was here?"
She slipped her phone back into her pocket, face calm, lips curved in a secretive smile.
"My dad's the police chief, Hawk. As long as I want to… I can always find you."
Hawk blinked.
That was… ridiculous.
But her cheeks colored as she said it, and her smile was so bright that, after a moment, Hawk nodded.
Fine.
He chose to believe it.
After all… when she had slept in his arms just moments ago, the question had already stopped mattering.
...
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/euridome]
[Thank You For Your Support!]