MHA Holdiay series

The month of NNN—No Nut November—had started as a playful challenge between Y/N and Hawks. Both of them had agreed to take on this month-long test of self-control together, thinking it would bring them closer. They played games, went shopping, and even took on extra shifts at work, holding each other accountable and sharing laughter over their shared struggle. The first two weeks passed in a delightful haze of camaraderie and challenges.

As the third week rolled around, however, circumstances shifted unexpectedly. Hawks, who typically anticipated his heat season arriving late in the spring, felt the stirrings of it creeping up on him far earlier than he had expected. It instinctively took him by surprise, and he had no doubt it was Y/N's presence—her natural pheromones, which seemed to intensify during their time together, activating something deep within his bird heritage.

Y/N, oblivious at first to the changes in her friend, noticed that Hawks was becoming increasingly distant. His usual warm chatter was replaced by awkward silences. He began to avoid her the way a puppy might avoid a puddle on a rainy day, careful not to let on that something was wrong.

Curiosity gnawed at Y/N, and when she returned home early one evening, she found Hawks packing clothes into a large duffel bag, his movements rushed and unfocused. Confusion filled her, and she furrowed her brow. "Hawks, what are you doing?" she asked, stopping just inside the doorway.

"H-hey, Y/N! Uh, this is... it's nothing, really," he stammered, avoiding her gaze. Despite his efforts to mask his discomfort, his flushed cheeks and the tense lines in his body betrayed the truth.

"It clearly looks like something," she said softly, stepping further into the room. "Are you leaving?"

His jaw tightened as he glanced at her. "You should go. I'm in heat, and you being here… it's not a good idea."

A wave of realization washed over Y/N, her heart pounding. She recalled conversations about the signs of heat, how they could affect even the most skilled and controlled of individuals. The connection they had formed over the past weeks burned brightly in her mind, clashing with a sense of protectiveness for her friend.

"I—I understand what that means, but—" she hesitated, weight pressing down upon her. "I'm not leaving you alone, Hawks."

Panic flared in his eyes, and he raked a hand through his hair. "Y/N, you don't understand! I can't control myself when I'm like this. I don't want to hurt you, okay?"

"But we can still handle this together," she insisted, bracing herself against his incredulous stare. "Forget the challenge, Hawks. Let me help you."

"Help me? Y/N, you can't be serious!" he exclaimed, the desperation clear in his voice. "It's—you don't know what you're asking for."

The determination in Y/N's gaze didn't waver. She took a step closer, her voice gentle. "I know what I'm asking. I care about you too much to leave you alone while you're struggling through this. I'll be here for you, whatever that means."

For a moment, they stood locked in an intense silence, heavy with unsaid words and feelings simmering just beneath the surface. The tension in the air crackled with unspoken energy, the very air teasing the man who was both her friend and something deeper.

Finally, he sank down onto the edge of the bed, his shoulders heavy with the weight of his heat. "You really want to help? You understand it won't be easy?"

Y/N nodded resolutely, her heart racing at the proximity. "I do. Just tell me what I need to do."

With a deep breath, Hawks met her gaze, feeling a glimmer of hope between them. "Stay with me. Just… please don't let me push you away."

And so, as Hawks surrendered to the heat enveloping him, Y/N found herself stepping fully into the chaos of his emotions, their bond tightening as they navigated the challenge of intimacy in this unforeseen twist. In that moment, they were no longer just friends trying to conquer a challenge; they were two souls interwoven by trust and, perhaps, the beginning of something much greater.