“Charlie is going to own your ass when he figures out it was you that pulled that prank,” Jordan said later that night as they walked to their vehicles. Charlie was the head custodian who worked at night.

“Don’t worry, I made sure not to leave a trail,” Hawk said, twirling his keys around one finger. “Besides, Alerik already had that other custodian girl clean up most of it.”

“Which was still a dick move on your part, by the way.”

Hero shook his head, walking next to Hawk while Jordan and Elaine were just a pace behind. “The fact you managed to pull it off at all is what amazes me.”

“Don’t encourage him!” Jordan said. “It’ll only spark bigger, more idiotic ideas.” Hawk grinned back at his friend who scowled. “One of these days, he’s actually going to catch you and follow through with your demise.”

Hawk threw his head back and laughed. “Never gonna happen, my guy!” He ran a hand through his hair and shot a crooked grin at Hero. “I’m far too slick.”

Hero couldn’t help but blush as he smiled back. Hawk saw it and lowered his arm, averting his own gaze to hide the flush creeping over his ears.

They reached the employee lot and Jordan asked Elaine if she wanted to ride with him since she had mentioned her gas was getting low in her car. Elaine looked over at Hero. “Coming with us?”

Jordan, standing behind her, vigorously shook his head, eyes wide and pleading.

Hero took the hint and glanced at Hawk. “Actually, I was going to ride with Hawk.”

Jordan gave him a thumbs up and opened the passenger door for Elaine to climb in.

Hawk and Hero were already climbing up into Hawk’s truck when Jordan made his way around to his door. 

“You’re a true friend, Hero Grace,” he whispered. He climbed in and both engines roared to life.

Hero turned to Hawk who rolled his eyes. “That guy couldn’t be less obvious if he tried.”

As they pulled out of the lot, Jordan just behind them, Hawk revved the engine and they shot down the road that headed out of town. Hero was impressed as he looked around the cab. The display was a newer model with a built in music app along with maps and contacts. The screen flickered and danced along with the music Hawk had playing. The sound system was also top of the line, the music clear and heavy as the bass thrummed in his chest. The speakers had LED lights attached and they lit up to the sounds that filled the cab.

The music itself was what Hero was most impressed by. “You listen to scores?” he asked.

Hawk nodded. “You know this one?”

“Yeah, Attack on Titan. One of my favorites, actually.”

“Score or show?”

“Both, I guess,” Hero said. “I’m kind of an anime junkie so that’s where a lot of my musical interests lie. That and a lot of other cinematic and other instrumental music.”

“You don’t listen to anything outside of that?”

“Sure I do, but it’s the main thing I listen to at work.”

Hawk nodded. “Same. Helps me focus better, I think. At least during work, anyway. I like a variety of stuff, but listening to anything with lyrics sometimes throws me off. Probably doesn’t make much sense, does it?” he said with a shy grin.

“It makes perfect sense to me. I was a music major in college so I probably see music differently than most others I know. In fact, I know I do.” He shrugged. “I’ve always been the odd one out when it comes to stuff like that.”

“Nothing wrong with that,” Hawk said. He glanced at him sideways. “Music major, huh? And you’re working as a night stocker at a grocery store?”

“Yeah, my mom said the same thing,” Hero said, rolling his eyes. “She said I spent four years wasting money that could have gone to a more useful degree or trade.” 

“Do you agree with her?”

“Sort of. I majored more in music composition and arrangement and I do have some stuff out there, just no one’s biting yet. In the meantime, I need to eat, so here we are.”

Hawk laughed. “Here we are.” 

They drove on a little ways in silence, the night getting darker the further out of town they got. Hero kept his gaze out the window, watching as the stars above grew brighter and the trees taller. The road wound up and away and he could see the lights of the city grow smaller and less defined. From here, it looked almost like a completely different world. He’d lived here for almost nineteen years and he’d never seen the city like this.

“Like it?” Hawk’s voice cut through the music and Hero’s gaze shifted to Hawk in the reflection on the window. He smiled and nodded.

“Jordan was right, the view is definitely worth the drive.”

“Just wait till we get to the house,” Hawk said. “You can see even more from there.”

“How much further do we have to go?”

“Not far, another mile or so.”

“You really do live outside of town.”

“I prefer it, honestly. I’m not really much of a people person.” He kept his gaze on the road ahead, paying more attention as the turns and winds became more frequent.

“Sounds about right,” Hero said, a small smile on his lips. “They all call you a loner at work.”

“That’s not the worst they’ve said,” Hawk said quietly without thinking.

Before Hero could ask what he meant by that, a large house came into view, grabbing his attention. “Holy cow,” he breathed, his jaw nearly hitting the floor. He pointed and looked over at Hawk. “That’s your house?”

Hawk grinned. The drive wound its way to the right and up to reveal the full size of the place Hawk Helman called home. Pushing the garage door opener on his visor, one of the large doors of the three car garage rolled up to reveal a large, nearly empty space reserved for his truck. He pulled in and cut the engine. Before he got out, he turned to Hero. 

“Are you allergic to cats?”

Hero shook his head. 

“Okay, cool. I don’t have visitors very often outside of Jordan so I don’t know how he’ll react to you. If he comes at you, just dodge him. He’ll skid right past and smack into a piece of furniture or something.”

Hero chuckled. “Noted.”

They were slamming their doors shut when Jordan pulled up, parking just to the left of where they were. Hero could hear Black Veil Brides coming from within the enclosed cabin and Elaine’s laughter as the engine cut off. They jumped out and greeted Hawk and Hero.

“That really was some drive!” Elaine said cheerfully. “I didn’t know what to expect, but I’m sure that wasn’t it.”

“You haven’t even seen the half of it,” Jordan said, tucking his keys into his pocket. Hawk could tell he was trying his very best to keep his hands to himself. He gave him a knowing grin and shook his head, leading them all inside.

“This place is huge!” Elaine exclaimed, her eyes darting everywhere. “And it’s just you?”

Hawk nodded, tossing his keys and wallet on the side table and locking the door behind them. As safe and secure as he knew they all were, the habits of mortals to trust their lives to a lock was one to help ensure they knew for certain that they were.

“It works for me,” he said, moving further into the house. “Would you like to see the rest of it?”

“Sure, that would be nice,” Hero said, his manners suddenly in place. He had been taught to be polite and respectful in the homes of others and Hawk caught on to that immediately. 

“It’s a house, Hero, not a museum piece,” he said with a friendly grin. He nodded his head to the right and they followed him as he showed them the entirety of the lower level. It included two rooms, a den, two bathrooms, a living room, the kitchen, and a sliding glass door that led to a backyard that seemed to suddenly end in darkness. Hero was curious about it but decided not to ask.

Upstairs, he showed them the library, another two rooms, one of which was an office with a nice desk and computer, another bathroom, and some closets. He walked right past his room, only to mention it but not show it. 

“All these rooms and no one to use them?” Elaine asked.

Hawk shrugged. “Jordan does. He sleeps in the one downstairs by the den. Sometimes, I use the one on the other side.” He headed toward the back door and they followed, Jordan joining them at this point. He smiled at Elaine and fell into step just behind her.

Hawk slid the door open and stepped down, a light automatically coming on to reveal a patio that ended at a decently sized backyard. There was a winding stone path that led away to the left and Hawk guided them in that direction. Another light came on nearby and a large, curvy pool came into view.

“Wow!” Elaine said. “That’s so cool!”

Hero nodded. “Looks like it was recently cleaned, too. You got a pool boy?”

Hawk nodded. “Yep, Hector. He comes every couple weeks to clean it out and do some work around the property. He’s damn good at what he does, too. He tried to quit on me once but I wasn’t having it. Had to raise his pay and offer a few more perks just to make him stay.”

“What kind of perks?” Jordan asked. “I thought he was happy with the original agreement.”

“He was, but I thought he deserved them anyway since he’s so good at what he does around here.” 

“How often do you use it?” Hero asked.

Hawk stared at the water rippling in the moonlight. The last time he’d used it, he almost drowned someone. “It’s been awhile,” was all he said before walking away. He smiled at Hero as he passed. “C’mon. There’s one more thing I want to show you.”

Elaine and Hero exchanged a look and followed after their new friend. Hawk stopped at the edge of the yard and put his hands in his pockets, waiting for them to join him. Hero came up beside him, his eyes going wide, the breeze catching his hair.

“Holy shit,” he whispered. 

Hawk smiled. “Like it?” he asked, just as he did in the truck on the way up.

All Hero could do was nod. Elaine couldn’t say anything. Jordan looked over her head at Hawk and they shared a look before turning their gazes outward.

Stretching out below them was the most incredible view they had ever seen. Not only could they see the city glowing in the distance, but also the immensity of the sky above them, filled with stars and galaxies, the Milky Way, a purple streak of beauty stretching out above them.

“During the day you can see all the trees and mountains,” Hawk said in a low voice to Hero. He pointed off in the distance, just to their left. “You can also see the sunrise from behind that mountain over there.” He swept his arm to the right. “It sets somewhere out there.” He lowered his arm and tucked his hand in his back pocket.

“Maybe I’ll get to see it someday,” Hero said softly.

Hawk nodded but said nothing. His heart was beating rapidly and his hands were starting to shake. Hero was too close…his scent permeating Hawk’s senses, his body heat radiating off him like a wave. He could hear Hero's breathing, rhythmic and even. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Hero’s hair billowing around his face, his red eyes bright with wonder.