13478/A Hawk Returns to the Nest

A Hawk Returns to the Nest
Date of Scene:	01 December 2022
Location:	E04 - Empty Dorm - Titan's Tower
Synopsis:	No description
Cast of Characters:	Hank Hall, Dawn Granger

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Hank Hall has posed:
It has been roughly three weeks since Dove broke up an illegal chop shop, and found a somewhat grumpy Hank Hall among the thugs defending it. It has also been roughly three weeks since Dawn Granger has seen her boyfriend. Or heard from him. Or received anything other than the brief confirmation of life that came from the department, a call from Hank's handler that told her nothing other than he wanted her to know he was alive. The handler, of course, had no way of knowing that she had seen him that prior night. Or assaulted him. Hank left that part out.

The bruises from Dove's attack had faded, and in their place was a horrible blonde goatee and some other general scruff, most likely acquired over the course of the honest pursuit of a dishonest appearance. Hank looks at his reflection as the elevator takes him up to the residence floor. All he wants is to get into his room, take a hot shower, and crawl into his bed.

Well. Maybe not his bed.

He pushes that thought out of his mind. It's the middle of the night, and while they offered to let him stay at the precinct until morning, he was eager to get to his own bed. Maybe he could surprise Dawn in the morning. Show up with eggs. Or pancakes. Or sausage.

Dawn Granger has posed:
As it turns out, Hank's bed had already been occupied. For the first week or so, Dawn had slept in her own room. Granted, she'd been informed things were fine, but it didn't mean that it didn't feel strange going from seeing Hank so often to such a long stretch with him not there. It wasn't even the Dove-Hawk connection that felt weird. He was close enough that it wasn't a problem. What got her was the actual missing Hank part of things.

So, at some point, she had decided sleeping in Hank's bed was a more appealing thought. He might not be there, but it was his bed and his pillow smelled like him. So, when Hank arrives back at his place, Dawn's already there, peacefully curled up in the blankets.

Hank Hall has posed:
Having crept through the halls of the Tower with as close to silence as he could muster, Hank slipped softly into his bedroom and closed the door behind him. He was just about to drop his sack on the ground when he felt, even in the darkness, that there was another presence in the room.

Was it her scent? Possibly. Or maybe just that connection. Either way, despite being in absolutely no condition to want to be seen by anyone, Hank allows a smile to cross his lips.

He carefully places the bag down beside the door and moves quietly over to the bed, allowing his eyes to adjust to the darkness to figure out just where it is that Dawn is sleeping. As eager as he might be to wake her, he does not want to deny her sleep. He knows if she is here, that means she has not been having the most restful of nights. It tears at his heart for a moment. But even that passes as he finds himself, once again, warmed from the inside out at the very notion of Dawn.

Dawn Granger has posed:
Even with the quiet and caution of his arrival, there's just enough awareness for Dawn to stir just slightly. It's not much, but she reaches, pulling his pillow close against her chest to hug it to her. She probably didn't even wake, really, it's just reflexive reaching. With the pillow tucked in her arms, she lets out a breath, relaxing into it.

Hank Hall has posed:
Smiling at the thought of Dawn clutching his pillow, Hank slips off his jacket and sets it on the chair, gently kicks off his shoes and then ever so slowly and carefully slips into the bed behind Dawn. Sure, she is on her side, and his pillow is occupying his side, and there is not a TON of space for him. But right about now, he does not exactly need too much space.

He stretches out slowly on the bed and then slides forward, wrapping an arm around Dawn's side and resting his head beneath his own bent arm. He does not really need a pillow. Having Dawn this close again after so long is comfort enough.

Dawn Granger has posed:
The arm over her is just enough for Dawn to register that there's been a change to the sleeping environment. She makes a sleepy sound at first, her brain trying to wrap around what the change exactly is until it seems to register. "Hank?" Her voice is low, a soft murmur. Because if it's not Hank, this would be about to get really weird.

Hank Hall has posed:
There are two ways to go with this moment. The nice boyfriend would respond - verbally or non-verbally - with some sort of affection. A murmur back of her name. A nuzzle of her ear. A familiar touch. The asshole would play off the confusion.

"That loser?" Hank responds, affecting the same gruff voice and guttural accent that he was using in the warehouse when he was undercover.

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn's response is a snort of amusement, unable to hide a laugh as she becomes aware of the situation. "Yeah. I love that loser," she says, reaching over to pull him in closer. "Are you back or is this one of those 'dropping in to say hi and then leaving' visits?" She's really hoping it's not just a brief stop in. Last time she saw him, it was under much more aggressive circumstances.

Hank Hall has posed:
"You think I'd be able to leave you from this position?" asks Hank, with a laugh of his own. "No, if I couldn't stay, I wouldn't give into the temptation." He leans forward a bit, now that she is awake, to fill his nose with the scent of her shampoo. Somehow, that felt creepy to do while she slept. "We finished the case, got our way up to the bad guys. I'm all done being Rocko the muscle." He laughs. "Believe it or not, your little escapade actually helped. They sprung me and the others after we spent a few days in the klink, and somehow improved my profile. Got me closer to the boss." He wraps his arm a bit more about her, drawing her closer. "Now _he_ is in the klink, and I'm where I belong, too."

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn leans in against him, resting her arm atop his. "I'm glad it didn't mess up your undercover bit," she replies. "Clearly, that was all according to my plan." He doesn't have to see her face to know she's smiling. "You are certainly back where you belong. I missed you, Hank. I'm glad you're safe. I mean, I knew you were it's just different hearing you're safe and having you actually here with me."

Hank Hall has posed:
"You mean getting my butt stomped by a super hero like all the other mooks?" Hank laughs. "Nah, that didn't hurt my cover. Just my pride and my keister." He leans forward and rests his cheek against Dawn's, which might just be the first clue that he is not the usual clean shaven Hank she is used to. "I missed you too. And everyone here. But it was a rare chance for me to do something more than just patrol, and if I want to advance my career, it was something I had to do." He turns to brush his lips against her cheek. "I also knew you would understand."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"You're scruffy," Dawn protests with a laugh, but nestles into him all the same. "I'm really glad you got to do something that made a difference. Being able to advance your career and help, that's all a good thing. I do understand, and I support it. I just kind of enjoy when I get to have you here." She makes a happy sound at the soft brush of lips against her cheek.

"I'm proud, really. They're lucky to have you on the force."

Hank Hall has posed:
"If I'd known you'd be here, I'd have shaved at the station. But that would have taken me like ten extra minutes to get here, and..." Hank squeezes Dawn again. "I've enjoyed these minutes too much."

He laughs softly. "I mean. If they knew they had an actual super hero with them, I'm not sure what they would think. But yeah, I think I serve a good purpose there." He sighs softly. "What have you been up to while I've been gone?"

Dawn Granger has posed:
"Rugged undercover Hank isn't such a bad look for you," Dawn teases, turning just a bit so she can get an actual look at him, even in the darkness. "Superhero or not, you could be just Hank and they'd be lucky to have you on the team." She reaches a hand up to touch his cheek. "I haven't done anything nearly as exciting as being undercover. I've taught some classes, organized some choreography so some of my students can prep for a performance, I worked out a bit..."

She smiles at him. "Stole your bed a few times."

Hank Hall has posed:
"...she says in the darkness." Hank laughs for a moment, nuzzling against her cheek. "I'll let you revise that statement if you want once morning comes." Not that he is in a hurry for that, of course, as he stretches out beside her. "Glad to hear that the classes are taking off. I'm proud of _you_ for doing that." He grins, and then breathes out slowly, relaxing once again now that he is nestled with her.

"It's not stealing when you have a free and open invite."

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn hugs the arm he has around her, shutting her eyes as she lets herself relax again. "Trying to have a career is challenging around all the superhero stuff, but I like what I do. It helps people, too. I'm kind of thinking of seeing if there are some sort of volunteer opportunities for art therapy or something? I'm sure someone's got something like that."

She nestles into him, seeming much more at ease with his presence there. "No, but it sounds dramatic when I say it like that and it's easier to say than explaining that I missed you and being in your bed was the next best thing. Same sentiment, less words."

Hank Hall has posed:
"You would be therapy enough for just about anyone." Maybe Hank is biased. But in this case, probably not by much. "We can look around if you want. They might know about some at the precinct."

Laughing softly, Hank leans over to run his lips against her ear. "I'm glad you found a next best thing, but..." He snuggles up a bit closer. "...now you have the real thing."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"I'm not sure I have quite the same impact on others as I do on you, Hank," Dawn replies, breathing in deeply as she enjoys the fact that he's finally just right there. It's been too long. "Yeah, if someone at the precinct knows about something, that would be great. There's a lot of people who could use an outlet to deal with stuff, so if I can help for some of that I'd love to."

She makes a happy noise, unable to really stop smiling. "Real thing is always better. Always. Promise you'll not go on another undercover thing for a while, if you can? I was spoiled getting back to the States and having so much of your time." She pauses. "Really sank in how much you mean to me. I mean, I knew before, but it's different."

Hank Hall has posed:
"I mean, that may be true, but I hardly have the same impact on others than I do on you, so I suppose we're even." Hank laughs softly, just enjoying the reconnection. "But I still think you can have more influence on folks than I can. I'll fight you over that."

He nods at her request. "I doubt I will any time soon, yeah. Besides, racking up all the UC time means that I have a good swath of days off now, so that's nice." He nibbles briefly on her earlobe, before sighing contentedly. "I'd have been fine doing that six months ago as long as I did. But it was agony being out there, and missing you."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"Taking a few days off would be nice, we could always go out of town and do something fun," Dawn's smile broadens. "I'm going to take all of your time off at this rate." She lets out a relaxed sigh, just enjoying the fact that he's there. "Yeah, things really changed when I came back to the States. You changed a lot of things for me, in good ways. Just meant I missed you like hell and worried even when I knew you were fine."

Hank Hall has posed:
Fingers absently tap at Dawn's midsection as Hank ponders that idea. "Someplace fun." He nods in thought. "Someplace warm, maybe. Where you can get by in as little clothing as possible." He laughs. "I'll stay decent so as not to blind the natives." He listens to her carefully, and then nods again. "Well, I think we both changed a lot of things for each other, if we're being honest. And for the better." He smiles. "I didn't worry about you, but that's because I know that you're the tougher person around."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"A beach could be nice," Dawn agrees, sounding thoughtful. "Just somewhere we can be us and spend time together." The idea of getting away from it all for a while is appealing. "Oh, that's a lot of flattery right there. I knew you'd be fine, but it's that anxiety of not having you right here to see for myself. Come on, you didn't worry at all?"

Hank Hall has posed:
"Maybe we could have one of our friends with private jets whisk us away somewhere, and then conveniently forget where." Hank draws his hand back from around Dawn's side to run his fingertips up and down her arm. "Just you, me, some coconuts..." He pauses. "Sand, I suppose, but that'd be fine."

He takes a deep breath, and then sighs. "I knew you were with the Titans. And that they knew that if anything ever happened to you..." He does not finish the sentence. He does not have to.

Dawn Granger has posed:
"Pretty sure the whisking away somewhere could happen," Dawn laughs. "We know enough people to make it happen. We also know enough people that getting away for a few days is fine because we know people who can handle things."

When his sentence trails off, Dawn does indeed know what the end of that is. She turns over so she can face him, resting her forehead against his and moving an arm to rest on his side. "You won't ever have to worry about that, Hank," she says.

Hank Hall has posed:
"Yeah. Sometimes I think they'd be better off with..." Hank stops himself. "Well, yeah. They'll be fine without us. Maybe they'll even forget they even need us. Wouldn't that be nice?"

He sighs as she turns around, and he nods once her forehead comes to rest against his. "I know." Part of him even believes it. He thinks for a moment about adding to that, but decides instead to introduce Dawn a bit more directly to scruffy Hank's lips.

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn leans into the kiss, her arm tightening around him as she responds in kind, relishing in the fact that she had him back after he'd been gone the better part of a month. The kiss lingers, especially because no talking needs to be done to express how they feel. They both know. Eventually, when she does break it, she rubs her nose against Hank's affectionately.

"Kind of sounds like you really do need to get away from all of this. /All/ of it. The fact that you'd love to go somewhere remote and be forgotten is very telling, Hank."

Hank Hall has posed:
Certainly, Hank is going to take his time to enjoy the kiss. He had been thinking about this kiss non-stop for the past several weeks, after all. He grins broadly, twisting his nose against hers as well.

"Are you trying to say I am addicted to my internet and streaming? That I can't enjoy time away from that stuff?"

Dawn Granger has posed:
"I'm trying to say you've clearly earned and /need/ a break from things that involve being undercover, stopping crime, saving the day... unless it's saving the day that involves you doing something nice for me. Pretty sure you could handle that just fine," Dawn replies. "Really, we could go somewhere with internet and streaming as well as a beach and sun. Spend half the day binge watching something, then get up and have dinner while watching the sunset and then a walk on the beach."

She kisses him again, this one just a brief connection before she continues. "Think we could plan something? I'm really starting to like this idea."

Hank Hall has posed:
"I'm not sure I'd use the term 'earned' just yet, but..." Hank considers the notion, and then nods. "Yeah. I don't feel like sleeping outdoors. Give me a nice cozy bed to snuggle with you in, and a nice beach to lay on during the day, and you've got a deal." He trails his fingers up to her shoulder and then back down again. "Any particular tropical destination catch your fancy? A bucket list or something?"

He returns the brief kiss, and nods. "It's a great idea. You always come up with the best ones."

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn laughs, tracing her fingers along his jawline, mostly feeling the unfamiliar beard. "I honestly wouldn't mind going wherever. I'm sure after a few days I'd want to get out and do something fun, but the idea of staying in bed and just being somewhere alone to be ourselves? That's appealing more than an actual destination."

She leans in, this time intent on kissing him just a bit longer.

Hank Hall has posed:
"I mean, porque no los dos?" Hank nudges Dawn for a moment, as if expecting accolades for his sudden linguistical skills. "Maybe we can find a place where we can challenge ourselves. With waterfalls. Or..." He shrugs. "Or just comfy beds. Either or."

Not one to shy away from a kiss with Dawn, Hank eagerly appreciates. His arm slips around her again, pulling her in tightly as if to make up for lost time.

Dawn Granger has posed:
All of that sounds perfect to Dawn. She finds no real need for further conversation on the topic, as they seem to be of one mind in it, as usual. Instead, she just throws herself into the kiss. They have a /lot/ of lost time to make up for.