Chapter 1
They've been training at the beach house Interpol provided for an hour. But Chun-Li's mind is still on Ruby Heart's morning report on something called the Abyss. The reality of the situation would normally sound outrageous, the barrier of reality splitting and the end of world. But several hours ago she was standing in a room with an athletic man with a giant red, white, and blue shield and a grey haired woman with six arms. There's no need for more proof.
She's brought back to her reality with a quick kick to the stomach by Ryu. "Pay attention Li!"
They were called the new age of heroes, one of many crossover teams recruited to go after the Abyss. Something to feel proud of she thought initially. But all she has felt in the past hour of training is tired and bruises all over her body.
After exchanging punches and kicks she asks, "Are you still mad we're forth on the roster list?"
"I don't care. I don't even remember the other groups before us."
"The Avengers, the X-men, and a team made of Mr. Bison, Mr. Akuma, and Doctor Doom," Mega Man says bluntly as he continues rewire his left arm while sitting on a nearby bench.
"I don't care!"
She knows Ryu is lying, his muscles just tighten slightly. But it didn't matter. Chun-Li doesn't have his need for immediate battle, because she likes that being fourth gives them time to train to fight as a team. Although she secretly thinks it'll be worth the wait just to hear on the impending doomed attempt by Bison's team; she awaits the news of their failure with anticipation.
Chun-Li receives an uppercut to the chin and is knocked hard on her back, able to see Ryu moving in for the finishing blow. But then Mega Man stands between them in a flash. His arm turning into a blaster and humming softly, making Ryu take a step back.
Mega Man says, "Back-off."
"You…dare…," Ryu begins to say as his hands sparkle with electricity.
"I'm fine." Chun-Li grins, trying to defuse the situation. She knows that Mega Man was already on Ryu's bad side when he was forced to prove his worth by unleashing the power of his blaster when Ryu wasn't ready. She didn't need complications.
"Miss Li, he was trying to..."
"And I was going to roll away before he could and kick him in the head," she interrupts quickly as she stands up.
He turns to her with his innocent, soft blue, glowing eyes; she has already grown accustomed to looking at them. "My analysis confirms your deception. I've updated my files."
She watches as Mega Man walks back to the bench and looks back at them.
"What are you doing now," Ryu asks.
"I'm continuing to record and automatically adjust my fighting style, projectiles, and rocket boots to match both of your movement patterns and fighting styles."
Chun-Li smiles when he starts swinging his short stubby legs back and forth, finding it hard to believe something that looks so innocent is a machine full of cold, calculating protocol.
"Ready Li?"
She turns to Ryu, already in fighting position. "And then there's you Ryu."
"What?"
She stands ready. "Nothing… just made a joke to myself."
"Don't make me regret choosing you Li."
"Why did you choose me?"
"What?"
"Miss Li asked you why you chose her!"
She smiles. "I like him."
"Come on, fight!" Ryu does a spinning kick, but she flips away.
"I know why you want Mega Man, rematch is written all over your face when you look at him." Ryu comes at her with several kick combinations but she uses her Tenshin Shuu Kyaku technique and flips behind him. "But why pick me and why not Ken?"
Ryu surprises her with a fast moving Hadouken before she could land any combinations. Although dodging it she's off balance. Ryu puts her on her back again with a quick, light kick to the chest. But watching him trip over his own feet and falling on top of her, leaving them face to face, was a nice surprise.
"Ryu…you're blushing." She couldn't help but laugh as his cheeks quickly became rosy red.
He smiles. "No…I'm not."
"Mega Man, please confirm!"
"In reality, both of your body temperatures are increasing by…"
"Quiet," Ryu yells. Chun-Li senses Ryu is more embarrassed than angry as he immediately stands up.
She starts to laugh, briefly looking at Mega Man; she imagines he's trying to calculate the justification of the human performance that's in front of him.
"Come on Li, again."
As Ryu helps her up she asks, "Do you always have to be this serious?"
"To the very end."