Disclaimer: I don't own Tiger & Bunny in any way, shape, or form. I just like to play with the characters, settings, and plots.

Author's Warning: This is a dark fic involving torture, blood, and injury; if you don't like, don't read.

Author's Note: Thanks for your patience, and for all the Wild Roars given!

Sky High jetted over the battle, directing vortexes and whirlwinds to where they would do the most damage, but also trying not to hit any of his friends that were below. It was a tactic that always started out easy, until tempers flared, injuries were collected, and Heroes forgot to keep an eye on him as well as the enemy. Which was why he always had his communicator open up in the wind, no matter the complaints of white noise.

"Barnaby, behind you!"

And that is exactly the reason why.

The pink suit zipped out of the way, circling back to deliver an uppercut to the golem that had tried to attack. They raised two fingers in a victory sign, then bounded off to take down another. Sky High returned to watching the field.

Where are all these things coming from?

"We need to find the person making these," Origami Cyclone commented, abruptly shifting to a lower height. An incoming fist sailed over his helmet, and he took advantage of the miss to duck away, retreating to a safer place.

"We're also severely lacking in support," said Fire Emblem, entering the conversation. Sky High shook his head in disbelief as a golem walked through their fire.

Down three people, and fire doesn't stop them. When Barnaby's power runs out, we're going to be in trouble.

"Handsome, any idea where your partner is?"

Barnaby grunted, shooting his grappling hook. It speared a golem in the chest, and with a massive yank, the Hero whipped it into a second.

"Went to the zoo... with Dragon Kid... and Rock."

That's right. I forgot they were going today.

"Who are also missing," pointed out Blue Rose, a wave of ice sweeping up from a nearby stream to freeze several of the ugly things in place. They squirmed, reaching out and grasping with thick fingers, even though they couldn't walk close enough to grab her and she was smart enough to keep away. "Fire Emblem, your power-"

"Is not working, I know dear." They looked over at the younger woman. "These creatures are a little too fire resistant for me. Did you have a suggestion?"

Ice guns went off, one shot missing even as the other one drilled an icicle into the creature's brain. Blue Rose wasn't having a problem.

"You might be the best person to find the NEXT. Stop these things in their tracks."

A good strategy. If they can't help in strength, maybe they can help in intelligence.

Fire Emblem let loose one of their strongest fire bombs, then stepped back to take in the damage. Far up in the clouds, Sky High could see nothing.

A scorch mark, of course, but it keeps on moving, just as strong as before.

"Agreed. Sky, darling." Fire Emblem waved, though they were easy to pick out on the green ground with their red, orange, and yellow color combination. "Could you blow me a pathway to the gas station? They seem thickest there, and maybe the gas can help in a pinch."

Sky High nodded, then chuckled.

Gotta remember that one one can see me from down there, even if I can see them. Well, maybe others with helmets can, if their interfaces do displays.

"Happy to help Fire Emblem," he said, already turning his arms to face the proposed area. "And again, happy to help."

A small part of his mind kept them in view, wincing when a few surprise golem hits landed, but most of his concentration was on the wind. The stream he was making was getting harder to maintain, which either meant there was another wind user battling against him, or that he was getting weaker and running out of energy.

There's only the one NEXT user, so I think I overtaxed myself trying to hold back the whole golem army earlier.

"Hurry," he whispered, the breeze taking his words and blowing them apart immediately.

That was okay, these were words not meant to be shared.

"And again, hurry. I'm not sure how well we'll fare if this fight continues."

Green appeared in a wave of orange; he still had enough power to shove those heavy things out of the way, even if he couldn't hold them back. Sky High watched as Fire Emblem ran up the path he'd created, the others protecting them from giant hands and feet. He sucked in a quick breath when it looked like they're gone under a stone hand, but Blue Rose had enclose Fire Emblem in an ice wall, and they were okay.

"Thanks!" they called out while ducking a few of the quicker golems. Sky High groaned when the door opened with a bellish tinkle, ruining the element of surprise, but then they were gone, going deeper into the gas station.

Are they in there? It was only a guess...

Mere minutes later there was an unearthly scream. The door slammed open, and a young man ran out the front door with their hands clasped to their ass, howling in pain.

Bingo!

"That fuckin' bitch just set me on fire!"

Sky High frowned, zooming a bit nearer as the others closed in as well, all of the battered Heroes looking to end this fight.

Where is Fire Emblem?

"Where's Fire Emblem?" Origami Cyclone asked, echoing Sky High's thoughts and looking worriedly to the building. Training kept him tightening circle, but his thoughts were clearly not on the man they were about to capture.

Capture first, rescue later.

"Poor you," cooed Blue Rose. She smiled at the man, sharp and without warmth. "Let me help. My ice is a little cold, but your crime has been put completely on hold!" The trademarked catchphrase was followed by a shot from one of her ice guns.

The man froze, trapped up to his neck. Sky High kept himself a few feet above the ground, just in case there were any more surprises.

Landing feels as if the fights over, but I have an unsettling feeling it's not. And Fire Emblem still hasn't come out.

"There," chirped Blue Rose. "No longer on fire, problem solved."

"Th-tha-thanks," their criminal stammered, breath frosty in the autumn wind.

"Now, let's talk about the 'bitch' who set you on fire. They're my friend." Blue Rose created an icicle, twirling it between her fingers. "So what did you do to Fire Emblem?"

"Tra-trapped them. Tried to... tried to... get away. They stopped me."

And feeling confirmed.

Sky High pushed off hard for the gas station, Origami Cyclone running after him. The wind master was the first there, setting down and yanking the door open, hard enough that the bell broke. The two of them fully entered the store area, looking around for a golem, or a struggling friend. What they found instead were toppled shelves laying atop a whole bunch of other items in the middle of the floor, and scorch marks against the wall.

... this doesn't look good...

"Fire Emblem?!"

"Where are you?"

They could be in another room, but given how quickly the criminal was flamed out, they're probably under that pile.

"Origami, help me!" snapped Sky High, dashing forward. He began to pick up and throw things behind him, trying to uncover any sign of Fire Emblem. The items ranged from heavy car batteries to wrenches; all of the shelves had apparently belonged in the automotive repair section. The younger Hero joined him, and together the two of them lifted up one of the shelving units, then began to shovel more debris away: windshield wiper jugs, antifreeze bottles, and even jumper cables. There. A small piece of red fabric poking out.

Of course.

As much as the Sky High didn't want to be right, he knew who it belonged to.

After a few more minutes, they finally cleared enough away to see the object of their frantic search, hands wrapped around their head in an effort to protect themselves. A small cut on their lip was bleeding, and their shoulder looked displaced, but other than that, there were no obvious injuries.

I'm far from a nurse though.

"Fire Emblem?" Sky High coughed, then started sending out a slight breeze to clear the air of dust. "Fire? You okay?"

"They don't look okay," said Origami Cyclone, exchanging a worried glance with Sky High. "They're not responding."

Could be worse. Has been worse in the past.

"Guys?" Blue Rose's voice come over the communicator. "Did you find them? Do you need some help?"

"They're still breathing, and there doesn't seem to be any blood." He shot a look back to the fire wielder. "Well, any worrisome signs of blood." Sky High tried to put on a reassuring tone. "Agnes, we'll need an ambulance for Fire Emblem, we're in the gas station."

"Figured that might be the case," replied their eye in the sky. "It's one the way. Four minutes."

The door opened behind them.

"After the ambulance gets here, what's the plan?" asked Barnaby, taking off his mask behind Blue Rose. The two of them stood in front of the doorway, trying not to crowd the area.

It took several seconds after Barnaby had asked the question, and then Sky High realized everyone was staring at him. Waiting for his answer.

But... Fire Emblem's the best at commanding. Wild Tiger's just as skilled at motivating our hearts, probably even more so, and Rock Bison's surprisingly solidly steady as a leader.

And with all of them unable to lead his inner voice whispered the job falls to me as the most senior and veteran Hero among those left.

Sky High looked at the three others watching him. He took a deep breath.

"Wild Tiger wouldn't have missed a call." There 's nothing that would keep Tiger from being a Hero. He didn't say it, but he didn't want to, and he didn't have to. They all knew it.

"Neither would Dragon Kid," added Origami Cyclone.

"Let's just skip me adding Rock Bison's name and wondering if something's wrong," snapped Blue Rose, her eyebrows drawn together and her lips pressed into a firm line. "We already know something is, so what are we going to do about it?"

I hope I'm as good as crafting plans as they are.

Sky High nodded.

"Agreed, and again, agreed." He looked to make sure the helicopter wasn't shining its camera through the windows, then took off his helmet. Shook sweat from his head and moved the hair that had stuck to the front of his face. "Fire Emblem wouldn't want us to waste time. However, we're not going to leave them to wake up alone."

He looked at each of them. Blue Rose. Origami Cyclone. And Barnaby.

All of them are young. Too young.

"How long until your power recharges?"

"Little under an hour."

There was a groan from behind them. Origami Cyclone walked over to crouch next to Fire Emblem and cajole them to open their eyes.

"I think it's very likely Fire Emblem will wake up in that time. Stay with them, but come join us when you can, with them if that's possible."

The blonde frowned, shaking his head.

"No. My partner's missing, I'm not going to be on the sidelines." He pointed at Origami Cyclone and Blue Rose. "Have one of them stay, they can at least throw up a defense against flames if Fire Emblem lashes out. I'm going to the zoo and looking for Tiger. To have missed a call, he's either injured or captured, and he needs help!"

No!

"Barnaby." Sky High moved to stand directly in front of him. "They're not going to the zoo either. No one is for about an hour."

Questions and cries of why erupted from the three Heroes. Sky High waited, letting them work through their fears and frustrations.

Here it goes.

"If we're going to find them, then we need to do it smart, not just run in. Yes, that's normally how Wild Tiger prefers to deal with things, but I don't have his luck."

Barnaby snorted, Blue Rose smiled, and even Origami Cyclone chuckled. Sky High had an image in his head of Tiger tripping, and kicking Jake in the head.

Tiger had been the first one to hit Jake, and that had been a pure accident...

"If you don't want to stay with Fire Emblem, however, that's fine," Sky High moved on smoothly. "Origami Cyclone can fit into the ambulance, so truthfully, that swap is better. Go talk to Saito-san about our communicators, see if there's a way we can track them down like that. Blue Rose, you know which zoo they went to, right?"

She nodded.

"When Dragon Kid asked me if I wanted to join them, she told me she'd won tickets. Their PR personnel should be able to give you some information, such as if only one section of the zoo was open to them, if they had to be out by a certain time, information like that."

"Do you think they left the zoo?"

I have no idea.

"It's a possibility we should look into," said Sky High. "That they might not still be at the zoo."

"That's us, but what about you?" asked Origami Cyclone, raising his voice over the growing sirens.

"Me?" Sky High smiled and put his helmet back on, dropping the grin as soon as he could. "I'm going to go see a judge about any threats or demands that may have been received while we were busy here. We'll meet at the entrance to the zoo in an hour, but no one's to enter it until we're all there and ready."

There were some begrudging noises of agreement, mostly from Barnaby, but the plan was settled. They split up, Origami staying with Fire Emblem, Blue Rose and Barnaby going back to their trailers. Sky High took to the blue that was his true home. He started off in the direction of Stern Bild's Administration of Justice building, and flew as quick as he could for a few minutes.

Okay, I should be out of everyone's sight by now.

Executing an abrupt switch, Sky High set off toward the Stern Bild's Zoo and Aquarium.

Barnaby, Blue Rose, and even Origami Cyclone are still new to being Heroes. Young at heart. They haven't seen what the rest of us have, people at their worst, villains striking out at us only because we're Heroes.

He poured on the speed.

They didn't wake up some nights covered in sweat, hearts pounding from nightmares taking fertile root in their brains.

Barnaby's words came back to him.

Sure, captured is bad. Injuries are worse. But neither of those are the worst.

"Please don't be dead," Sky High whispered, well away from where any of them could hear. Sometimes, he felt as if the sky listened to him and took his hopes into consideration.

Let today be one of those times.

"And again, please don't be dead."

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