Marvel NEXT Issue 2
AN: And we're back with the next "issue." Enjoy!
Bold Italic = Hero TV Announcer
Later that night was the end of season awards ceremony for HeroTV. Kotetsu and Logan were backstage a bit late. Doreen was already on stage with the other heroes. Kotetsu and Logan were being chewed out by their boss, Ben Jackson.
"Do you realize what you've done, you two?" Ben questioned. He wasn't very happy. "Why did you have to bend the rail, Kotetsu? And why did you have to break the monorail car's windows, Logan?"
"Hey bub, we're just doing our jobs." Logan said.
"Do you know how much the damages cost us?"
"Well you know," Kotetsu started, "Worrying about that stuff would stop us from keeping the peace."
"If the both of you don't worry about that, I can't protect you or Doreen!"
"Why isn't she back here with us if we're so troublesome, anyway?" Logan inquired.
"She's the cleanest of the three of you." Ben answered. "Sure she's caused some damage over this season but not as much as you two did. What happened tonight was an example."
"So what?"
Ben sighed, "Forget it, Logan, there's just no reasoning with you. Just go."
"Sorry for always causing you trouble." Kotetsu said apologizing for the both of them.
"I know you are." Ben replied wiping his forehead.
Kotetsu and Logan got on stage, standing by Doreen with their masks on.
"What did we miss?" Kotetsu asked.
"Oh nothing much, they were just announcing our names." She answered.
"Just in time for the MVP."
"Not like we'd win it." Logan muttered.
"Shut up."
"Thank you for waiting! We're going to announce our MVP's for King of Heroes and the Ultimate Team!"
The rankings were counted and displayed on a big jumbotron above. Though the rankings varied slightly, the top ranking was the same for both individual heroes and hero teams: Sky High as King of Heroes and Sky High and Kid Nova as the Ultimate Team of Heroes.
"Congratulations, Sky High and Kid Nova!"
The two heroes stepped forward to the applause of many fans in the stadium.
"We couldn't have done this without everyone's help!" Sky High said, making numerous gestures. "Thanks, and thanks again!"
"We really couldn't have done this without you guys cheering us on!" Nova spoke.
Kotetsu looked up at the rankings. In the individual rankings, both him and Logan were tied in 11th place. Doreen was surprisingly higher ranked, placing 6th behind Blue Rose(3rd), Wondra(4th), and Wasp(5th). In the team ranking they ranked 5th.
"Next, a message from Albert Maverick. The CEO of Apollon Media, as well as the President of the OBC!"
The old man walked over to the podium. Greeting the announcer. "Yes, thank you for that, but before that, I'd like to introduce a couple of people. Please, come in."
Two men came onto the stage. They were immediately recognized as the two guys in armored suits earlier, Barnaby Brooks Jr. And Tony Stark. They both dressed in really nice suits. Barnaby was in red while Tony dressed in black.
Tony stood up to the podium. "I guess you're all wondering what a couple of industrial giants like us are doing here. Well, we are not here to tell you that we're going to sponsor any of these heroes."
"Yes," Barnaby chimed in. "We're here to announce officially that Stark and I have decided to join this league of heroes."
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Maverick took over the microphone. "Yes, these two young men, Barnaby Brooks Jr. and Tony Stark will be new heroes keeping the peace here."
"The two may not have any special abilities, but I assure you that they're just as skilled as any of the other heroes and certainly won't be the kind that need rescuing."
That last comment left Kotetsu a little disgruntled. He could tell that last one was directed at him. He didn't like being made fun of. He was a hero, not a joke. He'd rather not stand here and listen to what Maverick had to say about anything else.
"Ugh, I'm leaving," Kotetsu said, stepping of stage.
"Kotetsu, wait!" Doreen reached for him. Logan kept her hand down.
"Don't worry about him, kid, he'll be back." He said. "He's our ride anyway."
Doreen had a worried look on her face, but decided to put her worries off till later.
Dressed in his civilian clothing, Kotetsu had taken a walk to calm his nerves and ended up at the sports bar he would normally be at with his friends. He sat down next to a familiar face.
"Hey, Kamala."
"Hi Kotetsu." Kamala greeted.
Kamala Khan was better known as the new Ms. Marvel to most people, taking up the name after the original retired. She's been a hero for the last six years and currently in the same team with Blue Rose, Wasp, and Wondra. Kotetsu and Kamala have been in a relationship together for about two years. Not many people know this.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the ceremony?" Kamala asked.
"I could ask you the same thing."
Kamala sipped her drink. "Well, to be honest, my boss gave me the day off and that I didn't have to show up to the ceremony. Plus, I've been getting ready for my book to be published. I had to go negotiate with my publisher."
"Really, that's great!" Kotetsu congratulated her.
"I know, I'm so excited." She hugged him. "So why are you here?"
"I just didn't feel like sticking around."
"That's it?" Kamala inquired. "Are the others heckling you for being saved by that random new hero?"
"You saw that?!" Kotetsu said surprised.
"How could I not," Kamala answered. "It's been all over the news. You think the media is going to ignore two young well known billionaires being heroes in cool robot suits?"
"Their suits aren't that cool." Kotetsu muttered.
"Oh don't get jealous, your butt still looks cute that spandex suit you wear." She winked.
"I'm not jealous at all." Kotetsu's cellphone interrupted him.
"Who is it?"
"It's uh, Antonio." Looking at his cellphone, the wallpaper had changed to a picture of a bison. "Hello."
"Where are ya man!?" Antonio asked. He was back at the Awards Ceremony. Having changed from his Rock Bison hero suit to a formal suit but still keeping his helmet.
"At a sports bar with Kamala." Kotetsu answered.
"You're missing out man, you should've come meet and greet the bigwigs."
"Yeah? Why don't you take care of that for me, big guy. I've got better things to do." Kotetsu promptly hung up on him.
"Don't you think it's a bit harsh to hang up on him like that?" Kamala asked.
"Nah, Antonio wouldn't mind."
"He...hung up on me," Antonio spoke. "That ass!"
A hand suddenly began to grope his butt. "Yow!"
"Mmm, speaking of asses." A sultry voice spoke.
Antonio can tell who that voice belonged to from anywhere. "Damn it, Fire Emblem! Get away from me!"
"I can't help it, handsome, your butt feels so nice." Fire Emblem said. He was wearing a suit like Antonio.
"Brother!" Storm exclaimed, walking up to the two. She wore an extremely beautiful dress. "We must keep appearances! What would our sponsors think if they saw such unruly behavior?"
Storm was conscious about their public image. Fire Emblem actually owned Helios Energy, the main sponsor for the two of them, and Storm actually ran a school to help young mutants and NEXT with their powers.
"Ohh, you're no fun." Fire Emblem said removing his hand from Antonio's butt.
"It's all fun and games until a scandal pops up." Antonio was looking at Storm as if he saw an angel.
Going around the ceremony floor, other heroes can be seen conversing with their bosses, fans, and potential future sponsors. The heroes that had the most attention were Barnaby and Tony. Already getting more press than the King of Heroes and his teammate.
"You two were amazing out there." Their friend, Pepper Potts congratulated. (Now might be good time to mention that Tony and Pepper are based on their counterparts from the Armored Adventures Show).
"It was nothing really, Pepper." Tony said. "Nothing we couldn't handle."
"Yeah, not really a challenge for our armor." Barnaby spoke.
"Speaking of armor," One of the men around them started. "The ones the both of you used looked amazing as well."
"Heh, you think those were amazing," Tony boasted. "Just wait until you see what we have next season."
Logan and Doreen were pretty much by themselves. Even Origami Cyclone and Tag (two heroes who always placed last) were getting more attention.
"I've never seen Kotetsu act like that before." Doreen said eating a handful of nuts.
"He's probably just tired." Logan replied eating an hors d'oeuvre.
"Of what? Being a hero?"
"No, the man loves this job too much to just quit. He's tired of being a joke. You heard Maverick when he was talking about the new guys, right?"
"Yeah."
"He was basically the butt of his jokes."
"Oh, well that's just mean." Doreen said with a pouty face
"I've known Kotetsu for a long time, I can tell ya he takes his job seriously. Basically living his childhood dream. If I were humiliated while pursuing my dream I'd be pretty pissed too."
"Aw, poor Kotetsu."
"I wouldn't be too worried about him."Logan said, drinking. "He'll be back to his usual self before long."
Back with Kamala and Kotetsu.
"You understand what I'm saying Kotetsu?" Kamala asked. "You mustn't let that stuff get to you. You're a grown man not a child overhearing people calling them names."
"I know."
"Good," She smiled. "I don't want to end up taking care of a big old man-child in his mid-thirties along with a family."
"Ha ha, very funny." Kotetsu said sarcastically. "But speaking of family, what about mine?"
"Oh right, we're still going to see them, right?"
"Of course we are, I'd like for you to meet my family at least once before we get any more serious about our relationship."
"Okay, shouldn't be too bad." Kamala said. "But remember, next time we're going to see my family."
"Of course," Kotetsu smiled before changing the subject. "Oh by the way, you ranked seventh."
"Seventh? I thought I was at least sixth."
"No, Doreen managed to squeak by for it."
"Hm, not bad for her first season."
Kotetsu nodded. "She definitely has a future as a successful hero."
AN: Once again, probably a bad place to end, but this was basically done anyway.
So probably not the best way to introduce her but, Kamala is here. I was originally going to put She Hulk in her place, then Carol Danvers before finally deciding on Khan herself. I really like her comics and I think that Kamala and Kotetsu would really relate to each other.
Next Issue won't go immediately go into the events of episode 2 of the Anime, just a heads up.
Please Review and feel free to suggest any ideas you have.
