"You know what. I realized something precious in life," Randy begins to say as he watches a robot crash into the school. "That no matter what you do, you just can't become a hermit in today's time."
"Randy, stop avoiding confrontation and get on with it. The schools going to get wrecked." Nommi says as he floats near his head as he watches the panicking students leave the bus or get their parents to drive them away from school.
"The public don't even like me." Randy weakly states as he bites his lip. 'I'll wait another minute, and if he isn't here, I can just beat the thing and avoid him.'
"That hasn't stopped you before and they will appreciate you. Cease your worries, Phoenix isn't here yet, and your dumbass of a friend isn't here as well. Perfec-"
"Alright. Ears out," he says from behind the wall and his transformation is complete. "This is going to be easy, a giant robot looking frog that has a tongue that can destroy things. Totally easy. Not like it will take a lot of time."
Hidden gets out from his hiding place and calls out to the frog, "Hey ugly! What did those buildings do to you?!"
The robot ignores him. With a vain attempt of getting the robot's attention he decides to go all in. He takes his sword from his back and starts to swing it around wildly as he gets closer to it. No one is in the way, all off to the side so they won't get caught in the crossfire. Hidden is glad for that, makes his job of slicing the thing to bits easier. This time he will make sure that the robot is destroyed and then turn his tail to flee. No way is he going to confront his scary partner.
"So what if I crack jokes about me dying, much better than people poking fun at my costume or disrespecting me." Hidden mutters under his breath as he slices part of the robot toad's tongue.
The robot jumps back and he has to chase it, something he hates because the longer he is out, the more likely he will see Phoenix.
With his luck, on the second jump Hidden manage to slice a bit of the toad's right leg off, making it unbalanced. The thing crashes to the ground and he begins to dice it up; no future surprises for him today. Too early for that. He cuts off the rest of the legs and the tongue, no chainsaw or flamethrower popping out from the sockets.
Hidden kicks the broken robot for good measure—jumping a bit because it is made out of metal—and he hears students cheering for him. He waves at them and was about to deal the final blow before he hears crunching of the grass. Immediately he flees, but he feels a hand on his shoulder.
Inwardly Hidden is crying as his shoulders stiffen. He starts to speak with a slightly high pitched voice, "H-hey Phoenix. H-how's it going? Just, you know, finished defeating a robot, and, I don't know about you, but uh, I need to drink some water. See you later."
"My sweet bunny, I believe I told you the next time we meet we will talk about your little issue." Phoenix mummers and it sounds a bit threatening to Hidden's ears, with his low but slightly muffled voice.
"Issues, what issues? I just like to laugh when people threaten me. Or when I am a bit nervous for a fight. Or, you know what that's it." Hidden says and he feels Phoenix's hand loosens his hold on his shoulder and puts his arm around his shoulder. It hurts a bit since he cannot move his neck up to look at his beaked partner because the arm is around his ears.
"I would love to hear the last reason. Now I believe we have a camera to smile to." He says as he guides Hidden to the cheering crowd.
He can see Heidi already videotaping what was going on and she approaches them. He tries to not be nervous; despite wanting to be respected as a hero, it is his first appearance of talking to people. He wants to be cool and collected like the Hidden Bun and Phoenix who saved him. How can he even act like that with Phoenix keeping him close so he won't run? Doesn't it look weird from an outsider's perspective?
"Hello Norrisville! This is Heidi Weinerman and today we have our local heroes Phoenix and Hidden Bun for another interview! Well this time the rabbit themed hero is here and hopefully there is answers." Heidi greets her viewers in her webcam on her hat.
Hidden glances at his partner, 'Another interview? When did that happen? It is just Friday and we only made two appearances in school, not counting this one. Wait a minute did she just call me a rabbit? I'm a freaking bunny!'
"Answers to what exactly?" Hidden asks as he gives his partner a look. He hopes it isn't what he thinks it is.
"Where were the two of you for the past four years? You both have been protecting Norrisville for about eight hundred years, but why did you two leave?" The up and coming reporter asks.
Oh cheese, it is that question. Shit. Well he can always say they were on vacation.
"Unfortunately there were health related matters concerning Hidden's family. He couldn't bear to leave his mother alone and I was with him the whole time." Phoenix replies grimly, like it was the actual truth instead of a lie.
'I can build up on this, hope I don't mess up," he thinks before looking to the ground saying, "She went through chemotherapy-"
"That is tragic, is she alright?" Heidi asks with concern.
"Thankfully. It was a hard two years, and then my grandpa passed away. It's been rough but we manage to get through it." Hidden says, giving what he hopes is a sad smile. Phoenix sells it by patting his shoulder. Everyone is speechless.
"Oh." Was all Heidi manage to say and Hidden thinks he spots a tear in her eyes. That effectively killed the interview.
'Next time someone asks we all know magic, and everyone in my family has been Hidden Bun for thousands of years ago. That my magic if I am facing turmoil that it changes. Yeah, sounds like a solid theory.'
"I'm sorry for bringing it up," Phoenix says and he rubs his head with his right hand, carful to not hit himself with his weapon.
"It-it's okay. I am sorry to cut this interview short, but we really need to get going." Hidden says and he gives them a small smile.
He turns away as Phoenix waves to the camera and his left hand is still clamped down on his shoulder. This means he is forced to walk and he hopes no one follows them. He just hears whispering behind him as the two walk behind the school, Phoenix keeping him close even if he slightly struggles. It is silent between the two until Hidden decides to break it.
"You think you can check if they aren't following us. Also can you stop holding my arm?"
"Fine. But only to look, I don't want you out of my sight just yet." Phoenix says as he turns his head and then states, "They aren't following."
"Thank goodness for that." Hidden sighs then says, "When exactly did you get an interview?"
"Just after the robot fight, the same girl cornered me, but I manage to escape."
"Did your kwami tell you the real reason instead of us making up that sob story?"
"No, but he did say something to get them off our backs. It was either that, vacation, or someone was pregnant."
"Well we wouldn't want to be knocking someone up or our fictional sisters getting knocked up either. Personally I would have gone with a vacation. How we both accumulated enough time for four years."
"That is a long vacation then. Wait a minute. Hidden I need to know are you suicidal? Please tell me you are not." Phoenix clamps his other hand on his upper arm and looks him dead in the eye.
Hidden shouts, "What? No! Why would you think that? I just make a couple of jokes where I'm hurt or dead to ease up my nervousness. Haven't fought with someone else before and I find it funny whenever some baddy threatens me, or anyone making a joke about me being dead. Well you showed concern with the other robot and well. Great I'm rambling again. Point is, I'm not suicidal."
"Calm down. I'm sorry about that though, just needed to make sure my hero wasn't going to go to an early grave before I can thank him." Phoenix said and he scratches his cheek and he takes his hand from Hidden's upper arm.
"I'm your hero?" he asks dumbfounded by his confession.
"Well yes, you did save me during the summer when I couldn't transform. Plus, you really helped me out when we were fighting crime."
He feels his face heat up, "Well of course I helped you out, I'm your partner even if we didn't meet and heroes do that stuff all the time. To be honest, I was kind of nervous to meet you, even if we were destined to be partners. Kind of idolized the previous holders and I wondered if you would be intense or not."
"You, nervous? You didn't look it when we were destroying that robot. I kind of thought you were annoyed with me."
"You are one of the brucest heroes I know real or otherwise; even though you get a bit intense when you thought I was suicidal. Sorry if I sounded like I was annoyed, heat of the battle and I kind of have no clue what I'm doing with a sword. Usually knock out or sneak behind criminals or save kittens. My kwami wants to teach me how to use my weapon once I'm finished with basic training."
"Ah jeez, I was just worried. I would hate to know that someone is hurt and I could do something but I chose not to." Phoenix confesses and Hidden nods, agreeing with his partner.
"Same. I meant what I said earlier, I want us to be friends and all. Want to talk later on? Around ten on top of the library behind the clock tower?" He suggests, knowing that time is running short and he needs to go find his best friend.
"Yes, that sounds w-great! I will meet you there then. Want to detransform together that way we can still talk?"
"I would lo-ve that," Hidden's voice suddenly strains and he coughs a bit, "but I think we should still get close to school and go our separate ways. Everyone might figure out who we are."
"I understand. Maybe another time." Phoenix says sounding slightly disappointed.
"Hey, maybe another time. Plus my kwami is a bit…temperamental when it comes to my identity and whatever involves Hidden Bun the slightest." He said, scratching the back of his head.
"You have mentioned that before." His partner said as he and Hidden walk to the wall.
"Mhm. I guess this is goodbye. I'll catch you later tonight." Hidden said as he runs the opposite direction that the two were walking.
He notices a side door and he looks up on the roof. He doesn't see Phoenix and hides behind a shrub to detransform. Randy walks through the door with a large grin on his face.
'This is so bruce! He doesn't hate me, but he thinks I'm his hero. Yeah! Maybe I can ask him to do his Cursed Flames later on when I am close. It will be amazing to see it up close.' He thinks as he walks into English.
Everyone is talking or whispering one thing or another. He goes to Howard who is reading a comic book, and he glances up at him.
Immediately Howard says, "If this is about me being friends with Jacques the answer is still no."
'Note to self: buy sticky notes and more paper,' Randy thinks before replying, "Fine, I won't ask."
"Good. Now you mind telling me where you were today?" Howard asks without looking up from his comic.
"Well you see, I kinda don't want to talk about it, but it kind of involves the toilet. Going there a lot more times than I would like."
Not exactly a lie, he has been going to the bathroom a lot to talk to Nommi or feed him if he is in his jacket.
"Oh yeah I hate it when that happens. Hope the bathroom isn't destroyed with you in it. That would be embarrassing."
"Maybe I will get hurt or crushed to death on the toilet." The two of them look to each other and laugh.
"Hahaha good one. Now how exactly are we going to deal with today's basketball game later on. We come separately or together in Mort's or your mom's car?"
"Separate let our parents think only one of us is bringing things. I got the paint, paint opener, and my yellow shorts. You bring the brushes, silly string, horn, and your shorts. Also ask you dad for some cash. We will be eating victory 'chos in the fish bowl."
"Alright! Just show up about an hour early and we hit the restroom." Howard said and the two do their secret bro handshake.
The class starts and Randy doesn't pay attention much. He has to make sure he tells Nommi how this is going down for the game. He won't be able to hide on his person like usual, but he is going to stay in his duffle bag for the remainder of the game. There is no way he is going to stay in his short's pocket, everyone will see somethings in there and Howard will ask about a strange figure moving around his pocket.
He also needs to find out what he is going to write on his note to Jacques, he cannot handle being ignored by someone who he was talking to. He wish he could turn back time to the beginning of lunch on Wednesday to tell Howard the truth. That way he wouldn't got mad, the school wouldn't still be under construction today, and their new friend will stay that way.
He sighs, the things he does to keep people from being angry. Well if that akuma attack didn't happen then Phoenix wouldn't be mad at him, but then they wouldn't meet later on today. Lots of negatives that outweigh the positives.
He tries to focus on the rest of the day, trying to ignore everything going on around him. Like one band geek getting picked on by Bash—the one with blond hair, he thinks his name is Bucky—while Jacques walks by them with a lot of girls trailing after him.
He will admit, he is still a bit hurt from the French transfer student not even glancing their way even if he said, "Hey Jacq," but he has to admit, maybe he didn't hear him. The halls are loud and there were a few people blocking his way. He finally found a way to write his note and put it in his locker. In fact he wrote it in Biology. It says:
Hi, I've noticed that you are a cool new guy who came from Paris. That is such a neat place and you even came to Norrisville from such a bruce place. I wonder how you're taking the occasional monster attacks and the surprise robot ones. I honestly thought I was going to die when that one robot came into the cafeteria, like it came straight out of a Frankenstein and chainsaw murderer movie.
It must be weird getting this note, but to tell you the truth I'm kind of intimidated with talking to people. Well really anyone who I don't know. I wish I had courage like you to go around and talk to everyone. Even if I worked up the courage to say something there are so many people around you that I think you won't even hear me. I hope this isn't weird or anything, just trying to talk to new people. Ha talk.
'Rough start, but I guess he won't throw it away. He doesn't seem that type of person to throw notes away.' He thinks as he tears the paper from his notebook and stuffs it in his pocket.
The school day ends and he is tempted to drop it off his locker. There wouldn't be enough time, Randy realizes, since he has to catch his bus and he would have to shake Howard off his tail. Not to mention if anyone Jacques knows will see him by his locker. 'Looks like I need to put it in there after the game,' he thought as he gets on the bus with Howard.
"You ready?" Randy asks as he sits in the middle of the bus.
"Heck yeah I am! Just make sure to be there by six since it starts at seven." Howard cheers then gives him a look, "You're going to ride your bike aren't you?"
"Yep." Randy pops the p. "In exchange of going there I got to do some chores, but I'm not going to do them until later."
"That sucks."
He shrugs, "That's the deal. Going to put it off until later."
"Nice. Well I have no clue when you got to leave so leave early. Unless you want me to ask Mort to pick you up?"
"Nah, I got this. You did say that it would look suspicious earlier."
"I know I know. Geez trying to be nice for once." He waves him off.
The two look at each other and then laugh. "Good one Howard. Tell me next time you're serious." Randy wipes a tear from his eye.
"Yeah I know. It was getting too depressing here." Howard admits and Randy shakes his head.
"Howard just stop man. Just stop."
"Fine. Fine. Just gonna ask, you heard about the interview today?"
"Heard it. Of course I did. Did not expect that. So posting it online and I feel a bit bad for Hidden."
"Yea your little hero buddies forum thing are going to have their panties twisted. I admit it is sad about Bun and I wonder how he is able to keep going."
"Maybe he was put at ease with them or maybe he pushed everything down. Like he is in denial or something." Randy speculates about his alter ego.
Would he be in denial? Denial as in not wanting to think about it. Would he cry or just avoid the subject? More likely keep everything down and come to terms with his problems one problem at a time.
"Whatever is going on, your hero is going to the shrink."
"What's wrong with the shrink?"
"They try to get into your head and mess you up big time."
"I think their job is to not mess you up. Like make you not messed up."
"Whatever. Point is they get into your head." The bus slows to a stop and Randy gets up.
"Okay I get it, see you in a couple of hours."
Randy leaves the bus with a few other teens and walks home. He opens his front door and then locks it. Nommi flies out of his jacket and flies around in the room.
"Do you have any idea how hot it gets when you can't breathe much?" Nommi suddenly asks as Randy throws his backpack on a chair in the kitchen.
"No." 'But I get the feeling you are going to tell me anyway.'
"Pretty hot especially with my fur color. Is there anything you can sneak into your pocket that is a liquid? Like a small bottle of water?"
"I can put one in my bag and you drink out of it whenever." Randy shrugs and starts putting away the dishes.
"That would be good, it would be interesting to hear your course material, especial in Home Economics."
"You actually listen to what goes on in there? I thought you take a nap."
"Sometimes. I did like to play that game yesterday." Nommi said giving him a side glance and then the bag.
He knows what he wants. Randy states, "So you want to stay in my bag."
"Only before school and a little of first period, afterword in your jacket. There is less activity in the beginning of the day then in the middle or end. Rarely any akumas will form." Nommi states as he flies into the closet and grabs the jam jar.
"Fine Nommi. Anyway you are going to be in my duffle bag for today, need to keep you somewhere for today's game." He says as he puts bread in the toaster and then grabs the remaining cherries from his bag.
"Why can't I just stay on your person? Does it have anything to do with the paint you bought yesterday?" Nommi says as he is on the toaster, waiting for his food.
"Yes."
"Can't you just keep me in your jacket?"
"That's the thing. I am not going wear one, or a shirt. But I'm wearing shorts."
"So you are going to be wearing paint and your shorts." He says and Randy nods. "That is a stupid idea. Who came up with it?"
"It's not a stupid idea, people do that all the time in sports, it will be okay." Randy defends his idea.
"It was your stupid idea. I honestly thought you wouldn't make 'out there' suggestions. That you were the sane one, looks like I need to re-evaluate my opinion of you."
He flinches, "We need an out there idea to go to the fish bowl. Didn't you hear us planning earlier?"
Nommi's cheeks take on a dark red color, "I may not have been paying attention at the time." He coughs and then says, "If memory serves me right, usually you cannot take a bag or backpack into a stadium."
"It is just for a couple of hours, like three. I will try to sneak you in, doubt security will even be tight, just a high school basketball game. Please! Me and Howard need to score those bruce seats. Those comfortable, velvet seats l. We can be the first freshmen in there. Come on Nommi. I will do whatever you want after the game and tomorrow. Without complaining," Randy pleads with his knees on the floor and gives Nommi a pathetic look.
The toast pops out and Nommi sighs, "Fine." Randy shouts in joy and Nommi immediately hushes him. "Only if you make me fruit salad and tomorrow there is two hours of training on top of your morning one." Nommi extends his arm and his partner stares at it.
Randy hesitates for a moment before shaking the small arm. "You won't regret it."
"You should think the same. Now don't you have chores to attend to then dinner?"
"Shit. I mean shoot," Randy corrects himself when Nommi shoots him a glare.
He finishes putting up the dishes, folding laundry, and sweeping downstairs. Randy makes himself a sandwich and stuffs it in his mouth as quickly as possible without choking. Still eating, he heads upstairs and dumps his training gear from his duffle bag onto his bed. With that empty he goes down his ladder to place the two paint buckets, can openers, and his shorts inside. Before taking it downstairs he pulls the note from his pocket and places it on top of his things.
He heads downstairs and leaves his bag on the kitchen table before heading to the garage. He grabs his bike, brings it inside, and takes it to the porch. Going back inside he sees Nommi get inside the bag and he takes it then locks the front door. Taking the bike down a few steps he puts it on the sidewalk to his driveway and proceeds to ride it.
Randy wobbles a bit, uneven distribution of weight from the duffle bag, but he doesn't fall down. Occasionally when he has to stop to look out for cars he has to correct himself. He finally arrives at Norrisville High and he places his bike behind the school where the bike rack is. He briskly walks to the front doors to find his best friend. No doubt Howard already came and Randy sees him walking into the nearest restroom.
"Hey Howard," Randy says as he opens the door to see his friend reaching into his backpack and pulling out a comic book.
"Thought it would take longer Cunningham. Oh well. Let's get started. Just checked the concession stand and they have a lot of pop. Definitely going to need that for my bruce hat." Howard says as he pulls out a hat used in games that has two straws coming from the side. He stuffs his comic book away before Randy could even see it.
"Too bruce. By the way what were you reading?"
"Nothing you need to worry about. Let's get painting!" With that Howard grabs the paint brushes from his bag after putting his hat to the side.
During the time of painting everything below their neck blue, after changing into yellow shorts, was weird. Having hard bristles and thick paint over his stomach and armpits was difficult. Randy will not admit unless under the threat of death, that he is ticklish. Well ticklish in the way that he constantly jerks away from the brush every time it hits his sensitive torso. Howard was laughing at him as he helped him paint his back. In return, Randy was a bit rough with applying paint on his friend's back.
Soon they hit a roadblock, they couldn't put a second coat of paint, this time white, since the first coat was still drying. Randy had to hold off writing, "Carps!" on Howard's stomach, while Howard couldn't write "Go" on Randy. The two of them had to sit down, both had the bright idea to start with their legs and work their way up. Not exactly their brightest moment, but they did manage to finish painting themselves, even if the game was twenty minutes in.
"Cunningham hurry up, you got everything ready?" Howard asks as he gets out of the restroom.
"Just give me a minute, have my horn out already. Let me go to the gym locker, do not want anyone to take my things." Randy says as he rushes in the direction of the gym.
He goes into the locker room and finds that the gate to the gym locker isn't locked. 'Coach Green really doesn't care about that. He even forgot to lock the football and soccer gates,' he thinks as he puts in his locker combination and place the bag inside there carefully.
"Cunningham!" Howard yells.
"Coming!" Randy replies as he gets his horn.
Howard is already at the door with his hat on and his finger on the trigger for his can of silly string.
"Finally! You know what to say when we get in there right? You can't wonk this up because those seats are on the line!"
"Relax buddy. We go in on my mark. One…two…three. Go!" The two burst into the room. Randy presses the button on his horn and Howard pulls the trigger on the can. Everyone stops what they are doing to stare at them.
"What up Norrisville!" Randy yells with his arms in the air.
Everyone is silent. Randy chuckles a bit then says, "W-we gonna win today!" Randy and Howard both turn to each other and hit their stomachs against one another.
"Cunningham is that all you going to say," Howard says through his teeth.
"Yeah. Kinda figured everyone would be clapping by now." He says right back.
The two friends stand there as Bash yells out from on the court, "Hey, look at those two shoobs!"
Just like it was practiced, most of the audience laughs at the two of them.
"Way to wonk it up Cunningham," Howard grumbles as he makes his way to the concession stand and buys two McCokes. He marches over to the stands as Randy trails behind him.
"I did not wonk it up. I think I did pretty good." He says as he spots Jacques sitting next to Jen, Cory, and Darcy at the top of the bleachers. He waves at them, but no one sees him.
'Great. Ignored again.'
The two walk up halfway up the bleachers and stare mournfully at the fishbowl. There is even a bouncer in front of the roped off area not allowing unworthy students inside. Randy looks down to the court and sees a familiar person.
"Hey didn't Cynthia say she liked basketball? I figured she loved to play it." Randy asks as he points to the girl in uniform.
"Yeah, I guess she just likes watching it. Although she does make a fine cheerleader."
"Well it looks like she is passionate about it," he comments as he sees her yelling at the opposing team. "You know she doesn't like you."
"Oh I know, but I always liked a pretty face and a hard to get attitude." Howard winks as he slurps his soda.
"But don't you ever argue with your crushes?"
"I always argue with people, part of the Weinerman charm. A couple of rounds with my wits and she will be falling for me. Although looking at that form is giving me second thoughts. Honestly who can do the splits and keep on yelling? Not the type of girl if she yells when she argues with me. There is being passionate and being level headed. I like to have both."
"You and your exquisite tastes." Randy dryly says as he listens to the band playing.
"Oh I know. I know. Ugh what is that horrible sound?!" Howard yells as he rubs his ears.
Randy looks down to where the band members are sitting, just below the fishbowl and in the splash zone of food people throw down. One second ago it was harmonious, instruments playing along until one blond guy got up. It was the same guy that Bash was bullying and he happens to be doing a triangle solo. Who plays a triangle in band? Apparently that guy who is getting yelled at by the band instructor. Poor kid ran out of the gym crying.
"It stopped. Anyway, going to go clean myself off, starting to get a little too itchy." Randy said as he gets up.
"We just sat down not even thirty minutes ago." Howard whines.
"Well my coat looks a bit uneven. People can see my skin from me scratching too much," Randy shows Howard his arm.
"Ugh looks like a mixture of a rash that you spilled blueberry juice all over." Howard says in disgust, looking away from Randy.
"I know. See my problem?"
"Take your arm out of my face and go already. I'll tell you who won later." Howard said as he is entrapped in the game.
Randy goes down the steps and out of the side doors. He goes into the locker room and takes a towel, small cloth, and soap with him. He scrubs furiously on his chest first, trying to find out how long it takes to get the paint off. It is a slow process, paint chipping a bit unless it is covered in enough water then scrubs off, and he was careful with his nipples. They hut like a bitch when he accidently put the same amount of pressure as around it.
His chest is mostly red with a few flecks of blue. He'll deal with those later and his body is fully wet, meaning he won't have to scrub so hard. Y gets out of the shower to grab another small cloth—the one in his hand is blue—and he hears a noise. He ignores it and focuses on his lower back and shoulder blades. The water becomes ice cold and he jumps out of the shower.
Tentatively he puts his hand in the water, waiting for the water to become cold again. Once he feels it is hot he starts to scrub his arms.
"Hey what are you doing here? Wait is it you Randy. You were one of the blue dudes." Someone said and Randy turns to the entrance to the showers and sees a familiar brunet. It is Cory.
"Washing up, scratched myself a couple of times since I got a bit itchy. What are you doing in here?" Randy asks and Cory walks in and stops a few feet away from him.
"Toilet what did you think?"
"There is some out in the foyer." Randy says as he scrubs the back of his hand.
"Too lazy to walk all the way there. Let me tell you, you look ridiculous. Your skin is red, blue, or peach on your ass and thighs. You and Howard went all out for this."
"Of course we did. It is for the fish bowl."
"Fish bowl?"
"The area with all the cool seats with the bouncer."
"Oh, yeah. That's the fish bowl. Stupid name for a couple of seats."
Randy scrubs his other hand, "It might be, but me and Howard were going to be the first freshmen up there."
"Must have sucked then."
"Yeah." Randy says without turning around. "Can you send a message to Jacq for me. Just tell him I'm sorry about what happened on Wednesday."
Cory doesn't answer and Randy turns his head toward the entrance. He sees that he isn't there.
"Seriously?" Randy sighs and starts on his legs.
After a few minutes he turns off the hot water and throws the used wash clothes to the bin. He towels off and walks to his locker. Opening up his duffle bag, Nommi pokes his head out to take a deep breath of air.
"Those paint fumes are disgusting," he says as he gets out of the bag as Randy reaches for his underwear.
"Well lucky for you, you are going to be in my jacket."
"Yay. Now can you hurry up? I'm pretty sure you need to grab your shorts and boxers."
"You just don't want to be in the locker room because of b.o." Randy says as he puts on his jeans.
"That may be true, but at least the smell isn't bad like the perfume in the girl's locker room."
"You've been to the girl's locker room? What was it like?" Randy asks as he stares at the kwami with large eyes.
"The same as the boys in terms of architecture. Replace B.O. with perfume clouds that some girls don't know how to spray on and it is the exact same."
"How did you get in there? Wait never mind stupid question." Randy says as Nommi gives him a look. "Please tell me you didn't watch them change like you do with me Nommi. My respect for you will go down the drain."
"What!? No! Heavens no! I would never look at a young woman's body without her consent. It is fine for men to look at one another, so is women. What did you take me for a voyeur?" Nommi yells with his cheeks dark red from his fuming and his ears are twitching.
"No! Just wanted to make sure you always acted like a polite man most of the time when you aren't being rude. Don't mean to make you that angry and I was just teasing." Randy moves his hands and grabs Nommi. He strokes his head with his finger.
Nommi huffs, "Well how else would you react with that accusation? Put a shirt on too, I doubt the world cannot take another second of you being shirtless. Think of all the virgin girls who've seen you today."
Randy rolls his eyes and grabs his red shirt, "I doubt this is the first time they saw a topless dude. There is something called the beach. I would love to take you to it, but I think you would die from the heat."
"Well you can always buy me lemonade or water as I sip on my drink I will see you playing in the water and the next day see you sunburnt because you didn't listen to me." Nommi states as his holder grabs his bag and heads to the shower to get his short and boxer.
Randy grumbles under his breath about smug kwamis and how he is underappreciated. Nommi smiles before flying into his jacket as Randy walks out of the locker room. He doesn't go to the gym, instead he walks to Jacques's locker. He might as well put the note in there.
He needs to hurry. Too much time has passed. Just as he was about to get into the hallway where the locker is he hears someone scream in a classroom down another hall. He runs over there and looks inside.
There is a tall person around seven feet that looks ripped, but has a small head. Violet skin with sharp teeth and a band uniform that is stretched thin around his bulging muscles. In one of his gigantic hands is a small silver dinger he grips tight. The akuma gets close to the one of the students and Randy acts.
"Ears out!"
Immediately he rushes in to grab the student who was about to be hit by the large akuma's fist.
Hidden takes the student outside the door and he runs. He turns back to the stank'd student to see it closing in on the band instructor.
"Here is my triangle solo!" The akumatized student says as he hits the wall with the dinger.
The band instructor and Hidden holds their ears as the high pitch sound hits their ears.
'It shouldn't even be possible for that to happen,' Hidden thought as he takes a few shaky steps toward the fallen band instructor as the akuma keeps hitting the dinger.
He hits the akuma with his sword, forcing him to stop his banging. Quickly Hidden scoops up the fallen teacher and puts her over his shoulder. He bolts out of the room, he sways a bit as he runs from the akumatized Bucky.
"Where are you taking me," the band instructor yells and it does nothing to help his ringing ears.
"Anywhere that isn't here. Do you have your car keys?" Hidden shouts as he gains a lead against his pursuer.
"What?! Keys? I have them!" The band instructor yells and Hidden opens a window.
He goes through it and takes her to the parking lot. He leaves her there, she can get to her car. There are more important things to deal with, like warning everyone else of the akuma. He sees that the akuma is running outside, tearing the wall a new one. He sees that the large being is heading to the gym. Hidden grabs some dirt and heads over to the akuma. He jumps onto the shoulder and throws it into his eyes.
He could fight Bucky, but the akuma is a little too close to the gym to his liking. What is important is that he warns everyone to get away from the walls because he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. If he fights him out here the akuma ca go into the gym and cause massive damage to the area and to people.
'If only Phoenix was here or I have some way to contact him.' Hidden thought as he runs to the doors to the foyer of the gym. He bursts inside, panting a bit from running so much and carrying someone who is taller and heavier than him.
"Hey everyone," Hidden yells at the players and audience, "you guys need to get out of here! Get out from the back entrance there is-"
Hidden gets hit by some stone that the akuma grabs when he bursts through the wall. It was the size of his head and it hit his back. He staggers a bit before he touches his back.
'God it hurts like a bitch. No bleeding.' He thinks as he turns around and lifts his sword. Everyone rushes out of the gym from the other exit and Hidden dodges the large debris that the large akuma throws at him. 'Looks like he hasn't figured out that his dinger can make anyone fall to their knees.'
He jumps to the side after the last rock is thrown and jumps over the purple being that charges at him. Hidden was about to clear over him when the akuma grabs his long ears. He lifts Hidden up and roars in his face.
"Ding Strength no like it!" He yells and Hidden tries not to flinch.
"Ding Strength. That is a nice name. Sorry about that." Hidden fakes an apology as he tries to get close to the fist with the dinger in it.
"Bad rabby say sorry? Why? No, me need small thing you have." Ding Strength states as he shakes Hidden
"Ow. I have no small thing, only small thing," Hidden says, trying to convince the stupid akuma.
"Why you need small thing?"
"Man in head wants it."
"Do you want it?" Hidden asks and sees Ding Strength's face scrunch up. 'I swear I can get the thing when he least expects it. Looks like they start off as rage monsters before capable of speech.'
"No, me want triangle."
"Hey, if you set me down I can help you get your triangle." Hidden tries to convince the tall akuma with a sheepish smile.
Ding Strength drops him to the floor and Hidden massages the skin around his ears. It is a bad time to figure out that the ears are attached to his scalp.
Ding Strength yelps as he is thrown back and Hidden looks up to see four of the five feathers wrapped around his upper arms. The akuma falls to the ground with a shout and the dinger hits the ground. Another piercing sound, but at a closer range than before. Hidden bites his lip as he holds his ears.
Phoenix rushes to him and helps him up. "You okay? Took quite a fall."
"Y-yeah just peachy. Make sure that dinger doesn't hit anything." Hidden manage to say as he uses Phoenix to help him up.
"So that was the noise I heard." Phoenix muses and Hidden's eyes widen.
"Look out!"
Phoenix is punched by Ding Strength and he is sent flying a few feet. Phoenix groans out, "Should have destroyed that thing."
Hidden could barely hear his friend over Ding Strength yelling out, "That hurt mean birdie!"
The akuma pushes Hidden away as he heads to Phoenix. Phoenix gets up and gets his weapon ready. He has his winged weapon out like a shield in front of him and runs to the akuma. Hidden gets up as he sees Phoenix use the weapon to block his left fist, the one without the dinger in it. He uses one of the feathers that wraps around the right fist just as Dong Strength was about to punch him again.
His partner is careful about not letting the dinger hit the ground. The akuma uses his other hand to get the wire and metal feather off his wrist. Just as he was trying to forcefully take it off, Phoenix unleashes another feather on him, around the other wrist.
"Stop it! Want to crush birdie!" The akuma yells as Hidden gets closer to the fighting pair.
He needs to get close enough to purify the snake that comes out of the possessed dinger. Phoenix uses another feather and the tip hits the right wrist. Hidden winces as he sees the feather blade hit the skin, but there was no blood coming from the wrist. 'Must not wanted to hurt him much,' he thinks as he sees the akuma drop the dinger. Hidden holds his ears just as Phoenix uses the feather that hit Ding Strength's wrist to destroy the dinger.
There was one last piercing noise as the akuma reverts back to his human form. Hidden has his glowing white sword up and pays no attention to that, just looking for the slithering snake.
'There,' he catches a glimpse of it by the bleachers. He chases after it and his sword manages slice a bit of it. The snake turns white and disintegrates. Hidden sighs in relief and heads towards the traumatized student and his partner.
He grins at his partner before crouching down to the cowering band student who is looking nervously at the two of them. Hidden puts his sword back on his back and says, "Are you okay? Do you remember what happened? How many fingers am I holding up?" Hidden proceeds to hold up two.
Bucky puts his hands on his forehead and cheek, looking around in confusion and terror. "Wh-what is going on? I was running to the band room and then I am here?" Bucky puts his hands down and looks up at them with admiration. "Oh wow Phoenix and Bun. Two fingers Bun. You look even cooler in person Phoenix."
"Just call me Hidden band student." He says as he can feel Phoenix's presence behind him before coming beside him.
"Thanks for the complement kid. Wish some people would say that," the standing hero says stretching his arms.
"Wow two heroes talking to me! This is the greatest day of my life." Bucky gives them a look of admiration.
"Can you walk?" Phoenix asks as he holds his hand out to the ninth grader.
Bucky takes his hand and Phoenix pulls him up. Bucky is trying to steady himself and Hidden stands behind him, grabbing his shoulder to stop his shaking.
"Thanks Bun Boy, but Phoenix got me." The blonde said without turning around.
Hidden scowls and jerks his arm in the air before placing it to his side. He can see Phoenix's eye crinkling in amusement.
"His hero name is Hidden Bun," Phoenix says and Bucky turns around to the silent hero with his mouth open.
"So sorry Hidden Bun sir. Heard way too many variations of your name and even online no one really agreed on what to call you." Bucky apologizes.
"It's cool. Now don't you want to contact someone saying your safe?" Hidden asks as Phoenix moves next to him.
"Yeah! Should do that, but uh if it isn't too much trouble can I get a selfie with you two? I promise I won't post it online or anything. Maybe print it out, but yeah." He ends it there and gives them puppy eyes.
Hidden bites the inside of his cheek. He always was a sucker for that and he shrugs. He looks up to his partner who shrugs as well.
"We don't mind, but after this we got to go. We need to keep some form of mystery as super heroes," Hidden says.
"Cool!" Bucky grabs his phone out of his pocket.
He opens his camera app and the two heroes get close to one another, each putting one hand on the other's shoulder. Phoenix raises his hand with his weapon and Hidden gives a peace sign. Bucky is grinning wide even though Phoenix's beak is touching his head. The picture is taken and Bucky marvels at it.
"Thank you guys so much," he says before hugging them. "I got to call my mom know, thanks for making sure I was alright. Next time we see each other there is no rubble zing!"
The student walks away and the two heroes stand next to each other in silence.
"Well that was eventful," Phoenix says as he still has his arm around Hidden.
"Yeah," h days still feeling the tight squeeze around his waist. "I put into vote we leave right after a battle."
"I second that notion."
"I mean it isn't bad for us to get recognized, but there isn't anyone here yet."
"You are just embarrassed that he didn't know your name partner." Phoenix says as he pokes his side when he takes his arm from behind his neck.
Hidden jerks away, "No! But I would love if everyone would say my name. It's not Bun Boy or whatever they come up with. It is Hidden Bun. It was even on Heidi's website for crying out loud!"
"Just calm down. Anyway were you hurt? You took a nasty fall."
"The only thing that hurts is my ears and they are going to be hurting more after making a few calls that I'm safe from the akuma attack."
"Same. Did you know that the canals in your ears help you with your balance?"
"Huh. No I didn't know that. The more you know." The two start walking toward the big hole in the wall.
"So we are still going to talk at ten right?"
"Yep, on the roof of the library with the clock tower."
"Excellent. I will guess you want us to split up."
"On the nose Phoenix. Need to make sure everyone I was with is safe and all."
"Well see you later." With that Phoenix goes to the side of the building.
Hidden goes back inside, and heads to the entrance of the locker room before detransforming. He goes back to the hallway he was at and sees that his things are not taken. Grabbing the duffle bag, he walks over to Jacques's locker and stuffs his note inside.
There his job is finished for the day and all he has to do is call Howard to see if he is okay and get home. He takes his phone out of his pocket and massages his ears in preparation to the shouting.
End.
Phoenix waits a top the library where he and Hidden will meet shortly. He leans to the side of the building, trying to stay in the shadows. Occasionally he looks down when he hears a noise, anxiously waiting for the black and red hero.
He hears a scrap coming from the side of the building and what appears to be a hand, going off the limited light that he has from the moon. The shadow of the person gets up from side of the building and he sees Hidden. Hidden jumps when he moves a bit in the shadow, reaching behind to grab his sword before stopping. He coughs in embarrassment before straightening out and walking in front of him.
The hero who just arrives says, "Hey."
Phoenix waves his right hand with his weapon and says, "What took you so long."
"Had to explain to a couple of people I was fine and make a certain someone fruit salad before leaving through my window." Hidden immediately answers and Phoenix quirks the corner of his lip.
'He sounds a bit nervous like usual. Wish he would be at ease.' "I had to deal with the same thing. I managed to get out through the door saying I was hanging out with friends and I will call them when I'm done."
"Well that's nice. Your parents sound so chill after the attack. Anyway want to play twenty questions?"
"Twenty questions?" He asks, raising his eyebrow at the name. Weren't the two of them trying to become friends rather than fighting buddies?
"Well we don't have to so twenty questions, but ask as many of them to the other as truthfully as possible."
"Do you want to go first?"
Hidden moves to sit down on the ledge of the building and says, "I don't mind. This question has been bothering me for a while. Do you feel anything when you use Cursed Flames?"
H sits down next to him. "Well I felt that my blood is getting hotter or maybe it is the rush of power. When I feel it, I see that I have two blue flames consuming my hands and I have to direct it somewhere. Found out if I point it at something and think I can hit it the flames reach to my target. What about your ability? You said Hidden something."
"That is so bruce. Like I wish I can do that! Traits. That's the ending part of it. I think it is just me controlling the wind. I manage to put it behind my feet and I manage to go faster for a short amount of time. It's not as bruce as yours, but I want to see what else I can do with my wind."
"Your ability is bruce, maybe better than mine. It is too flashy for my tastes, but I think yours is more useful if you can get to places faster. You can save anyone."
"It just feels like the only thing I can do is run. I have this wicked sword and I want to use it. Your weapon is great for long to close combat."
"That may be true; however, I need to make sure I can take down a target a close range with my feathers. It is difficult to use the long range function to trap the akuma today."
"Well you managed to get out of their alright. Maybe the two of us can train together sometime to get a hang on our abilities and weapons." Hidden suggests.
"I would love that. Perhaps tomorrow."
"No can do. I have two hours of hell training from a demonic little bunny on top of regular training. I shouldn't have made that deal with him." Hidden complains and puts his hands on his head and slouches.
Phoenix pats his friend's back and says, "How did you manage to rope yourself into that?"
"Hey im supposed to be asking the questions here. But whatever. Well it was the only way I can go to the game." Hidden admits as he hits the wall with his feet.
"That was why your response time was fast."
"Too bad I didn't get to watch it. Was it good at least?"
"How do you know I was watching it?"
"You came after I warned everybody or lived close enough to the school to see Ding Strength bust out of the wall trying to chase the band instructor. He stopped because he got mad at me."
Phoenix chuckles, "Ding Strength. Funny name. Anyway, the game was good we were winning with six points ahead of the other team."
"That is bruce. So here's my question, can I touch your mask?"
"You already did before."
"That was just your beak, I want to touch your face."
"Odd request. Just don't poke my eye out."
"Cool. You can touch my ears if you want later."
"I will hold you to that." 'How did he know I wanted to touch them? Well at least I didn't waste a question.'
Hidden touches his mask. He starts from the tip of his beak and follows the curve all the way up to the bridge of his nose. He pokes his cheek and the mask. He can feel him trying to get his finger underneath it, but his mask is skin tight.
"Huh, did not know you were so warm. Felt weird to touch the cool mask after your cheek. Oh man did not mean to act like a creep!"
"It's fine, I'll take you up on your offer now."
Phoenix reaches over to touch Hidden's ear. He is touching the part where black turns to red subtly and he rubs it. Surprisingly the ears are soft. "Can you feel anything?" He asks as he trails down to the end of the ear.
"No, but I did find out that the base of the ears are connected to my scalp. Not a pleasant experience."
Phoenix stop and then says, "Sorry about that. Anyway, you can ask another question if you want."
"I will save my best question for last. Here's my question, what was the weirdest thing you had to do in costume?"
Difficult question, mainly because Phoenix has some close encounters. Will interviews count? No, wait it was accidentally starting a commercial and not the time when he found one of his friends dressing up weird.
"When I first started, I accidentally talked to this one guy who was apparently recording me. I said that I liked McSkinnies and I think it is going to be a commercial soon. I became a walking advertisement on accident."
"To be fair, McSkinnies are good jeans. Okay your turn."
"What do you like to do out of costume?"
"I like to go to art museums alone and play video games."
"Maybe we can co-op one day."
"That would be so bruce! We can talk about games later I got the perfect question. What do you hate? Can be a vegetable or a game. Anything."
"Eggplant, never liked it when I was young despite my parents forcing it on me. Would always cut it to smaller pieces and make them think I ate them. Same question."
"Getting up extremely early. I love to sleep and laze around in bed."
"I always thought you woke up with a lot of energy?"
"I'm not one of those batteries with the rabbit as a mascot. I get up complaining about having to get up. My next question is, do you know what happened to our procedures?"
Phoenix laughs then says, "You are so interested in the costume, but I do not know. Boxers or briefs?"
"What kind of question is that?"
"The kind that wants an answer after all this serious talk."
"Boxers." Hidden admits quickly.
"Same; although, I thought you would be a briefs guy."
"Yeah right. Is it because of my appearance now?"
Phoenix doesn't bother to answer.
"I'm taking your silence as a yes. And to think I thought you were a cool guy even without the suit on."
"You think I am cool?" 'You did say that earlier, but now,' Phoenix mischievously thought as he can making his partner, who is usually collected in the heat of battle, spaz out. He enjoys it when he can get different reactions from him.
"Well now I don't." Hidden huffs and crosses his arms lightly.
"Oh don't do this to me Hidden. Say I'm cool."
"I just did."
"Again." Phoenix whines.
"No."
He holds onto Hidden and is careful with his right hand. "Agaaaaain. I won't get off until you do." 'Sure I am acting as a child, but I have seen multiple friends do this to one another. Mostly younger than me, but a few in high school.'
"Fine, just get off me. You are cool." Phoenix gets off of Hidden and the other hero scoots away from him.
"Aw come on it wasn't so bad."
"How much do you weigh?"
"Forty-eight kilograms." Phoenix immediately answers.
"What?"
'Shoot, slip of the tongue.' "I meant one hundred and five pounds."
"You are one pound heavier than me without the weapon on then."
"Well looks like I have to slim down." Phoenix comments as he pulls at the skin on his arm.
"If you slim down you won't have those muscles." Hidden says and he reaches to slap his hand away from his arm.
"You really think that?"
"Of course I do, usually won't say anything untrue. Because apparently my grandpa is dead and my mom is finished with chemo."
Phoenix flinches, "I just wanted them off our backs."
"I know that. Anyway if anyone asks. Our families have long lifespans and occasionally our family members switch out with being our hero personas. Also we know magic because of our fire and wind thing we got going on."
"Seems like a good backstory. What would be better if both of us were like immortal with our families and only disease could kill us." Phoenix says as he grows animate, helping his friend put a story together for both of them.
"That sounds way better, but still. Our made up families do switch out with us. We could be the kids."
"Yeah and we have a lot of brothers and sisters around the world."
"That sounds nice, having a sibling."
"It is."
"You have an older brother or sister? Maybe a younger one?"
"I have an older sister. She happens to be a hairstylist." 'Well she owns a major company that usually deals with fashionistas.'
"Wow she is a hairstylist? That sounds amazing, I wonder how long that took."
"She loves to mess with people's hair when she was young. I was even her training dummy when she was young."
"Did she mess up your hair? I get the feeling she did."
"Lots of times. I have a phobia with scissors in her hand now." Phoenix recalls the past. The latest time was how Gwendolyn had a pair of scissors to his ear when he was sleeping and she kept opening and closing it. The moment he woke up and heard that sound he rolled over across his bed and onto the floor. His sister was laughing with her makeup gorgeously done and her hair styled in the latest up due the week before he came to the states.
"If it makes you feel better I have a phobia with chickens."
"I know. I wonder if you can even eat chicken."
"I do. I can handle the dead and delicious kind. I cannot stand to look at their lifeless beady looking eyes." The long eared hero shudders and Phoenix shakes his head.
His fear is justified. The first time she cut his hair he was in daycare. It turned out so bad his mother had to call someone to fix it at the end of the day. Gwendolyn was only allowed to cut her dolls hair until he was in first grade where she tried again the day before picture day. Maybe Hidden has some bad scenarios of chickens. Who is he to judge, even though he will win the traumatized competition. "Do you have any siblings?"
"No, but I want one." Hidden sadly says. "Do you have any interesting stories with your kwami?"
"I have a lot. Some of them a bad, others good. I found out that he was mostly eating the deli in the fridge whenever I'm out and it got so bad people were guarding the fridge. I don't know how he can open the door because it is thirty or forty times his height. Turns out that I got a mini fridge and it is stocked with deli, jerky, and juice for him."
Hidden is laughing at the end of his story, "Oh that hurts. Wish I had a mini fridge in my room. Well on some nights my kwami sleeps on me instead of beside me because my dad has this weird thing going on with checking up on everyone and going through each room. Only time the little guy is cute. Here is a better story. One time we almost got caught in a store and he was trying to get out. Some kid saw him and he had to pretend to be a doll. I said he was my favorite character in some anime I watch. I said I had him imported from Japan."
"You almost got discovered by a kid? Hahaha! How long was that when you became Hidden Bun?"
"It was probably week two of having my miraculous."
"Wow, that must have been something."
"Sometimes I hold it over him. Whenever he gets too annoying. He gets a bit moody and gets quiet."
"Wish we could switch kwamis for a day."
"I doubt you can rock my suit like I do. Although I could really want the respect with your suit."
"Of course you have respect. You are Hidden freaking Bun. My partner who destroys those green snakes from akumas."
Hidden sighs. "It would be nice if everyone can remember my name and actually respect me. Making fun of my tail all the damn time, like I don't know where it is. Ears I don't care, I found out I can actually use them to stop baddies and they can stretch a bit. Hurts my scalp though."
"Are you usually this unconfident?"
"I'm not unconfident I am annoyed."
"Well stop that and be proud you're a hero. Our kwamis chose us for a reason."
"Yet you are the one who wants a power swap."
"What is wrong with being curious? I want to try out your windy thing."
"You can't even if you wanted to."
"Why not? You really don't want me to be Hidden? You wound me so."
"I mean every Hidden has a special ability unique to only them. My kwami is hidden talents. My wind apparently comes from my secret talent is running."
"I wonder what my talent is."
"Whatever you can do that you are good at. Usually you don't do it often, or don't do it around other people."
"What I got from that is that you don't like to run around others."
"Used to not bother before becoming Hidden. Anyway let's get down to our last questions. Which is better, ninjas or cowboys?"
"Easy cowboys."
"Blasphemy! Ninjas are better than cowboys because of all the bruce weapons. They sneak around everywhere and assassinate their targets."
"No cowboys are better. They aren't some farmers who took up arms with their tools. They are honorable people who have guns and rides horses. Do ninjas ride horses? No. Cowboys always help young women who are caught by worse people and are the heroes."
"Ninjas can beat cowboys in close combat."
"Well cowboys can kill ninjas from meters away."
"But-"
"But nothing. Cowboys can last in hot climates and have bruce hats. Do ninjas have hats, no they don't. Therefore cowboys are better."
Hidden opens his mouth and then closes it. Phoenix nods his head, another argument won by him.
"I want a rematch later."
"We can if you tell me who you are and we can exchange numbers."
"I-" he starts to hold his head and chest. Hidden coughs violently and Phoenix holds him, afraid he will fall off the roof. He pulls him to the roof and holds him up. He thumps his back and he feels Hidden collapse on him.
Phoenix's eyes widen and he tries to think up of ways to wake him up. 'Should I slap him awake? Get him water? Do I have to go to a hospital? What do I have to do? Oh thank goodness he is waking up.'
"Hidden you okay? Do you have a health problem?" Phoenix asks as he tries to steady his partner.
Phoenix is shoved by the hero who just fainted. He stumbles a bit and sorts himself before saying, "What the heck is your problem? I was trying to help you."
"No you aren't trying to help him. There is a reason why you humans cannot tell each other your identities. Stop pushing my wielder to say his name." Hidden, no his kwami said.
Hidden's hands are on his waist and he can see him glaring at him. His eyes are a different color under the moonlight, different from before when he first came up.
"I was just asking, there is nothing wrong with that." Phoenix says trying to find safe words around the kwami possessing Hidden.
The kwami snaps, "Well you are going to harm my kit, he is still young and ignorant to dangers of revealing his name."
With that the kwami in Hidden's body jumps off the roof and hurries to the west. Well that was what Phoenix saw, but he can barely make out what Hidden looks like, as the kwami in his body is avoiding the street lamps.
'What the hell just happened?' Phoenix thought as he jumps down from the library.
Seeing what happened with Hidden gives him the shivers. Could Tennu do that to him as well? He detransforms behind a tree and walks down a street to go to his caretaker's home. Tennu is silent as he floats next to him.
"You going to say anything," Jacques says, waiting for his kwami to answer.
The kwami of fire sighs and groans. He mumbles to himself something that he couldn't catch and then says, "Sorry about that kid, should have warned you about what Hidden Bun's kwami can do. Must have given you a shock."
"Can you do that?" He asks the question plaguing his thoughts. What if he couldn't control his body anymore in the middle of the fight? That he is acting different. Would he be aware of the takeover or not?
"Hell no and even if I could I wouldn't. What Mr. Serious did could have harmed his wielder. Sure there were times where he would silence him in his own way, but never mind." Tennu stops himself and huffs.
"Never mind what?! Will he be alright and why did he do that?"
"Relax, your little friend will be alright. He will be confused and I wonder how he will talk himself out of that one. It is obvious what the kwami of hidden talents did, he temporary took over control of his body. Kid probably mutters to himself or something for that to happen. Few of his wielders did that back in the day and he can manifest himself like that."
"But why. It was an innocent question to know who he is. We could hang out in real life and talk to one another."
"Look Jacques listen to me. As innocent as that is, in the past we didn't mind the two of you knowing each other's identity. We in fact pushed for it, but when one of our wielders found out that the kid he picks on was his partner he did not take it well. Well the poor victim did. We both had to convince them to actually work together." Tennu admits as he floats ahead of Jacques.
The two walk together in silence as Jacques head is filled with questions. 'Is that what happened to the ones before us, or was a different set of heroes? Are they still alive? Will Hidden be alright? Should I mention anything to him? No, that would just freak him out. Does Tennu have other abilities that he is keeping secret?'
A/N: Bucky just wants to be a strong triangle player who can daze the audience, which is why I made him look like a buff triangle player who can't speak well. Purple because I am paying some homage to his original monster form. All characters who were stank'd in the show will have some link in here. His name is stupid, and I am sorry for that, but I needed to put something down. Howard would have gotten something equally ridiculous, but thankfully he didn't say his name.
Nommi, you can't just butt in whenever someone is having a moment with Randy that isn't you. It is not cool man, not cool. You already have two hours of his undivided attention tomorrow. Okay, enough of the light hearted tone. There are reasons for this that I can't explain now, but because this happened I can get Nommi to do his doodle thing with the words in future battles. Fair warning for that folks. I really love writing tensions for soon-to-be-ships kind of funny and it makes people second question themselves.
Jacques is a touchy person in my head and if Randy sees something that bothers him he will go into their personal space. Those traits are based off of real people and at least Randy has the decency to warn a guy.
I don't know why but I find it difficult to write this chapter. It took longer than I expected due to two days I could barely work on it since my little cousin has grabby hands, and when I first started it I had five pages I ended up not liking. Also, I have no idea what to put as a topic for the surprise essay. Just there because I think Mr. Bannister needs something to assess his students' writing capabilities.