That's right, I'm finally back to typing this fic again. Regularly, I mean it this time. I know I have been neglected this fic, but I swear I'm getting back into typing this. Weekly, if I can manage. So yeah, I'm back, guys. Hiatus after gods-knows-how long is finally over, now that I finally got some motvation to get to this fic up and running again since I feel unsatisfied if it ends abruptly. And it's good to be back ^^
Welp, lets get back to where we were left off from, right? Here's to running this fic again!
Disclaimer: Tiger and Bunny is under the rights of Viz Media. I am only fulfilling a request.
Now lets get this chapter rolling!
~Episode Ten: When All is For Not~
It was surprisingly quiet the Heroes' lounge room with all eight members of the organization gathered in there. Pondering, calculating, all of them tried to think of something to get them out of the mess they had teetering under Sternbild. Literally.
"Isn't there something we can do, Miss. Agnes?" Asked Dragon Kid as she sat between Blue Thorn and Origami Cyclone, communicating with Agnes on her wrist communicator.
"Not yet," Agnes huffed. "But I'll let you know when I get more information from the higher-ups." She left them with that, Natalie sighing in worry from her seat.
"Oh, then what are we supposed to do? Just sit by and let these bastards do as they please?" She asked in distress.
"Even with all our abilities, I still can't believe that there's nothing that we can do." Muttered Antonio, crossing his arms. From his seat, Keith shook his head.
"No, I'm positive that there's still something we can do!" He argued. "We just have to be patient and wait until the next plan is thought of."
Side-by-side, Katsuko and Barnaby were silent, changed from their armor and still mulling over what they had witnessed back from the rain of Ouroboros' cards. Katsuko remembered the threat made to the city, the serious business they were now wrapped up in. And yet, even with that kind of pressure weighing over her shoulders, she knew that the heaviest toll was taken on Barnaby.
She could see him hold back his anger as his fists trembled at his sides. Biting her bottom lip, she reached out and took one of his wrists gently, wincing when he flinched. "Bunny, calm down," She spoke softly, watching his tense shoulders relax a little. "You have to understand what we're up against here. People's lives are at risk-"
"You think I don't know that?!" Barnaby shouted, startling everyone in the room. Katsuko reeled back, as if she had been burned. Her partner had yelled at her constant times before but for some reason, it ached her to her very core this time.
"C'mon, you two, this isn't the time for us to be fighting each other." She heard Antonio sigh.
"Wild Bison's right," Blue Thorn agreed. "This is the time where we need to pull together."
With a "hmph" under his breath, Barnaby strode out of the room wit his helmet under his arm, the sliding doors shutting behind him.
"What's got him in a mood?" Antonio asked with a raised brow. With a giggle, Katsuke waved her hands in dismissal with a grin.
"Ah, he's probably mad from what I told him a while ago."
"What did you tell him?"
"What the "Kat" in my name means."
Everyone stared. They all blinked once, twice, even thrice for some, before Kyle broke the ice.
"Uh, what?"
"You guys don't know either?" Katsuko placed a hand on her hip and pointed one finger in the air to explain. "You see, while my name means, "Victorious child," the "kat" in there sounds like "cat." Get it? Cat? Wild cat? Wild Tigress?!" She threw her head back as she laughed, slapping her knee. "O-Oh man! It still gets me every time!"
"Really?" Antonio shook his head. "Why would you bring up something like that at a time like this?"
"It's one of your biggest blunders, I'll tell you that." Sighed Kyle in annoyance.
"I-It is rather inappropriate." Iva stuttered. With that sort of sting, Wild Tigress chuckled nervously and nodded, scratching the back of her head.
"I-I guess you guys are right. I'm gonna go an apologize. An annoyed Bunny is better than a mad Bunny, right? See ya!" She hurried away from the room, quicker than anyone would have expected her to.
"Geez, now the both of them are acting weird," Kyle frowned. "Getting mad over something like that. It's unbelievable."
"I think it's a lot more than that, sweetums." Cocking his brow, Kyle looked at Natalie from the corner of his eye, wondering why that solemn look crossed her flared and sparkled features.
"Hey, Bunny wait up!"
The blonde nearly did come to a stop when he heard Katsuko's voice barreled after him. But with all of his thoughts running through his mind, they fueled him to keep walking, to try and block out those up-beat calls. Finally, when he heard boot-clad footsteps drawing closer, her stopped and waited until the brunette was a step away from him.
"H-Hey, where are you going-"
"I'm sorry about that, when I yelled at you."
He could feel the surprised look on her face.
"I kind of lost it back there," He confessed. "I know you're only trying to trying to help." He sighed, continuing his trek down the steps, leaving Katsuko with a rapid pulse and a clueless stupor.
Alone in the restroom, Barnaby cupped running water with his hands and splashed it onto his face, the cold feeling easing him. Yet when he met his molten, green eyes in his reflection, he punched the glass with a growl, the cracks splitting around his hand like a spider's web.
"Right when I had the bastard. . ." He muttered, throwing his head one way as the alarms began to ring through out the building. Looks like more trouble was heading their way.
"There's been another emergency," Agnes reported as she and the camera crew maned the HERO TV copter. "One of the power suits attacked a support beam in East-Bronze. Sky High and Blue Thorn, head to the scene immediately."
The two heroes dashed out as soon as they were told, Blue thorn whipping out his communicator.
"What do you want us to focus on?" Kyle asked.
"Ignore the power exo-suits. Just focus on protecting civilians and prevent wide-spread panic."
With a nod, the boy dashed out to follow Keith, Katsuko grabbing her helmet to do the same.
"I'm going with them-"
"Stay put, Tigress!"
The brunette dug her heels to stop herself, looking at the intercom in surprise.
"Wait, why?" She asked, surprised.
"There could be another attack. I need everyone to be on standby just in case." Explained her boss. Katsuko threw her hands in the air.
"What?! We need to take action now!" She argued. "What's taking so long to make a decision?!"
Agnes crossed her arms and sighed, cutting away from the heroes as she looked over the reports streaming across the city. Every camera planted in each district, recording the actions and terror the power exo-suits (as they decided to call them) were causing. Raking her her manicured nails through her hair, she gave a growl.
"Hate to say it, But Tigress is right. We can't just wait for the next attack," She muttered. She jumped when the screen flashed over to the dark room with the smirking young boy and the silent man, the boy spinning his parasol.
"We've been waiting," He purred, tilting his head. "Waiting for someone in charge to respond to our demands. Perhaps you don't believe that we're serious."
Agnes glared back at him, wanting to wring his neck.
"Our next attack will be in one hour, at eleven o' clock," He informed, the remaining heroes gathered around the wide-screen in the lounge. "We'll decide on a location by rolling a pair of dice-"
"To Hell if I'm gonna sit around and let that happen," With a huff, Katsuko sprinted out of there before the other heroes could realize it, the brunette calling over her shoulder. "C'mon, Bunny! I know you want to be in on this, too!"
Agnes would have suspected that the blonde would ignore Katsuko at first, but she let out a curse as the rookie chased raced after his partner, the duo set on traveling to wherever they were planning to go. Muttering, she switched one of her cameras to the Sternbild City Council room, where all top seven sponsors and important figures of the city were gathered to address the Ouroboros crisis.
"Ladies and gentlemen," She addressed as her face appeared on the main hologram screen of the room. "I've deployed Blue Thorn and Shy High as you requested. But we have one little problem-"
And the one problem herself kicked the doors open with a growl, storming into the room with her supposed boyfriend at her side, Katsuko's eyes blazing through the eye holes of her mask.
"How can you big wigs just sit on your asses while lives are in danger, huh?" She shouted, ignoring the surprised looks crossing over their faces, her boss groaning in the background. "If you think I'm just going to be the poster-girl you want me to be, then you're dead-wrong! We heroes are supposed to be out there and protecting the city! You're suppose to let us handle Jake and his gang, not sip tea and wait for it to all blow over! It's so freakin' stupid if all of this is to protect your. . . Aw, damn," She stopped her rant to think of her next word. "Man, what was the word? It's right on the tip of my tongue. . . Self-something-"
"Self interest?" Barnaby suggested.
"Uh, yeah! That thing!" Katsuko snapped back into rage mode. "There's no point in beating around the bush! You all have friends and family in the city, right?" She asked as she strut herself around the table, hitting all of them where it hurt with her words. "Don't any of you want to protect them?! Because the time to make a decision is skating on thin ice as we speak. Its time you rise above your own. . . Whatevers!"
"Self-interests."
"That, too!"
"I have to say- even though my partner has explained herself that well- ("Bunny, how dare you ruin my awesome speech?! Bad Bunny! No carrots for din-din!") -She does have a point." Barnaby could feel the hair at the back of his neck stand on end when Judge Petrov gazed at Katsuko when she spoke passionately, the blonde instantly wrapping his arm around her waist, a smug look hidden away as the board members looked surprised, his partner squeaked, and Yuri gave an annoyed smile. "Innocent people are in the line of danger as we speak and we can't afford to loose any time. Please, allow us to handle the crisis before any casualties are made."
"Wasn't that touching, ladies and gentlemen? It's no wonder why these two are Sternbild's number one couple," The super duo spun around, watching with gritted teeth as the man who was with the boy wit the parasol walk in wit a gun held to an innocent security guard's head. "We got tired of waiting for an answer from you 'big-shots,'" He gave a water-downed smirk. "That's why I'm here to work out the deal for your surrender."
"You're one of the members of Ouroboros!" Excalimed the mayor, Katsuko grabing Barnaby's wrist before he could growl at the name. Now was not the time for rich boy to jump into conclusion-
"Yes, you're more well-educated than you're given credit for, Mr. Mayor. You may call me Hans Chuckman." He chuckled, pressing the barrel of the gun harder to the security guard's head.
-However, Katsuko wasn't a rich girl so that didn't stop her for categorizing herself as, "not-to-jump-into-conclusion'.
"How dare you barge in here like you own the place?!" She snapped at him, releasing herself from Barnaby and marching right up to Hans, narrowing her eyes when he merely laughed at her.
"Shouldn't the same be said to you?" He asked as he strolled past her like she was nothing, drawing his attention to the board members. "So, have you've made your decision yet? We're all very busy people here, so why don't we just cut to the chase, shall we?" He glared at them when all he got was a volley of them trying to make arguments or excuses. "I don't think any of you realize the situation you are in," He growled. "Unless you free Jake from prison, then unnecessary bloodshed will be on your hands!"
"W-We were hoping to make some sort of accommodations-!"
"Fool! Don't you know that we don't have time for "deals"?" Tsk'ed Hans with the security guard still in his headlock. "You've been offered one final chance to surrender. There's no use trying to buy time, ladies and gentlemen. It's time our demands were met."
"Attention, citizens of Sternbild. We now bring you an important message by the mayor."
Everyone who was bought into the relief/evacuation area of the city looked at the big screen hanging off one of the main city buildings as the mayor appeared, looking a little uncomfortable but trying to stand firmly to not cause more panic.
"Ladies and gentlemen, reassured, we are handling the epidemic as calmly and quickly as we can. However, it seems that the board of sponsors and I have no other choice but to give into the demands. In the course of half an hour, we will be releasing Jake Martinez."
With the old metal gates of Sternbild's top detention center, Jake walked out through the gate with the stormy wind blowing through his long hair. He was given a change of clothes but he didn't feel right in them. He was going to be sure to jazz-up up his wardrobe when he was carried away from this Hell-hole, knowing that he had better places to be besides there. He noticed who was waiting for him, a smirk drawn on his lips.
"Should've known you were up to this, Kryme."
The boy with the parasol grinned back, his hat held to his chest. "So sorry you had to wait for your rescue, Mr. Jake. If you'll follow me this way, we'll be off to the rendezvous point in no time."
Jake smirked, knowing this boy ever since he was a teenager and taking him under his wing since then. He was every bit of a psycho as he was, despite his innocent-looks and impish sense of style. "How did you do this is what I want to know."
With a giggle, Kryme pressed a finger to his own lips and winked. "Sorry, 'dad'. It's a secret."
"Geez," Jake shook his head as he ruffled the boy's hair with a lazy grin. "When did I ever go raising my kid to be a sneaky criminal?"
"I learned from the best."
Another grin was stirred. "That's my boy."
"Jake has left the prison and is being escorted by a helicopter. The question is; has the crisis been aborted?"
"We won't know that until we wait for a while." Sighed Antonio as he, Natalie, Katsuko, and Pao-Lin were gathered in one of the lounges.
"Once they've withdrawn their force and the people are safe, then we'll make our move." Said Katsuko with her hands on her hips, still dressed in her bodysuit.
"I just hope she's going to be alright," Said Pao-Lin. "No one else would have the guts to do this and since it's her-"
"Now, now, don't go doubting our little princess of anime," Cooed Natalie, though she did look serious. "Just as long as they don't catch on to what we've done, everything should be fine."
Someone behind them gave a grunt, Barnaby and Katsuko the only ones looking at the tied-down and beaten Hans Chuckman. No one else, from the heroes' point to the criminals', would believe that there were two Hans Chuckmans at the moment.
"Want a drink?"
The Hans driving the stolen helicopter nearly tensed at the question but shook his head when he gathered his bearings. His red-painted nose almost wrinkled at the shot glass held out to him.
"Better not, I'm at the controls." He replied, looking back at the skyscape with his hands almost trembling at the controls. Jake pouted at him, sitting back with the shot.
"You're so serious, my friend." He sighed. Hans held back a sigh as his eyes opened, slightly glowing light blue with NEXT powers before they sealed again. He recalled what occurred a few hours ago. When he was just a meek Russian girl who wanted to do her part.
"What do you think you're going to accomplish by keeping me here?!" Barked the true Chuckman, tied to a chair with the strongest steel ropes holding him, bruises along his face from the vicious beating Tigress and Bunny laid on him. It was easy enough to apprehend him, since he was't a NEXT himself. "The City's about to sink." He added with a mutter. Surprisingly, one of the smallest of the heroes stepped up to him and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"We're well aware of that," Iva replied softly, her eyes just as matching her tone. "That's where come in." Right before his eyes, the Russian took on his very appearance, everything from his squinting eyes to his red and white dreadlocks replicated. Hans could only stare in a mix of awe and terror.
"I'm sorry you have to do this," Barnaby truly was as the younger blonde transformed back into her original form. Iva was so young, so full of life. He knew the kind of danger they were putting her in would end up killing her if it all went bad. "But I'm sure that you're the only one we can rely on." He then added as his conscious got the better of him. " Of course, if thing's go wrong, we could-"
"I'm fine," Iva interrupted, wincing at the volume of her own tone before she added gently. "After all, I am still a hero."
Barnaby spared a small smile her way, to which the younger blonde returned. "Besides," She continued. "It is only something I can do right?" With that, she morphed back into Chuckman and made her way to the door.
"Hey, Origami."
Iva stopped, turning to her senior heroine as the brunette handed her wrist-communicator. "Oh, thank you, Miss. Tigress!"
Katsuko nodded in return, reaching over to squeeze Iva's temporary broad shoulder.
"If anything happens, you know what to do. Send us a distress call and we'll come running," Katsuko felt just as antsy as Barnaby. She would never forgive herself if something bad happened to the young heroine, so she hoped with everything she had that Iva would be alright. "And, Iva. . . Be careful, please."
"Goodness, you really are a mother," As much as she tried to lighten the mood, Origami Cyclone felt the nervous knot in her stomach tighten. "But, I promise. I'll accomplish my mission and come back safely."
"We hope so," Mr. Maverick bowed to her. "All hope now relies on your abilities. Do your best, Origami Cyclone."
The shape-shifter nodded in return, opening her eyes as they shined a brilliant-blue."
"Have there been any updates?"
Agnes glued her eyes to the screens that were decorated around the HERO TV news van, watching for anything that could be good or bad for them.
"No, sir, there has been no movement." She sighed. "None what-so-ever."
"I see," Mr. Maverick sighed in return as he sat with the other CEOs in the board room, all of them sitting at the edge of their seats. Like an epidemic, everyone was slowly succumbing to a state of worry and panic as they waited for something, anything, to let them know what was going on.
"What's happening?! Why isn't anything happening?!" Barnaby was slowly falling into that state as well, the blonde lifting their own hostage high into the air as his own eyes threaten to crack into an icy-blue.
"Don't ask me!" Hans coughed as he was only lifted higher. "I have no idea what they plan to do next! I wasn't informed!" He let out a pained yelp as he was shoved to the ground, wild green eyes looking down at him as Barnaby pinned his arm right into his windpipe, the latter looking ready for bloodshed.
"Barnaby! Calm down, or you'll kill him!"
"I am calm," The blonde growled, his voice dangerously low. "Answer me, damnit! What are their plans?! Why are they doing this?! Why do they have to make others suffer like me?!"
"Bunny!" A hand grabbed his shoulder and hauled him up, his head sent whipped in another direction as he was slapped right across the face. Natalie shrieked, others gasped, some only looked at Katsuko in shock. "Pao-Lin said to calm down, Bunny." She muttered, taking him by the shoulders. The next second, she was suddenly hugging him tightly, caging his arms at his sides to hold him still. "So please. . . Calm down, Bunny."
His cheek stung, a red-handprint burning his cheek as he remained frozen for a second. He then huffed, pulling himself away from his partner and storming out of the room in a huff with a curt, "I need some fresh-air."
When he felt his cheek begin to sting again, he sighed and closed his eyes in annoyance.
"Leave me alone. I don't want to talk to you." Grumbled Barnaby as he stood near the railing of the roof, Katsuko stopping in her tracks for a split second. She looked around, noticing that the winds were a bit rowdy that day, as rowdy as the blonde's behavior, but she merely laughed and joined her partner in his silence, soon munching into the small, creamed-filled eclair she bought for lunch. She ate it happily, earning a side-glare from an annoyed rabbit.
"Can't you take a hint?"
"'Leave me alone. I don't want to talk to you.'" Katsuko shot his attitude right back at him, giggling. Barnaby would have rolled his eyes, if they weren't widening when something sweet was pushed past his lips, the blonde nearly chocking on chocolate and vanilla cream.
"Mnph?!"
"Stuff you're face with comfort food and let those holes in your stomach be filled." Barnaby shot daggers at the "wild cat" who said that. "I know, I know. Comfort food won't help the situation but it does numb away some of it. Even for just a while." She said.
Barnaby gulped down the remainder of the sweet treat, his glare wearing off a bit. Even if this was weird, he wouldn't put it past Katsuko to try and use this way to cheer him up. "You really won't let up, will you?" He sighed, rustling some of his golden curls as he scratched the back of his head. "Look. . . Sorry for back there. I lost it again."
"Eh, don't worry about it," Replied Katsuko as she crumpled her paper lunch bag into a small wad, tossing it once in the air before cursing as the wind sent it flying off the building. "Even cool and clean-cut guys like you need to blow off some steam." After realizing what she said, she blushed and shot him a look. "Don't get a big head about that."
"Wouldn't dream of it." He was smiling this time, though, reaching over and wiping off a dot of cream that was left on Katsuko's lips. He regretted it, knowing that his own cheeks were flushing pink like Katsuko's were, the both of them surprised of what he did. "Uh-"
"M-Man, you're secretly a neat-freak, huh?!" Katsuko tried to slap away the awkwardness as hard as she slapped Barnaby on the back, the latter grunting at the force of the kind gesture. Composing herself, Katsuko flashed him a smile and gave him a thumbs-up. "Never hurts to rely on others, you know? If you ever need anything, just ask, lil' Bunny."
The wind was rustling up her hair, Barnaby distinctively remembering that night he saw the older woman's hair down. Some of the locks that were bounded into the form of cat ears flew with the wind, nearly enchanting him. Why were there times like this when he actually saw how beautiful she was. He gulped, opening his lips. "K-Kat-"
"Katsuko! Barnaby!" The blonde dodged Katsuko's "ears" swatting him in the face, the young man sending a glare Antonio's way as he appeared at the top step. "We got a problem. C'mon!" His anger toned down, and he and Katsuko followed him as quickly as they could.
The anger was bought back immediately.
Jake had gotten wind of the negotiations and, deciding to take the role as the "God" he thought he was, he announced that he would not be releasing the hostages of the City yet, finding it hilarious that he was released to spare the lives of human. It was obvious he had no care for anyone, unless those who could interest him for a few measly moments.
With a sigh, Maverick hung up the phone on the last reporter that hounded after him, turning his chair over to Sterbild's power couple, the both of them dead-serious.
"You wanted to see us, sir?" Barnaby asked, his arm encircled around Katsuko's waist. For some reason, even without the cameras or reporters around them, he knew that this felt right. For Katsuko, it was a comforting gesture. She would accept it, for now.
HERO TV's brightly colored logo flashed over every screen on Sternbild, Mr. Maverick appearing with a professional yet apologetic look.
"Citizens of Sternbild. As you all know, our fair city is going through a terrorist attack. The mayor had his best interest for the entire city's safety, so he acted as he could and released Jake. However, as we expected, Ouroboros refused and foiled our attempts. I know you must all be angry and dissatisfied, as are we. But shouldn't those feeling's be directed at the terrorists and their leader, Jake Martinez?"
"There is one hero who feels this way. A hero who has waited his whole life to find this group and direct swift justice upon them. I've asked him to appear and be before you, my dear people, as I tell you his reasons for becoming a hero. Please. . . Stand up, if you will."
A collective gasp was left out by all watching as Barnaby appeared on the screen. Katsuko stood far off, away from the cameras, biting her bottom lip in worry. 'Bunny. . .' This was all Maverick's idea. And she didn't approve of it. Not one bit. Barnaby had a right to his privacy and it didn't have to be revealed to the public just to get a few tears. This was worse than pouring salt onto his wounds. The brunette eyed her partner carefully. What was going through his head? Would he loose himself? Breakdown? Become as crazy as he did when he tried to get answers out of Chuckman and that fake elevator maintenance man? She held her breath, ready to spring into action just in case.
"As you may have noticed, he is the only hero who has kept his real identity open to the public. Well, it is time you know the truth; After a tragic childhood accident that involved his parents, this young man took a courageous and dangerous path. He took on his father's name, Barnaby Brooks Jr. in order to evoke a war. A war against the man who took his parent's lives twenty years ago. The very man he saw as he was surrounded by a veil of death and ash; Jake Martinez"
"He shares the same anger as all of you, perhaps even more, against Jake and his organization. Everything he has done in his life has been in anticipation of this moment."
There was silence, save for the clicks and flashes of the cameras as reporters gathered in the press room. One of them then spoke up, clearing his throat.
"Mr. Brooks, can you confirm that all of this is true?" He asked, all eyes on the rookie. Barnaby turned is gaze over to Katsuko, his "girlfriend" simply staring at him, no exactly giving him a straight answer. But then he remembered; he was on this stage by himself. As the superhero, as a man who had to prove his story and somehow inspire people with it.
"Yes," He finally said, the cameras flashing brighter. "It is. Every single word of it. I've dedicated myself to capturing Jake and his compatriots and saving this city from the threat of terrorists."
The flashing lights nearly blinded him, his eyes watering behind his glasses. Were they watering from the bright light, or were the emotions he held back for so long flooding back into him like a broken dam? He checked to see Katsuko again, in search for some way to keep his eyes from watering. They didn't stop watering.
Wild Tigress had vanished. And with her, she took another piece of Barnaby's heart.
"It's me," Iva was curled up behind one of the large cargo boxes that was kept in Jake's hideout. She was able to excuse herself from the two psychopaths and find a place were she could report herself to the others. She whispered as quietly as she could, every part of her screaming that Jake could see everything. "I was able to infiltrate Jake's hideout."
"That's amazing, Origami!" She would have blushed if she wasn't a burly man with dreadlocks. Sky High was really too kind. "We couldn't have done this without you! Thanks, and thanks again!"
"Y-You're too much," She sighed before shaking her head, getting back to the point. "I just need to find out what powers the exo-suits. I'll report to you when I do and return as soon as I can."
"Alright. Watch your back at all times, Origami."
"Come back safely and I'll make sure to give you a big kiss, darling!"
The shape-shifter scratched the back of her head. "R-Right. Well, I have to go. Over and out." She switched the bracelet off before Natalie could whine, shaking her head with a small smile. She was definitely surrounded by strange people. Strange, but nice people. She slid her red glove over her wrist just a shadow crept up behind her.
"Hey, Chuckman," Iva nearly jumped when she heard Jake's voice, taking a breath before she looked over her shoulder and saw a choppy and punkish-style that was now Jake's hair, pink and orange locks intermingling. "Nice haircut, yeah? I think it compliments me, now that I'm out of prison. Savvy?"
"Ah, yes," With Hans' voice, the young NEXT nodded. "It suits you very well, sir."
"I think so, too. Makes me look like one of those heroes!" His voice was rasped. Iva noticed it could become that way whenever he got excited. She watched him as he flipped through this month's issue of MONTHLY HERO, roaming his eyes over everyone's article. "Heroes are great, aren't they? They look so cool. Hey, Chuckman, what do you think of heroes?"
Iva stood completely still as he spoke, trying to play the part of the silent henchman as his rant went on.
"Right after Legend and all those NEXT who sided with the humans, I just couldn't understand any of it, and I'll admit that I don't understand a lot of it now. I mean, even this sorry lot they got to protect the city is pathetic. A boy who can make ice and a girl who could make a few sparks. Fire, super-strength, power that only lasts for five minuets? Tch, I've seen more fearsome creatures in video games. And look what we got here, the King of Heroes himself! Or should I say, the King of Airheads?"
Iva clenched her fists at her sides, holding herself back from socking the man right in the jaw. If she exposed herself now, it could be all over. But how could she just stand there while he was badmouthing the person who helped her take the first step of breaking out of her shell?
"Ooh, now this is what I'm talking about," She flickered her gaze over to another page, catching the gasp in her throat when she saw a familiar fan and kimono pattern. "Eh? Right, Chuckman? I'd definitely want her to side with me. Her powers are going to waste with those loser heroes, and she's not too hard on the eyes either. Damn, I'd want to tap that. Right, Chuckman?" He rounded over to his "henchman," a smirk crossing his lips when he saw breads of sweat gathering on his painted forehead. "Hey, why are you shaking?" Iva's eyes widened again as Jake's turned an eerie, glowing orange. Resembling a full-moon on a terrible night. "You're sweating like a pig."
With a startled yelp, Iva's frighten nature took over for a second, turning her into original form. With a gasp, she leaped up to the nearest building, only to be bought hurdling down when Jake sent a bold of blue energy at her, cracking the roof right under her. She landed in a pile of debris and garbage, narrowing her eyes as a rolled up magazine was tapped along her forehead.
"Heroes aren't suppose to run away, right?" Jake asked, forcibly grabbing her by her chin and yanking her up, the blonde gritting her teeth in pain. "Hmm. You're even cuter than your photo, especially without your mask. What do you say, baby?" Her frighten expression reflected in his orange eyes. "Wanna play?"
"Point-nineteen of North Bronze. Thanks to Origami Cyclone's cover-work, we were able to pin-point the location of Jake's hideout."
A round of applause was given to Agnes by Sternbild's top sponsors, the mayor looking the proudest as he beamed at all the heroes that were their with them, all of them dressed and ready for anything.
"Heroes, you've done great work!" He praised. "I knew the people of Sternbild could count on you."
Iva wretched her chin out of the man's grasp and slid back, whipping out one her fans to protect herself.
"A paper fan?" Jake found it amusing. As well as pathetic. "Cute. Guess it goes well with your costume, huh, doll face?" He 'task'ed' as the fan was waved this way and that, the steel edge of it sharp enough to slit a man's throat and this one. "Ooh, sharp toy. Guess you like to play rough." He on;y had to pull out his finger, his entire being glowing as orange as his eyes as he leaned forward and whispered. "Lets play rough then, babe."
"So we'll launch a surprise attack on his hideout?"
"Easy there, Dragon Kid. If we go charging in, it could demolish the city at the snap of Jake's fingers."
"Good point, hottie," Fire Emblem agreed as the group gathered at the entrance to Apollo Media, deciding what to do now that they knew Jake's whereabouts. However, coming up with a plan with this information wasn't as easy as they thought. "We first need to find a way on how to take out those powered exo-suits."
"So that means we just have to wait until Origami Cyclone makes her report." Sighed Blue Rose, tilting his crown one way.
Wild Tigress nodded, her arms crossed over her chest. "Looks like it."
"May I suggest something?" Asked Sky High. "What if we do a little recon of the hideout, get a good look of it ourselves before we launch the actual attack?"
"Hey, that could actually work," Rock Bison agreed. "But, we shouldn't send a big group or something, or else the terrorists would see us for sure."
"If that's the case, then I'll go."
Everyone looked at Barnaby, everyone a little stunned.
"By yourself?"
"Yes. I have to." He nodded without hesitation, looking at the sky. "I promised the people of Sternbild that I would do everything in my power to stop Jake and Ouroboros. And I have every intention of fufilling that promise." The silence that followed after him was maddening, but then Sky High nodded.
"I agree with him. Barnaby should be our scout." Whatever arguments that wanted to be said were not bought up. After all, no one made an argument with the King of Heroes. "You shall lead us. Investigate the inside while we man the outside."
"Thank you." Replied Barnaby, about to take off before Katsuko spoke up.
"Bunny, I think I should go with you." She reached out to grab his shoulder. "You might go crazy again if you see Jake. C'mon, just to be safe-"
"It'd be more safe if you just stayed with the others." He cut her off just as she opened her mouth, pulling away from her before she could reach him. The look she sent him pained him a little more. There went another piece of his heart. "You have to trust me."
Katsuko wanted to groan. Why did he have to play that card against her, to say that so seriously that he meant it with all that he was. Even if she wanted to say no, she knew she couldn't. Not when this was something Barnaby waited so long for. With a sigh, she took a step back and nodded, looking to the ground as she felt the vibrations he sent to it, the "bunny" having just taken off with a kick to the ground. It wasn't long before she and the other's began to take off, the brunette clenching her fists.
Barnaby landed on the grounds of Jake's hideout as quietly as he could, reporting that he made it to the site before he carefully walked over to the largest building he saw, peeking through. At first, all he could see were exo-suits covered by a large tarp. The next thing he saw came staggering up the stairs, his teeth grinding as he saw a figure he saw in his nightmares for the past twenty years.
"You. . .!" He snapped, barreling forward with all his might, his arms outstretched to grab the man when a green blur reached Jake before he could, dashing Barnaby of all his anger. It came back like a re-opened wound, along with shock as he saw it was Katsuko, the latter placing Jake on the ground. "Old bag-!"
"Relax, Bunny." Katsuko felt proud of herself. Tired, but proud of herself. "I caught him."
"You don't get it-!"
A chaotic, twisted form of laughter rang through the air, the heroes looking in horror as the "Jake" they caught turned completely blue and transformed into Iva, her body suit nearly torn up and a few bruises along her cheeks, the Russian in obvious pain.
"Iva!" Katsuko dropped to her knees and looked over the young girl, looking up when she heard the laughter get closer and her and Barnaby glaring up at the real Jake and Kryme as they sat on top of a cargo box.
"Look at that! They actually fell for it!" Laughed Jake.
"You called it, Mr. Jake." Kryme giggled as his leader flipped through the magazine in his hands, looking over the two.
"Lets see, lets see here. Ah! You!" He smirked down at Wild Tigress as she stayed close to Iva, a growl stirring from her throat. "Wild Tigress, I guess? Or would you like to be called, "The Bitch Who can't take five steps without destroying a building"?"
"Cut the crap, jackass! What the Hell did you do to Origami Cyclone?!" Shouted the veteran.
"Oh, nothing much," Jake shrugged, looking bored. "She wasn't really any fun. That, and she was screaming so loud that I couldn't find any fun in popping her cherry. So, I just messed with her a bit and she started crying." He smirked wickedly. "That's when I started to enjoy it."
"You fucking didn't. . ." Katsuko breathed, anger laced in her voice. She couldn't remember ever getting this angry, but somehow, it felt all to familiar. Now that she thought about it, Jake looked all-too familiar. Especially his eyes. Where had she seen those wide, careless, no-shit taking eyes?
It hit her harder than she thought, her legs nearly giving out under her as it all came to her. "Y-You're-"
"Was it you?" Barnaby took a step to him as his body shook with under, growling himself. Katsuko snapped out of her shock to look at him as his rage began to build. This wasn't good. "We're you the one who murdered my parents?! TELL ME!"
"Heh, I killed lots of folks, wonderboy," Snickered Jake, waving the magazine a little as if to prod at Barnaby's rage more. "Can't expect me to remember them all."
"You're dead!" Shouted the blonde.
"Cool it, Bunny!" Katsuko reminded him.
"You should listen to your friend," The couple looked back at Jake as he stood, an orange hue radiating off him as a blue orb collected at the tips of his fingers. "If I kill you know, it'll ruin the surprise I have in store for later." He flicked the orb and several others at them like pistol, purposely missing some as most of them landed in the objects hiding beneath the tarps nearby. Barnaby and Katsuko looked at each other before they high-tailed it out of there with Iva, just as the warehouse exploded into a plume of fire, the ash and smoke rising to the grey sky.
"Why the Hell did you come after me?!" Katsuko took a step back at the volume of Barnaby's voice. It only ever got this way when he was near the teetering point of his rage. Then again, she wouldn't blame him for now, what with the trouble that was going on. The mayor and sponsors were going nuts when they heard that Jake had slipped away from their grasps again, the city blissfully unaware. All of the other heroes were either waiting in the heroes' lounge in silence or they waited for Iva to wake up at the local hospital. At that moment, Katsuko and Barnaby were outside of the building, the rookie blowing up at the older heroine for what she did.
"I-I thought you were gonna go nuts on the guy, B-Bunny." Stuttered Katsuko. Barnaby sighed, far from his anger but at least relaxing a little bit.
"She was wearing our wrist communicator. Something felt off and I was going to check it out."
"O-Oh." Barnaby clenched his fists. Was that all she could say? After the mess she started, was that all she could say?
"We lost the opportunity to catch him. . . I could have finally put an end to this, and you just had to come along and screw everything up. Like you always do." Katsuko flinched, Barnaby interrupting her for the second time. "And I told you that I could do it by myself. I said I could and you greed to stay back. So why didn't you?!"
"Bunny, I was only trying to help-"
"Shut up!" His fist made contact with the wall, just an inch from Katsuko's head as the blonde trapped her there, rings from the impact forming as he glared at the shocked NEXT. "I needed you to trust me. . . But you didn't. I. . . I was actually starting to believe that I could rely on you as a partner. I was even starting to get used to this "couple" nonsense and thought we were on the same level of trust! But. . . But I guess I was wrong. . ."
Katsuko's eyes glistened. Barnaby had mistaken it for that sheen of defiance she had when ever she was going to argue with him. He didn't want to hear it. Especially right now.
"This whole time. . . My whole life, I promised myself that I would never let anything hurt or betray me ever again." His voice was dangerously quiet and ominous, the young blonde looking at the ground. "When I came to this city, I made it my choice to work on my own and trust only myself. When I met you, I. . . I started to doubt that. I actually believed that I could rely on another person. I gave you my trust. . . And you just tossed it aside as if it were nothing!" He looked back at at her, that sheen appearing again. "Well now. . . You're nothing to me anymore. Because I can't trust someone who can't trust me. . ."
He pushed himself away, turning his heel and walking to the staircase that led back inside. When he was gone, Katsuko slid to the ground, removing her mask with a sigh and looking up at the sky.
"Tomoharu. . . Dear, forgive me but. . . I think I royally fucked up this time." Her the back of her head gently hit the concrete wall, her breath shaking. "I. . . I wish I can do things over. Gods, I don't know how many times I wished for that. There's so many things I wish I could have prevent. But. . . It looks like only my worst nightmare are coming back to me. . . Remember that jerk who knocked me up? That one who left when he heard I was pregnant? Well. . . I saw him." She smiled in disgust, if one could even do that, as she remembered those orange, glowing eyes. "Turns out he's a NEXT, too. The worst of them all, even. But you know. . I don't think that's what got me the most upset. It's Bunny. I . . . I think he genuinely hates me now." Tears began to fill her eyes, cascading down her cheeks and leaving dark marks on her body suit.
"I'm. . . I'm crying?" She reached up and caught a tear with her fingertips, staring at it in wonder. "Huh. . . I actually can't remember the last time I cried, dear. Except for those times I got drunk or maybe when Keade was born. Dear. . . Are these tears of fright? Why?" She looked up at the sky, searching for an answer, or her husband in the clouds. "Why am I scared? Because of Bunny? Why. . . Dear, give me a sign. . . Why?"
"Well now. . . You're nothing to me anymore. Because I can't trust someone who can't trust me. . ."
"Oh my, God. . ." She lightly slammed the back of her head to the wall again, more droplets springing from her eyes. But it wasn't from the pain. Nor was it finding out about Jake or Sternbild's fate, or even her job. She knew what was making her sad. It was something she gained and lost.
"Love. . . I'm in love with Bunny."
Katsuko: Hi! This is Katsuko! The member of Tigress and Bunny who always squiches her burgers right before she eats them! What?! Jake's challenging the heroes to one-on-one fights?! That no-good bastards! He's just as bad as when we were together! He better not hurt a hair on my Bunny or else my foot's going straight up his- WAIT! Shit! I-I mean, B-Bunny's not mine, per sue, but-
Barnaby: Would you stop blabbering nonsense and just tell them what's going to happen next, old bat?!
Katsuko: B-Bunny?! When did you get here?! A-And you're speaking to me?! Bunny! Oh my gosh!
Barnaby: Gah! Old bat, get off me! Someone, a little help here!
Kyle: Those idiots. Next time, on Tigress and Bunny; But Without Trust. . .
Natalie, Pao-Lin, Iva, Antonio, and Keith: See you next time!
Katsuko and Barnaby: When did you guys get here?!
Alright, people. It's finally here. The next chapter to complete that cliffhanger . . With another cliffhanger ^^; Whoa, whoa whoa! Before you pelt me with tomatoes, this is how it had to go! I needed to leave this chapter at this point so that the next chapter would be the best! Which it will be since the "Jake Martinez' Arc, as I call it, will have its climax and then I can move onto some fluffy KatsukoxBarnaby :3 So please, wait for Friday, Saturday at the latest, for the next chapter to pop up. And please make sure to review and tell me what you thought of it!
Now, for those of you ho are going to ask Jake, I shall answer some questions now. Yes, I know that Jake was locked in jail for fifteen years in the original anime, which would leave him no time to knock up Katsuko. But hear me out! Jake does fit that sort of character. To get a girl pregnant and leave her with the kid. I'm sorry to all of you who like him, but that's how I see Jake. So in this fic, he was locked away a year after Katsuko was knocked up. Hey, I didn't necessarily say that Katsuko's first boyfriend was a high schooler like her, hm? I also see him as a sort of womenizer, too, so that's why he was acting like that to Iva.
Also, as to why I made Kriem a boy. . . I just didn't like her as a girl. Honestly, I didn't. Wasn't very fond of her. I know, she has a pretty sad backstory and she was "sort of" with Jake in the original but, I wanted to put this gender-swap fic into good use and have some fun with it. To be honest, I like her as Kryme now since he's more mischievous and he'd take more after Jake in a "father-son" way since some people take after their parents. And believe me, if Jake actually did bring up a kid, then the kid would be as crazy as him if Jake made him do all those things. At least, that's how I see it.
Gah! Getting off topic! Anyway, make sure to review and keep an eye out for the next chapter this Friday or Saturday. It's glad to be back and writing this again. Thank you very much for reading is once more ^_^
This is me saying, Peace!