NOTE: This takes place a few months after I Knew You'd Come For Me, so if you have no idea what was going on, read that one first. :)

14. Hostage

Little Mac struggled against the ropes tying him down to the chair, grunting through the gag. It had been a few months since the Bison kidnapping, and here he was, captured, tied up, and gagged again. The last thing he remembered was that he had found a note written by Ryu, saying that he had left to fight someone named Seth. Worried for his friend's safety, he rushed out of the Smash Mansion to look for him when he was ambushed by a strange, blue man, who knocked him out cold and brought him here, toi a cell.

Whatever the reason was to hold the boxer hostage this way, Little Mac knew it was not good.

As he struggled against the bonds, he heard the cell door open, and there was the blue man, smirking down at him.

"Awake, are you?" he spoke with a sneer.

Little Mac studied the strange man. At least I'm not blindfolded this time, he comforted himself.

The man walked towards the bound boxer. He grabbed Little Mac's chin, forcing him to look up at him. "Your friend, Ryu? He's on his way. I've told him that you're here with me, and that I'm having some fun with you…you're just a hostage intended to keep him at bay."

Little Mac's eyes widened. No…not again! I can't be bait for Ryu again! I'm such a burden…

However, he kept on a brave face, unlike the last time he was kidnapped. He glared up at the man and growled through his gag.

The man smirked at his defiance. "Now, now. No need to be upset. I'll enjoy seeing your friend squirm as he can't fight back against me with you in my hands…"

An alarm blared to life and the screeching sound drifted down the hall towards them. The man chuckled. "Oh, looks like he's here already! That was quick," he commented.

He pulled out a knife, which frightened Little Mac. He watched as the man began to cut the ropes, freeing him from the chair. Before the boxer could fight back, the man grabbed his arms and roughly put them behind his back, tying his wrists together. Little Mac tried to chew through the gag as the ropes bit into his skin.

"Now, let the fun begin," the man spoke as he dragged Little Mac out of the cell.

Ryu couldn't believe himself. He wished that he hadn't sent that note to Little Mac. And now his friend had been captured again, and who knows what was being done to him.

Ryu ran down the Secret Laboratory, glancing around the area. His fists were up, ready for any enemies that could ambush him.

"SETH!" he yelled. "I'm here like you wanted!"

Up above, Seth appeared from a platform. Beside him was Little Mac, the gag still around his mouth and his wrists tied behind his back, and he was on his knees. Upon noticing Ryu, fear slammed into Little Mac. He screamed through the gag, trying to warn his friend to run, that he'd walked right into Seth's trap.

"MAC!" Ryu screamed, shocked upon noticing the cuts and bruises that littered Little Mac's body.

Seth stared down at him. "Aww, what a sweet reunion."

"Let him go, Seth! I'm here like you wanted!" Before Ryu could run towards Seth, however, the man placed a knife at Little Mac's throat, threatening his life.

Ryu's eyes widened upon seeing the knife up to his friend's neck, and he stopped in his tracks.

"Don't even fight back, Ryu," Seth hissed, "or your little friend's life will end here."

Ryu glared at him, his jaw clenched. "It's me you want, Seth! Do what you will with me, but don't hurt him!" he shouted.

Seth simply chuckled. "You care about your friend that much, huh?"

As Seth gloated his soon-to-be victory, Little Mac struggled against his bonds, and he managed to slip one hand out of the ropes. Before Seth knew it, Little Mac grabbed the hand holding the knife against his throat, and wrestled it away from him. He then ripped off the gag.

Ryu saw this as a chance to attack Seth, and he lunged forward to punch Seth in the gut. Seth cried out as he was sent flying, and then he skidded on the ground.

Ryu and Little Mac ran towards the man, and the boxer attacked Seth with an uppercut, as Ryu followed with a Shoryuken, sending Seth down a pit.

The two men panted from the quick fight, and Ryu turned to Little Mac, worry and guilt mixing inside him.

"Mac! Are you okay? He didn't hurt you, did he?" Ryu asked, checking for any serious injuries on the boxer.

Little Mac shook his head. "I-I'm fine, Ryu…I'm so sorry for being such a burden."

"This isn't your fault, Mac." Ryu spoke, holding him close. "I promised to not let something like this happen again, and I put you in danger…I'm sorry Mac."

Little Mac sighed, holding his friend close.

The hostage situation brought the two closer than ever, and Ryu vowed to protect Little Mac with his life.

Constructive criticism is welcomed! Requests for a theme are still opened!

Beta reader: h34rt1lly