Chapter 27

"Up over, down and around. Loop the loop and done" Titan said as he revealed his new creation.

Puri Prisoner sneered. "I taught you all you know darling! Don't think you have the better knitting work than me!" he protested. The two compared, Titan's stitch was perfect and tight, kept its shape and would be able to fit who he made it for. Puri rushed and his was already starting to fry. He glared at Titan. "You cheated!" he protested.

Titan smirked as he took the shawl and gently placed on his mother as she slept. "She snuggled in, my mom loves what I make," Titan said proudly.

"My boyfriends always wear what I make them, they also make sweaters for me" he bragged.

"That's nice…" Titan said and started a new piece. As he knitted, he heard a sharp whistle from across the room.

"Titan," he turned and saw his father approach. Normally when he give the sharp whistle, he wants him to unravel so he can take back his mother. Titan just finished when his father scooped up his mother and already braced her to himself. She cuddled back into him and stayed asleep.

"She certainly sleeps a lot…" Prisoner muttered.

"Mom can't keep warm, and it's winter… it's understandable…"

"Which is why you need to turn human so we can get you home," his father stated.

Titan sighed. "Okay…" he muttered. He was reluctant to turn back, yet as he struck his bands and transformed. Puri prisoner froze.

"My oh my, why didn't you say this boy looked this good!"

"You have already been warned on hitting on my kids…" father said in a stern tone. "I also gave them permission to fight back… I wouldn't test him."

"Oh come on darling, he's but a young boy!"

"Who dented the walls of this facility after he punched Amai Mask"

Prisoner suddenly froze. "I've seen many strong boy strike that steel, never denting it once… you're telling me he can?"

Father nodded. "Yep, saw it with my own eyes. Melee pointed it out to me too. Kid has power… well we better get going. Let's go!" he called.

Titan smiled as he packed up his supplies and excused himself for the day. As they were leaving the Association, Father paused as he found Alley wondering about, making notes and checking on various aspects of the association. "Alley?" he called out curiously.

It was rather strange, ever since Alley was released from Suiryu, she hasn't been at the lab, but out in the world. "Hey dad, just got back from my observation…"

"Observation?" Father asked.

"Neo Heroes… scoping them out to get a better understanding as to what we are up against." She paused and shook her head as she took a deep breath out. "I got to say dad, they got their shit together"

"But Alley is far more organized than they are" Titan protested.

She nodded but paused. "Dad… can I talk to you about something… in private?"

He was taken aback by the request but nodded. Gently he passed mother back into Titan's arms. "I'll be back" he said and followed Alley down the hallway.

"I wonder what that's about…" Titan whispered.

#

She took him down to a private room. Garou was a little concerned, since normally, Alley isn't afraid to speak her mind out in the open. Especially around family. When the door closed and took a deep breath and appeared rather stunned. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Where do I start?" she said. "I have been scoping out the Neo Heroes, and have determined that we are going to have to tread very carefully around them. This church is one thing that has me worried, as we have seen, they fearlessly attacked Jason and nearly killed him! Second of all a man by the name of Ryumon, criminal gang leader with over 400 strong underlings. He is well organized especially when you got that many people to command and do so with great accuracy." But there was something more bothering her. "Dad… they are calling for Bofoi to come out of hiding…"

He froze to the news. "Who is?" he demanded.

"Blue, of the Neo Heroes. He has said too much time has passed since the man of science has since gone into hiding and leaving his lab and fortune behind to me… he smells something wrong, and he's going to prove it." Alley sighed aloud. "I wish I was as good as making robots as Boros, he makes them so realistic!"

"Have you asked him?"

"I've been trying to get in contact with him for a while. Boros has said he was very busy on a side project and would get back to me as soon as he can… than was just a few hours ago when I contacted him. He was in that zone again like when he was making Uncle Street and Knuckle into cyborgs…"

Garou nodded. He understood now her concern. "We need to keep a close eye on this…"

"More so, we have to prepare for the worst. If they ask us to produce Metal Knight in the flesh… dad… we're screwed!"

"We're not screwed!" he protested. "We will think our way out of this, we can do it, and besides. You're the smart one"

She smiled to his comment. "Thanks Dad… I just worry what our next move is going to be, what their next move is going to be as well!"

"I know, I will be on my best behaviour!" he vowed.

"How many times have you kept that promise?"

He was rather silent for the most part, but he insisted he will try to behave himself. "Is there any one else investigating the Neo Heroes?" he asked.

"Uncle Knuckle said he wanted to speak with him, I haven't seen him in a while though…"

"He maybe on his date…"

"Date?"

"Tatsumaki."

Alley froze to the name. "Wait, wait, wait… Uncle Knuckle… is DATING Tatsumaki!?"

"I don't know how he pulled it off either, but yeah."

She shook her head to it all. "I am going back to the lab and see what the two have been doing. I better step up on my research, but for now… I maybe better off getting as much information on the Neo Heroes as I can."

"Within reason and caution!" Garou scolded. "Just because I did stupid stuff to get what I needed, doesn't mean I will let my kids do it!" he warned.

Alley giggled but vowed she wouldn't go to extremes to do so. With that, the two walked out of the room. Just as Knuckle appeared. "Whoa, good timing" he said and smiled. "We got to talk kiddo!"

She nodded in agreement. The two went their separate ways. Garou went back and found Titan holding Melee. "Let's go home and get your mother to bed."