Barnaby was in his apartment, he had shaved his face, gone to the salon and had his hair redone and styled properly, and was wearing his old clothes. He would go and visit the other Heroes at the gym today, the last day of the season. They would all be on break for Christmas and he was hoping to perhaps spend time with them on their time off.
He looked himself over in the mirror, it was amazing what a shave and a haircut could do for not only his self-esteem but to make him feel more like himself. He felt amazing looking himself over in the mirror, he should have done this ages ago. He touched his smooth jawline once more and smiled into the mirror, pristine white teeth, smooth skin, impeccable curls.
He left his bathroom and walked towards his door, pausing he turned and grabbed his car keys off the hook on the wall, he would drive today as well, if anyone spotted him, who cared, he was going to announce his return to Sternbild in a few days anyway.
Pulling out of his parking garage he looked out at the streets of Sternbild. The snow had come, but none of it was really sticking, as it rarely did in the oceanfront city. He moved easily with the traffic making his way to Apollon Media. The gym that the Heroes all exercised at was within the Media networks building. As he drove the first league was being shown on the giant screens that proliferated most of Sternbild. Blue Rose used her ice to freeze the road causing the criminals driving on it to skid out and be easily captured, the other Heroes arriving late to the scene. The screen shifted to the second league and he absently wondered if Jeremy would have done well in the second league, with his near useless power. As he thought about this he nearly rear-ended the car in front of his when he saw what he thought could only be his imagination.
Wild tiger was with the second league. Barnaby slammed his hand onto the radio, turning it from the Opera station to the Hero TV network. Cain and Mario's voices carried through his car.
"At one point Tiger retired from the hero business due to his declining powers. But now he's back and calling himself Wild Tiger One minute!" Cain's announcer style voice explained.
"He's not kidding around, we're told his power lasts just one minute!" Mario exclaimed.
"And he's not afraid to hide it, I gotta tell ya, he is the man!" came Cain.
"Well that's it for us, tune in next time!" Mario said. Barnaby was staring at the screen, Kotetsu had been there, just moments ago, and now credits rolled. He pulled back onto the street, his mind racing as he pulled up to Apollon media. He ran through the doors full paced, mind a swirl as he slammed his hand onto the elevator button to go down to the labs. Saitou was there as the doors opened and Barnaby rushed to him.
"Saitou! I need my suit, right now!" the little man motioned to the corner where the suit was not only ready and waiting but was hooked into the terminal that helped them get into them.
"I had a feeling you would need it, so I prepped it for you" Barnaby barely caught the words as he was already sprinting to the corner to get into the chamber, stripping his boots and jacket off as he went, he grabbed his under armour, without any hesitation he stripped the rest of his clothes off, shimmied into the armour, then jumped into the mechanism.
"Saitou, does my suit still track Tigers?" he asked as the helmet was shoved onto his head, so much for his curls.
"OF COURSE! I WOULD NEVER REMOVE THAT FEATURE, YOU TWO ARE A PERFECT MATCH!" Saitou's amplified voice boomed through his headset, automatically reducing volume per his preset settings from before.
Barnaby reached up and pressed the side of his helmet, his visor activating and bringing up the menu. "Tigers location," he told the menu and the option he needed sprung up onto his optics. He could see the mini-map of Sternbild, 3D built so that you knew which level to be on. Tiger's icon blipped on Silver stage down near the ports.
He stepped off of the platform and turned to look at Saitou who had his headset on and gave a thumbs up. "HE WAS CHASING TWO DIFFERENT SANTA CLAUSE THIEVES, THEY WERE MAKING OFF WITH CHRISTMAS DONATIONS ON SILVER STAGE."
Barnaby moved to the launch bay where his and Kotetsu's motorcycles sat. He climbed onto his, detached it from Kotetsu's and started off down the ramp that launched him out onto the streets of Sternbild.
The giant TV's were showing Christmas specials as he drove past, why not show the second league? Why show Kotetsu for less than a minute and then switch to rerun garbage? He hopped his bike over the rails of one of the bridges accelerating across it on the footpath, thankfully no one was in his way and he was able to make it across the bridge with ease.
He caught a glimpse of Kotetsu ahead and below on the silver level. He was chasing the Santa who had somehow managed to get up onto a glass-roofed showcase building for vehicles. That glass was not meant to be walked on by people, let alone heavy mechanical suits. He jumped off his bike, his jets blasting behind him allowing him to jump down onto the lower stage, making his way towards the building. His sensors picked up the action above, Kotetsu had the criminal in front of him, Barnaby tapped into the com channel and could hear what he was saying.
"Alright pal, turn yourself in!" the criminal must have said something because Kotetsu replied with "don't be a smartass, I can take you down, powers or no powers- wa-wa-WAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" Kotetsu's screams filled his ears as he ran towards the building, slamming himself through the doors, jumping up, arms outstretched… his feet landed on the hood of a car just as Kotetsu landed safely, in a princess carry, in his arms.
"BUNNY?" Kotetsu exclaimed, eyes alight with joy and shock. Barnaby felt a thrill run through his whole body at the nickname only Kotetsu used for him. He wouldn't let that affect him right now. He kept his face calm and cool.
"Honestly, you haven't changed a bit, have you?" He had to keep calm, breaking into hysterics overseeing Kotetsu after all this time wouldn't do either of them any good, better to fall back onto familiar territory for now.
"What brings you here, I thought you retired!" Kotetsu didn't seem to notice he was still being held, not that Barnaby minded, the weight of his partner in his arms was somewhat comforting, proof he was actually here.
"Really, I should ask you the same thing," it was true, seeing Kotetsu up on the screen again was the last thing Barnaby thought would ever happen, between the two of them he was really the only one that had reason to retire.
"Oh yeah… well, Kaede said I was uncool for being a couch potato all day long, and you know what I realised? You don't get to set your limits with the choices you make. So that's that, even if I lose all my powers, I'm still going to keep on trying. Even if I lose all my powers I'm going to remain a hero until the very end, I'm never going to give up. When you think about it, it doesn't hurt to have a hero that is uncool, right?" Kotetsu said this all with a look of utter truthfulness on his face. Barnaby hadn't seen him so sure and happy with himself since the time they defeated Jake.
"Now I've heard everything, if you are going to make a come back then I suppose I will have to as well," if Kotetsu was going to be a hero, there was no way he was staying retired. He had already thought about going back to being a Hero before Kotetsu's return, with him back the issue was solved altogether.
"And why's that?" Kotetsu asked with such indignation Barnaby couldn't help but feel he truly didn't want him to be partners anymore, perhaps Kotetsu was angry with him for not calling, for not keeping in touch.
"Because I'm your partner that's why," he said while finally setting Kotetsu down. The weight of him in his arms had been nice, but awkward. "And I'll have to advise you, you'll probably have to pay for these damages," getting off the subject of them being partners again felt safe, they could talk about it later when less people were around. Even if the camera crew wasn't here following them around, all the staff of the dealership were eyeing them.
"Hey wait a minute, I'm not the one who suddenly appeared and smashed this hood! So you should have to pay to get this car repaired!" Kotetsu's natural flair for the dramatic kicked in, his arms flailing wildly as he spoke, pointing at Barnaby's face.
"How could you possibly figure that?" came the naturally snide remark out of his mouth, falling into their habit of bickering was the best either of them could do, Barnaby could see it on Kotetu's face, he was doing everything in his power to keep his cool in front of all these people.
"Easy! Whose feet actually landed on the hood and caved it in!" Kotetsu said pointing down at the car and Barnaby's feet, his face getting red, he had tears forming in the corners of his eyes so tilting his head down helped hide that.
"You're unbelievable, Ugh!" Barnaby was playing along with the bickering, it was easier than actually talking, the two of them nearly butting heads as they both groaned with their frustration at one another. Barnaby could see people taking pictures and could feel Kotetu wanting to escape this situation as much as he did, it was apparent by the glint in his eyes "Okay, time to go, Old Man" he said with his charming smile in place, moving a step back from Tiger.
"I read you, Lil Bunny" Kotetsu said taking a step aside as well. "I think it's time to let out a Wild Roar," he flipped his faceplate down and struck a pose with Barnaby, allowing the people with cameras to take photos.
With their faceplates down the public wouldn't be able to hear them anymore. Barnaby waited while they posed to hear Kotetu start in on him for not calling, his voice never came though. "Kotetsu?" Barnaby said unsurely as they both stepped off the car.
"Not now, not here… later, once we aren't in these suits," came the reply before the COM channel was actually silenced by Kotetsu. His heart dropped into his stomach, Kotetsu had sounded… calm, too calm, and silencing the COM meant he didn't even want to hear from Barnaby.
Kotetsu made his way over to what looked like the manager, his faceplate flipped back up, hand rubbing the back of his head. He motioned to the car and was obviously apologizing for the damages. Barnaby zoned out, playing through every possible terrible conversation he and Kotetsu were about to have. The readings in his suit showed he had an elevated heart rate, Kotetsu's too was raised, he could see it on the readout, he wasn't sure if it had been like that before he showed up or not.
Kotetsu was in front of him now, waving a hand in front of his faceplate. Barnaby flipped it up. "Sorry, what?" he said, his face felt hot, he felt out of breath, he knew the symptoms of a panic attack and was pretty sure he was having one. He refused to let anyone see him break down and maintained eye contact with Kotetsu.
"I said, let's get going, Lil Bunny," He said it with what looked like a genuine smile. Barnaby nodded and walked after Kotetsu, trying desperately to calm his heart and taking deeper breaths. Saitou was already outside the building with the Apollon van.
"BARNABY, I PICKED UP YOUR BIKE FROM THE BRIDGE ON GOLD STAGE ON THE WAY HERE," his voice boomed over their open COM channel.
"Thanks, Doc," Barnaby answered back, he felt like a robot as he walked towards the open bay doors of the transport van. Kotetsu had already climbed in and was heading to the cubbies where they stored their gear. Barnaby followed him in and the bay doors closed behind him. Mechanically he began stripping his gear off. What had he been thinking coming out here like this? Kotetsu was sure to be furious with him, he had no right putting this suit on and playing Hero next to Kotetsu. He placed his last piece of gear into the slot, eyes downcast as he stood in his under armour.
Without warning he felt Kotetu slam into him, at first he was sure Kotetsu was attacking him, was clearly waiting for them to have their gear off so he could deal actual damage. But upon another moment he realised Kotetsu wasn't trying to hurt him, he was simply hugging the life out of him, tears streaming out of his eyes as he shoved his face into Barnaby's neck. Incoherent words were babbling out of the Old Man's mouth.
"What?" it was the only thing Barnaby could muster as he stood there numb.
"I-I said" Kotetsu pulled his face out of his neck enough to look at him now, arms still so tight around him he couldn't escape if he wanted to. "I-I thought you we-were dead," came the shuddered reply.
Barnaby felt his world tilt, Kotetsu wasn't mad at him, not yet anyway. He had been so worried, had thought he had actually died and had held up his brave bravado in front of all those people. Barnaby felt his arms move on their own accord. He wrapped them tightly around Kotetsu and pressed his own face into the Old Man's neck. Silent tears running down his own face.
"I'm sorry, I should have called. I should have stayed in contact with you. I was an idiot. I didn't want to burden you with my problems," he said all this into Kotetu's neck, he could feel Kotetu's breathe on his own neck, his chin resting on his shoulder. He breathed deeply of Kotetsu, the warmth of the other man pressed against him calming him more than anything else ever had. The two of them stood like this for what felt like seconds but had to be longer as the transport came to a stop.
"WE ARE BACK AT APOLLON IF YOU TWO WANT TO GET BACK INTO YOUR CIVILIAN CLOTHES YOU CAN," Saitou said over the COMs inside the van, the sound of the driver door opening and closing could be heard.
Kotetsu pulled his face back, arms loosening slightly. Barnaby pulled back as well but didn't want to let go of Kotetsu, holding him had been like a dream come true for so many reasons. Kotetsu also seemed reluctant to let him go, but eventually, let go entirely. Barnaby also let go, once Kotetsu had.
"You… how long have you been in Sternbild? Why didn't you call once the dreams started? Why didn't you call ever?" the words tumbled out of Kotetsu's mouth, his face growing sterner and sterner as he spoke.
"L-like I said, I didn't want to be a burden on anyone, I thought the dreams would subside and I could deal with them on my own… I've been in Sternbild for about a month and a half I suppose?" he said looking down at the ground, he felt like a child being scolded, and he hated that feeling more than anything.
"A MONTH?" Kotetsu shouted, throwing his hands up in the air. "Who else knows you are here?" he said starting to pace the room.
"Agnes, Saitou… Antonio and Karina," Kotetsu stopped pacing at those names.
"Antonio… that dick, that fucking… he knew you were here, knew you were safe, alive, and he didn't think to tell me?" Kotetsu started pacing again, hands clenching and unclenching.
Barnaby felt his mouth going dry. "Kotetsu, I told him not to contact you and tell you I was here," he said as he mustered up the last bit of courage inside himself. He had known this was coming, he had known Kotetsu would be angry. He refused to back down now. "I didn't want to bother you and your family, I was trying to solve my own problems. Planned on seeing all the Heroes today, and then I was going to phone you. I didn't know you were in Sternbild until…" He looked over at the clock on the wall, "thirty-seven minutes ago. I saw you on the TV's while I was heading to Apollon to see the others. I'm sorry for not keeping in contact, but I had a lot on my plate, I didn't want to add it onto yours," It was the truth, he had wanted to spare Kotetsu and his family any more drama.
"So I'm just supposed to be okay with this? Because you planned to call me? Isn't that a little convenient Barnaby? I thought you died or were captured by Ouroboros! I kept trying to convince people to put out search parties for you! I told them there was no way you wouldn't call, that you wouldn't just disappear," Kotetsu had stopped his pacing and was facing him now. Being called his full name instead of his nickname had struck Barnaby, he hadn't expected Kotetsu to be this angry if he was honest with himself.
"What can I do, I can't take back what I did… does this mean you don't want to be partners again?" Barnaby didn't know what to do, he felt dizzy, his heart was pounding so hard he could hear his blood roaring in his ears.
"N-no I… I don't know what I want. I need time to think. I need, I don't even know what I need. I need a fucking drink," he settled on as he started pulling his under armour off. Shoving it into a hamper he pulled his civilian clothes on and stepped out of the van. He was still buttoning his shirt as he walked away. Barnaby struggled out of his suit when he saw Kotetsu getting his off, he stepped out of the van almost completely naked, grabbing his civilian clothes off the chair he had thrown them on as he chased after Kotetsu. This was not how he had wanted the night to go.
"Kotetsu wait," Barnaby said as he pulled his shirt on, his boots on his feet, but not done up.
"I am waiting," he said as he stood leaning against the elevator doors, the button not pushed. Barnaby realised as he looked at Kotetsu that he really was waiting, his foot tapping as he looked down at the floor. Barnaby zipped up his pants, bent over and did up his boots and then pulled on his jacket. Kotetsu had somehow managed to get into his shirt, vest, and do his tie up before he could get jeans and a T-shirt on. He would have to ask him how he managed to get changed so quickly one of these days, years of practice he assumed.
"Thanks," Barnaby mumbled out as he stepped up to Kotetsu.
"Let's go get a drink and talk about this, Bunny," Kotetsu said quietly, moving away from the elevator doors and pushing the button. The doors opened and the two stepped on. Barnaby felt heat rise to his cheeks, he should not feel so happy right now, but being called Bunny and going for drinks felt pretty damned good.
The lines Kotetsu says after falling through the glass ceiling are the direct lines from the original show. Trying to keep it as canon as possible.