Kotetsu was exhausted. He knew taking care of a kid was a lot of work, but keeping Kaede entertained for just the week she was here was not only running him out of house and home (she had expensive taste!) but he was tired constantly. She was a bundle of never ending energy that needed constant attention, but not too much attention. Finding the balance between casual affection that she wanted and embarrassing gross dad was impossible. One minute she was all snuggles and hugs, the next she was pushing him away screaming at him about not being a kid. Teens were tough, he would have to phone and apologized to his mother for ever being one.
It was finally New Year's Eve and Kaede was bouncing, as usual, around the house in excitement. "We get to go early to see all the Heroes right? And we get to have backstage access to everything?"
"Yes, yes, and yes!" Kotetsu had answered these questions a million times it felt like and he was getting a little tired of it. "And once we are there even though you have a backstage pass to everything you aren't allowed to bother people! The Gala is where Heroes have to suck up to sponsors to get more money for the following season. Mr. Lloyds usually makes Barnaby do most of the elbow grease on that one, since whenever I talk to the sponsors all they want to do is ask me to stop having so many damage fines…" he wasn't bitter, he wasn't!
"So what will I get to do during the Gala?" she asked sitting down next to him on the couch. "You can stick with me, there is a ton of food at these things, I usually linger around that. Or you can hang out with the Second Leaguers. They have about the same restrictions you do, and technically as I do," he said as he thought about it. He wasn't in the First League which meant he didn't have access to everything he used to, including the old training facilities. Second League had its own gym, its own building actually. Apollon was too expensive to have the Second League run out of it, so they were actually in a smaller office down the street.
"Okay, stick with Second Leaguers like you, got it," Kaede said with a nod. "What if I see Pao-lin or Karina?" she asked, tilting her head to the side.
"One, make sure you call them Dragon Kid and Blue Rose at the party, never their real names. Two, you can say hi to them but they will be doing work at the Gala, promoting themselves and gaining sponsors. So don't hang around too long," Kotetsu said before standing up. "You wanted to decide on your outfit right? How long is that going to take because we should head out in about an hour if you want to be there for the before party stuff."
Kaede launched off the couch and scrambled to her room, "dad! Why didn't you say so sooner! I need time to shower and do my hair and…" she started ranting all the things she needed to do through her closed door. He let out a sigh, teenagers.
He went up to the loft part of his home and opened his closet. He and Kaede had gone to the Gold Stage tailors and gotten a new suit, expensive taste! But while he was complaining the suit was too expensive, it was true that Kaede had a good eye. The suit was a charcoal black, cut off tastefully just past hips, and only two buttons on the front. The collar was simple and elegant, the fold small and left a clean line towards the chest. The interior was a shiny material, silk? And coloured a deep forest green with some kind of swirly design on it (paisley the man at the shop had called it) The vest was the matching charcoal colour on the front, the back was the same silky material of the interior of the suit, dark green and paisley in design. The pants were a matching charcoal and tapered to actually make it to the top of his shoes, unlike most of his pants which always ran a touch too short because of the uncommon length of his legs.
The man at the shop had matched the suit with a tasteful green tie, as well as a pocket square to match. A white dress shirt to top it all off and Kotetsu was sure to look great. He went and showered, shaved to make sure his beard was perfect, scrubbed his teeth to make sure they were nice and white, did his hair up with a bit of gel and a blow dryer to try and keep it in place, and finally donned his suit. He looked himself over in the mirror and smiled. Well, it wasn't like he would wear it all the time, but he sure felt nice getting all fancy, it had been a while. Dabbing on a tiny bit of his cologne, he nodded to himself and left his bathroom going back downstairs.
Kaede was still in her room when he came down so he looked at the time, she had about twenty minutes and then he was going to have to drag her out of here.
Time ticket by and finally, just as Kotetsu was about to get up and knock on the door, it opened and she came out.
She was wearing one of her new outfits. A dress that was more sparkles and sequins than anything else, she looked like something right out of a magazine. Her hair was pulled back on one side and curled and pinned up. She had a little bit of makeup on her face, just some mascara and lipstick, so he would let it pass. "Wow! You look like a supermodel from a magazine!" he said as he stood from the couch and walked over to her.
"T-thanks dad," she was blushing and tucked a loose curl behind her ear. "Should we go?" she asked. And sure enough, it was exactly time to leave.
They left, taking his car this time as they didn't want to have to deal with the train traffic in their nice clothes. He pulled into Apollon media and parked in his normal spot, was this where he was supposed to park? He didn't even know. Whatever.
They got out and went up to where the gala was being held in one of Apollons many media rooms. There were just a few people milling about, but amongst them were most of the Heroes. This was the pre-party party where they actually got to see one another before the sponsors showed up. Kaede was off like a dart and already talking with Blue Rose and Dragon Kid. Kotetsu walked over to Fire Emblem, Rock Bison, Sky High, and Origami Cyclone.
"Hey Tiger," Fire Emblem said as he walked up, immediately wrapping an arm around his waist. "You look absolutely divine; did you finally get a woman's touch on your wardrobe?"
"Yup! My daughter Kaede picked this out for me, pretty fancy right?" he said motioning to his new suit.
Bison let out a whistle "I haven't seen you this done up since your wedding Tiger, Kaede has good taste, just like her mom."
"Right? She is more and more like Tomoe every day, you should see her when she gets mad, oh man it is like walking into the past, she even makes the same facial expressions as her mom!" Kotetsu said with a laugh. Fire Emblem finally let him go and looked over at Kaede with the girls.
"Well, I think that I'm going to go and join in on the girl talk, you boys have fun~" he said blowing a kiss as he walked over to the girls, squealing with delight as Kaede did a little spin to show off her new dress.
Kotetsu was looking around the room, not consciously, but Bison caught his roaming eye.
"Barnaby isn't here yet; we figure he will show up soon though right?" Bison said looking over at Origami Cyclone and Sky High.
"I believe you are correct, he should be arriving right away," Origami said shyly.
"O-oh well it's not like I was looking for him, we see each other all the time," Kotetsu said waving a hand in front of his face embarrassed.
The four chatted amicably for a while, the girls finally came over and all of them got to chat and catch up, Barnaby still wasn't there. Kotetsu kept looking at his watch or at the doors wondering where he was.
The door opened again, this time it wasn't catering bringing food in, it was Barnaby.
"Sorry I'm late," he said with a television smile as he walked up. He was wearing an all-white tuxedo style suit, black collared, white shirt underneath with a black bow tie and black pants. He looked even better than normal, his hair perfectly falling in place, skin impeccably clear and eyes shining brightly. Kotetsu felt his heart jump into his throat. He had seen Barnaby in suits; he had seen Barnaby naked for fucks sake. Why was he acting like a hormonal teenager seeing him dressed like that?
No matter what he did, he couldn't control the rapid beating of his heart, or the slight hardening happening in his pants. Barnaby was walking sex. His cheeks felt hot and he needed to look away, so he did by turning to pick up his drink (just a club soda, he drove his daughter here after all).
"Wow Handsome, you are living up to your name tonight!" Fire Emblem complimented as Barnaby walked up.
"Fire Emblem is right, everyone looks great, and great again!" SkyHigh chipped in happily.
"Thanks, it's nice being able to dress up for an occasion again, it feels like it's been a while," Barnaby said as he stood next to Rock Bison, who was on the opposite side of the circle from himself. He was still keeping his distance; he must really have been bothered by that dance. How could he have let this happen? He needed to talk to Barnaby and explain he didn't mean it like that.
The group mingled, Barnaby always keeping himself one person away from Kotetsu the whole time. And could he blame him? The first thing Kotetsu thought when he saw Barnaby was that he thought he looked sexy as hell in that suit. That isn't something a partner should think.
As Kotetsu thought about how to get Barnaby to understand that he didn't like him that way (even though he did) sponsors started filling into the room. The Second League members had also shown up, and Agnes had directed all the Heroes to head out of the room so they could be unveiled later, especially Tiger and Barnaby. With all these people showing up the Heroes all had donned their helmets, masks and wigs to hide their identities.
The festivities went as usual, the announcement of the new season, the announcement of the First League Heroes. And then it was Kotetsu and Barnaby's turn. The stage was lit up, Agnes Cain and Mario were all on stage and they were being called out.
"And tonight folks we have an even better treat as we announce, in the Second League joining onto our roaster iiiiiis… BARNABY AND TIGER!" Mario announced as the curtain drew back and the two of them stepped out waving. A safe distance was between them not because they chose it but because they had marks to stand on for the photographers. They would have to do a few buddy poses though.
"Welcome back to being Heroes Barnaby and Tiger!" it didn't bother him that Barnaby's name was always before his, it didn't!
"Thank you for having us," Barnaby said as the audience finally quieted down. "We are excited to join the Second League to help our younger Heroes learn the ropes as well as protect the citizens of Sternbild!" he said chipperly into the mike, his interview smile and voice in full force.
"Yes, we are looking forward to a great season together," Kotetsu finished off, the lines were written for them so at least he knew he wasn't going to make Agnes mad.
The two moved a step closer together, Kotetsu's arm automatically went to Barnaby's hip and he pulled the younger man to him as he waved with his other arm. Barnaby had physically pulled away slightly but relented immediately after he felt Kotetsu's grip tighten, this was for work.
Barnaby's arm went around his shoulders, his other raising in a wave as well, and suddenly they were partners again. This was right, this was how they were supposed to be, equals working together. Kotetsu hoped Barnaby felt the same, that something had clicked for him that made it so they could go back to being friends.
After the photos were done they moved away from one another, but it wasn't the sudden jumpy pulling away they had experienced since the dance. It was a calm movement and Barnaby seemed, for now anyways, comfortable being near him. He had to keep it that way! He wouldn't be too touchy or casual with him, he would just stand near him, maintain the space Barnaby needed but not so much that they couldn't interact normally.
They walked together speaking to sponsors, like usual Kotetsu let Barnaby do the talking and just agreed to whatever he said. He kept an eye out for Kaede, who was currently with the Second Leaguers chowing down on the h'orderves.
Eventually Kotetsu got bored with the sponsors and kept eyeing the food. "Go see your daughter and eat something, Old Man," he said pushing lightly on Kotetsu's shoulder, a smile on his face. "I'll take care of the business end, besides being in the Second League I'll probably be done soon and over with you two anyway."
Kotetsu felt a little bad bailing on him, but at the same time he really wanted in on those little pigs in blankets before they were all gone. "Thanks Bunny, you're a lifesaver!" he said before strolling away to the food tables.
The night wore on, Barnaby eventually did come over to the rest of the Second Leaguers, which was one of the perks of being in the Second League, way less responsibility at these parties. Barnaby even relaxed a bit and joked around with the other Heroes, something he never would have done a year ago. He had changed since Maverick, whether that was because of the memories or because of the freedom from being forced to be perfect all the time, Kotetsu wasn't sure. But it suited him, that real smile on his face.