When Kotetsu makes it to where Mr. Black called him to, he can already see the chaos. Men being carted off towards jail again, the heroes all lumped together… Well, most of them are. Barnaby and Fire Emblen standoff on their own - likely with Thanatos.
He runs up to them first and foremost. Thanatos lies on the ground, unconscious. Despite that, Barnaby has a hand on him, as if he's afraid he'll vanish the moment he wakes. Kotetsu gets that, as much as he hates to admit that.
"Hey," he says, breathless. "Is everyone okay?"
"I think so," Barnaby says. "But… we have to tell them, Kotetsu. There's no way they'll agree to letting him go without seeing his face."
"I know," Kotetsu says. "But-"
"If it makes it easier, I already know," Fire Emblem says. "It wasn't too hard to put two and two together, all that was left was Handsome filling me in."
Kotetsu's shoulders slump and he sighs. "Dammit… I guess we don't have a choice then…"
He sits next to Thanatos, running a hand through his hair as Fire Emblem calls the others over. He'll have to apologize for this later - if that'll even matter. Yuri might outright hate him after this, and he'd deserve it.
"So," Magical Cat asks, voice shaking just a bit. "We… we get to see who he is?"
Barnaby nods. "But I need you all to promise to keep it between us."
"Of course," Rock Bison replies. "What good would it do to go blabbing?"
"You have our word!" Sky High says. "We won't say anything to anyone else!"
Barnaby and Kotetsu share a look. Kotetsu nods and watches as Barnaby pulls the mask free. The heroes gasp and mutters start quickly. Kotetsu closes his eyes tightly and just waits.
"Well damn, that explains why he went missing," Ryan says above the mutters.
"His face," Thomas says. "Did he get that when…?"
"It was scarred like this when he jumped," Barnaby says. "I have no clue when it happened, but it wasn't in the fight."
"Justice Petrov…" Blue Rose has a hand over her mouth. "I still can't believe it… He was on our side, wasn't he?"
"Maybe it was a trick," Dragon Kid suggests. "I mean… it explains how he got access to all that murderer information!"
"Maybe it was at first," Kotetsu mumbles. "But maybe not after Maverick? Can't tell anymore."
How did it come to this? Barnaby hadn't wanted to bring Yuri here, but in the chaos somehow Kotetsu had convinced him. All the heroes had agreed to keep quiet for now - they would decide what to do with Yuri later. For now, they need him to wake up and answer some questions.
But he went through a lot, so for now he's laying in Barnaby's bed. Barnaby makes sure the blanket is snugly pulled over him before entering the main room of his apartment. Kotetsu waits for him, staring out the window with his arms crossed.
"We have to decide what to do soon," Barnaby says as he comes to a stop next to him. "Or he might decide for us."
"I know," Kotetsu says. "Call me paranoid but with what you told me about that NEXT I don't know if I'd feel comfortable leaving him to the police."
"I don't either, not right now," Barnaby frowns. "But we can't just keep him here, either."
"He can stay with me," Kotetsu says. "I just… wanna keep an eye on him."
"He could just leave," Barnaby points out.
"He could," he agrees. "But if we tell him his life's in danger, maybe we can keep him from wanting to."
"You think that's possible?" Barnaby glances back towards his room.
"I wanna at least try," Kotetsu laughs a bit. "And if he doesn't listen, I guess we just gotta save his ass until he does!"
Barnaby snorts. "That's just like you, Kotetsu."
"Ehe, you know me!" Kotetsu grins. "As long as I can protect people, I'll be happy."
Yuri stumbles out of the bedroom, and it's not too surprising to see Kotetsu and Barnaby. Kotetsu is passed out, snoring gently as he lies sprawled out on the ground and snakes around plants. Barnaby, however, is awake. Sitting in the only chair in the room, waiting for him no doubt.
"I had no clue you cared for plants," Yuri muses, catching his attention. "They seem well-loved."
"...I do my best," Barnaby says, standing and walking towards him. No doubt to keep him from running. "Do you have an interest in plants?"
"I own one, I talk to it frequently," Yuri replies. "It's supposed to be good for their growth."
Barnaby nods. "It does seem to help… but… look. I doubt either of us wants to have small talk about plants."
"You're right," Yuri crosses his arms. "Do you plan on turning me in?"
"We don't think you'd be safe with the police right now," Barnaby admits. "We… don't know what we'll do with you for now, if I'm being honest."
"And you won't let me leave, I'm assuming," he replies.
"You're right, if I let you go I think Kotetsu would be upset," Barnaby says. "And we wouldn't be able to get any answers from you."
"Ah, there we are," Yuri says with a sigh. "Go ahead, then. Pick my brain."
"Well, I'm sure the others have questions, too," Barnaby replies. "To start with, I want to know what pushed you to become Lunatic in the first place."
Yuri should have expected this, he supposes. "Are you sure you truly want to hear that? You may change your mind on keeping me safe."
Barnaby's expression remains unchanged. "Try me."
"Very well," Yuri closes his eyes for a moment. "It began when I killed my father."
"Agnes, I have something I wanna talk to you about…" Antonio glances away from the woman and towards where Nathan, Keith, and Ivan are watching. "I-I mean, if you happen to be free…"
He wishes they were more hidden, or more focused on the whole Justice Petrov being Lunatic thing. But no, apparently they all needed a break and so it was time to torture poor Antonio and use his feelings against him. Keith may have pure intentions, but Nathan and Ivan?
He would never forgive them for this.
"Hm?" She looks at him, clearly lost in thought. "Fine, just make it quick."
"Okay, follow me…" He gestures for her to follow.
The goal is to go to that fountain that's apparently beautiful at night. Keith is sure it'll work so Antonio has some hope… But not much, given he can see the three following after, barely even trying to hide.
If anything goes wrong, he thinks it's gonna be their fault. He tells himself that and gathers his energy and bravery as they come to a stop in front of the place. It is gorgeous, Keith was right about that.
"Agnes!" He says, voice louder than he meant it to be. "I-I-I-"
"Yes?" She raises an eyebrow. "You're a hero, Rock Bison! Don't stumble over your words with me."
"I'm in love wi-"
"Origami!" Keith's voice breaks the atmosphere. "Are you alright?!"
Antonio looks over and there's Ivan, nearly drowning in the fountain and ruining this, while Nathan and Keith try to pull him out. Agnes, seemingly forgetting he was talking to her, marches over towards them and all he can do is watch.
Everything went wrong, and none of it was his fault. He rushes over and helps save his partner from it, patting his back until he's done coughing up water. Ivan smiles at him and opens his mouth to say something when Agnes speaks up.
"I swear, you're all walking headaches sometimes…" She looks at Antonio. "Now, what was it you wanted to say to be, Bison?"
"I…" He sighs. "Nevermind, the moment for it passed."
She raises an eyebrow and shares a look with Nathan, who just smiles at her. "Fine, I'll be going, then."
As she walks away, Keith and Nathan both pat one of his shoulders. "What just happened?"
"I, uh, tried to get a better look and fell," Ivan admits. "I'm sorry."
"It doesn't help that I yelled, I don't think you two would have noticed if I hadn't!" Keith rubs the back of his head.
"Don't worry," Nathan coos. "There's always next time."
"Sure," Antonio replies. "And next time, I'm going alone."
"You okay, Princess?" Ryan asks, voice a bit softer than usual. "You've been staring at nothing all night."
"I'm fine," Karina shakes her head, turning her gaze to where Pao-Lin, Lara, and Subaru are buying snacks for the group. "Just thinking. There's… a lot going on right now, you know?"
"You got that right," Ryan puts his hands behind his head. "But if anyone can figure it out it's Tiger and Junior, yeah?"
"Yeah, you're not wrong, but still," Karina sighs. "Sometimes I think they take on too much."
"I think you'd be able to tell," Thomas speaks up. "You guys have been working together for a long time, yeah?"
"Well, I wouldn't say a long time," Karina replies. "But I guess we would be able to tell."
"Maybe you and Dragon Kid," Thomas shrugs. "The rest of us are pretty new."
"Hey!" Ryan shoves his thumb into his own chest. "I know a lot - I'm good at reading people!"
"Didn't you think I was trying to ditch you to team up with Tiger once?" Karina raises an eyebrow.
"That was a fluke! A fluke!" Ryan huffs. "Junior was worried too, you know! That's even worse when he and Gramps are made for each other, don't you think?"
"He's trying to shift the blame," Thomas points out.
"Yep, sure is," Karina agrees. "...You know, Tiger wouldn't do that."
"Oh, now you're just trying to make fun of me!" Ryan huffs, marching towards the other three. "I see how it is! Fine, then! You two can worry needlessly, I'm getting some grub!"
As he marches off, Karina finds herself actually able to smile.
Kotetsu wakes up no longer among the plants, but in Barnaby's bed. He supposes he got moved at some point, though he hasn't got a clue as to when. He rubs the tiredness out of his eyes and looks around.
Barnaby is asleep next to him, right about where Yuri had been tucked in the night before if he had to guess. Yuri wasn't there - Yuri wasn't in the bed.
Panic sort of takes over for a minute and he gets up, rushing towards the front room. Then, he realizes he hears the shower running. He pauses and waits - that has to be where he is, if he and Barnaby are accounted for.
The door to the bathroom opens and Yuri walks out, having borrowed some of Barnaby's clothes, given he doesn't look like a vigilante right now. Kotetsu raises a hand and gives a wave. Yuri simply nods at him.
"You haven't given up on me," Yuri says. "Your partner made that clear enough last night."
"Oh," he says. "You and Bunny talked?"
"We did," Yuri passes by Barnaby, fingers trailing through strands of hair. "I'm afraid he may not be a fan of me. And when you hear what he did, you might feel the same."
"Still trying to get me to go away," Kotetsu sighs. "Well, sorry, but I've been told I'm too nosy for my own good! I'm not gonna just ditch you."
Yuri closes his eyes, lets out a breath. "...Come with me, let's talk."
Kotetsu stands up, following him into the front room. He better be prepared, he guesses… Otherwise, he has a feeling things could get messy. With how Yuri is doing right now? Well, he thinks he should avoid messy.
Barnaby walks out into his living room and finds Kotetsu and Yuri sitting in silence. He thinks back on his own conversation with the vigilante last night and frowns - he's sure Kotetsu got told what he learned, too…
He wonders, how will Kotetsu handle learning how his hero died? Barnaby is still trying to figure out what to say - how to say what needs to be said.
Yuri said he killed his father, murdered him. Told Barnaby clearly what had happened - as if there was no doubt who would go to jail if this went to court. Only there had been facts that made one thing clear to Barnaby.
Yuri hadn't been a murderer until the day he donned the mask of Lunatic. He only thought it had been sooner. No, he'd tricked himself into believing it.
He looks at Kotetsu, who glances back at him. He sits next to him and he waits for Kotetsu to speak.
Waits for him to stumble into just the right thing to say, like he always does.