Tornadoes For Sighs
-Chapter 3-
Work Stuffs
TATSUMAKI WAS MAD AT ZOMBIEMAN FOR BEING SO BRAIN-DEAD.
For all the saving and sleuthing away, Zombieman was the only person Tatsumaki cared to think about during the rescue session in City F. He was loosely a working partner that also had a loose brain… He didn't check in with her for three fucking days!
Bearded Worker told her to look after Zombieman. She's losing sleep. Not that Tatsumaki slept much over the past 48 hours. She's never slept very much. But this was ridiculous.
The populous City F was ensnared by the violence of the natural disaster. The disaster was unprecedented and covered as a strange phenomenon. City F wasn't really the scene for random but destructive earthquakes.
City F was under the protection of Sneck but the A-Class, rank 38 hero was useless to anything that required any skill. Tatsumaki didn't like his suit or his snakes. Creepy.
Zombieman volunteered to oversee City F with her as he knew Tatsumaki would be there. Zombieman was dedicated to doing the job, fighting fatigue, curiously keen on serving others and had the durability of some immortal being.
Zombieman was trying... all the time. Tatsumaki liked that, not that she would admit it. Zombieman knew how to kill monsters. He was easy on the eyes, too.
Zombieman was incapable of really fixing the city, so Tatsumaki left the dangerous monsters to him, which was a mistake. Tatsumaki tasked him with the fun and blood-curdling killing of monsters.
Tatsumaki assiduously helped civilians from under the rubble while crushing the small fries she came across. She cleaned up the wreckage and cleared the roads with monster guts. She nearly fell asleep restoring a highway and that didn't end favourably. She was usually diligent and she didn't cause more devastation than necessary.
Tatsumaki wasn't a damn architect or anything— she was a hero! Tatsumaki liked obliterating monsters to sate her boredom. Still… the lives of the harmed civilians were more important and the buildings were heavy.
12:57 A.M
She huffed at her telephone then at the note.
Just about when everything was just going back to orderly, Zombieman left a note on a dead monster. He said to meet her near the multi-millionaire Zeniru's turd building. The feces-shaped gold statue on its rooftop didn't get ruined, much to her chagrin.
Zombieman wasn't dumb, in fact, he was remarkably intelligent, but monsters saw the note too. He purposefully did that to cheer Tatsumaki up, since she got to annihilate the monsters who showed up. It didn't really help. He wasn't here.
Everything bad in life, I hope happens to Zombieman, Tatsumaki cursed. Zombieman was still so late!
Tatsumaki liked to make sure Zombieman was alive but he didn't care since he regenerated. Zombieman was a nihilistic tick at times then he was some free butterfly, unwilling to flutter back on her terms.
Why were all S-Class heroes constantly late? The cell phone screen glow had her distracted from the reeling figure a block away.
"Green Eyes! What's up?" Zombieman called out into the nighttime. "I wasn't late. My dog buried my Volvo in my backyard."
"You don't have a dog or a Volvo or good excuses!" Tatsumaki crossed her arms, shutting her flip phone. He was slow and gave excuses as to why he was always late. At this point, he told ridiculous lies.
"Green Eyes—"
"I told you to stop calling me that!" Tatsumaki yelled, tucking her phone in her bra."I told you to check in every midnight and your bright self thinks you're some higher power and you don't bother contacting me for the last three days!"
"I was busy." Zombieman stretched.
"For three days?" Tatsumaki growled.
"Hey… Green Army Eyes, on a scale of 1 to 10… how much do you want to kill me—"
"Yes."
He audibly gulped. "Will I assume room temperature if I get closer?"
"Positive."
"Damn."
"That's all you have to say? Damn. Give your report from there, about twenty metres away or I won't even allow you to work with me ever again." she snapped. "I can't deal with you if you're like this. I will cut off all ties if you can't contribute to me."
"That would kill me for real," he called out glumly.
She rolled her eyes at him while he gave the report.
Amongst other details of how safe the civilians were, where they would dispose of the monster corps and just how many people were at the hospital… it was the usual news. There were a reported 16 Wolf level threats, 3 Tiger and 1 Demon over the past few days. Tatsumaki defeated around 5 wolf level threats, on the mildest of days she would defeat at least 10 tigers.
Everything was stupid.
Amai Mask was dumb too! He went to City F only for publicity. He didn't even help ANY of the noncombatant civilians.
Zombieman was more concerned about being closer to Tatsumaki than the fact that all these monsters — who aren't usually intelligent enough to work in an assemblage— planned this oddly small but fated attack.
Then Zomebieman was an airhead. He wasn't replying. "Hey, want me to dig up your ears or you listening?" she asked, in the middle of putting statistics out about how monsters were getting stronger.
"I was just listening to the sound of your voice," he said, cool and smooth. "Music, I reckon."
Tatsumaki threw a rock at him. "Asshole! You really like to risk your immortality around me!"
He dodged it. "We've been discussing for about forty minutes of things I already knew. Can I see your face and if you're alright?" he requested, again, cool and smooth.
He came closer. Tatsumaki groaned. There was stupid and then there was Zombieman! Why couldn't Zombieman clean himself up in front of her? Of course, Zombieman was disgustingly bloody, drenched in red and green blood. His ragged body had deep scars, festering wounds with soot and sod. His wounds were healing but the blood didn't get off.
"Sometimes you look like a suspicious intruder of human society, you goddamn alien! You're also not healing fast enough. What the hell is wrong with you? Clean up around me, around a woman." she said quietly.
Despite his missing mass of skull and the bone marrow, the most romantic smile spread across his face, trying to make her soft and warm in the middle. On most women, it would, but she wasn't like that. She mentally located a river with clean water.
He wiped away some of the gore, though he was leaking all over the street. "Hey, did you miss me?"
"The hell kind of conspiracy is that?" Tatsumaki shrieked. "You are just really dumb, you know! Your inability to listen to me is impressive. In the future, you better not slack off! If you die, it'll make me look so bad especially if I'm looking after you."
"I'll take that as a convoluted yes." he stretched, cracking a stiff neck. "Under all those insults, you're thanking me for being alive during my absence. I was just busy. I was coming to see you. You are the highlight of my day."
That's exactly what she wasn't saying but he can't just say things like that with a straight face and mean it. He's so strange!
She glared at him. "You are so dead for saying that!"
She ignored the radioactivity on her cheeks.
An obnoxious mumbled laugh blackened his pretty eyes. "Are you blushing—"
Hardly concentrating, she dropped three gallons of lake water on him for an impromptu shower. The pool of watered blood hurried to the manhole. He gulped large volumes of water, yelling like a swamped cat.
Coughing up his lungs and rubbing the water out of his eyes, he frowned at her. "I hate when you do that."
"I don't care about your rights. You were late and bloody, a burglar stealing my time. Now you get a shower. You'll have a clean getaway," she said quickly, calming her cheeks.
He should repent and shut up. He's lucky he didn't catch a fish in his big mouth.
Zombieman's normally ivory features, sculpted chin, and the dark precipice eyes retained all physical handsomeness. He was naked— that was a penis. And it was Zombieman's!
She held a hand to her forehead. "Put on some clothes!" Tatsumaki turned around.
Tatsumaki forgot. Every time she saw him rambling about to headquarters, he was naked! Disgusting. No matter how familiar she was with a man, she couldn't have a normal conversation with a nude man. Fellow S-Class heroes stripped constantly like Puri-Puri Prisoner, Darkshine and at times, Zomebieman.
"I have no shame. You shouldn't either." He murmured. "All human bodies decay into non-beings where nothing is everything. I want to die like this."
"I am ashamed of you and your nothingness. So put your shit on around me!"
"We were born naked, our souls die naked. I don't know why you get overwhelmed by it. You barely wear clothes." Zombieman pointed out.
"You're barely going to have a life to live, wanna keep on talking?" she threatened.
"You normally don't mind." Zombieman lamented. "Scavenging for clothes takes too much energy at the moment."
Normally, Tatsumaki didn't care or mind. Tatsumaki was aware that her dress was… quite scandalous compared to the other women in the corporation. However, she admired her dress. Fubuki approved it and based her outfits on it too. Therefore, Tatsumaki saw nothing weird about it.
She peeked over her shoulder. He was still naked! Doing nothing.
Due to his corpse-like inaction, Tatsumaki dragged a totalled car in front of his body with a thought. She tried picturing his long, tattered trench coat, dark shirts and his two machetes and scruffy dark hair. He liked using antiquated, conventional weapons. Tatsumaki never liked those items that men play around with.
"I know why the association puts us together on team exercises." Zombieman tapped his chin. "They do anything to make you happy."
The company liked when Tatsumaki suffers, that's why.
"Don't change the subject, where are your stuff and clothing?" she hissed.
"Centre street." he lamented. "Killed some monsters. I forgot the baggage. My clothes always come off. You know this. It hadn't bothered you for two years. Why do you—"
She hit his head with his pack, to make him shut up. She didn't answer as he groaned.
Zombieman picked up his pack during some rustles. "It's heavy," he noted.
"You can't lift that up? You'll have trouble lifting your I.Q."
"It must be the Hero Association's favouritism towards you." He laughed, the sound coming out like silk, with the brightness of a nova and the impassioned heat of the sun.
"Oh shut up." Tatsumaki glared at him then turned around. "The only reason we work together is that you don't die whenever I try to kill you."
It was a good two tries. He was immortal. Besides, Fubuki would have literally disowned Tatsumaki. Tatsumaki would rather have Buki in her life with an exposed cyst like Zombieman if it meant keeping Fubuki happy.
Too bad both of them got tricked. Tatsumaki sighed. Well, yeah. Fubuki did trick them both. Zombieman and Fubuki dated for four months and Tatsumaki witnessed the bloom of new love. Or so she thought.
Fubuki used Zombieman's S-Class status and training regiment to help her B-Class rejects. Zombieman was used but he didn't care much. He said, 'As long as we're friends, Green Eyes. I don't care about the rest'. Tatsumaki was shocked by his loyalty when she disliked him so much.
"I am reluctant to admit anything intelligent requiring forethought since most can't process information but you seem to be above average. Yet you almost die horribly excessive deaths when around me, it's kinda gross."
"The meaning of life is death," he hummed. "Amai Mask recently has a drama out about demons. His co-worker played a zombie. They got it all wrong."
"Oh, be quiet. The dead can't get offended."
"We can. Amai Mask had two shirtless scenes the company had to pay big money for—"
"Don't continue. You'll make me throw up."
He walked around the car, wholly clothed and she faced him fully, still frowning.
"I only want to make people smile," he said wonderingly.
"Smiling is for the weak. Happiness comes with the smell of blood." Tatsumaki hissed then looked at the moon. The night was still young. There were monsters to kill. "Have a night. I'll send in the report when I write it up," she said.
Zomebieman sat on the nearby car, not minding the broken glass and crumpled metal. He looked at her, all stagnant and death still. "Can't you relax? There are none left to kill, nothing left to report. Come back here."
How did he know that she would… go and kill monsters?
"Don't tell me what to do." she snapped. "Besides, there are always monsters to kill. Don't think to kill all the monsters in City F, my fun, would be considerate. All of them are dead."
"Talk to me a while. I'm helping you relax."
"I don't care for conversation. Relaxing is for the weak."
"Well, Amai Mask smiles a lot and is weak. I wonder who let that creature exist. He can't breathe and smile at the same time. I swear he's going to die like that. I am going to kill him." Zombieman rambled on quietly.
Tatsumaki stared at him. He usually wasn't bold enough to disobey her and start conversations. He just followed her around. He was a noisy mess of options and confusion.
"He sings everywhere. He sang one of Fubuki's favourite songs. He wasn't terrible. I didn't feel like dying." Zombieman gave her a sunny look. "That's high praise coming from me. What about you?"
Tatsumaki stared at him. Why does he always try to involve her?
"You don't hate Amai Mask? Talk about him if you won't talk to me," he said laconically.
She considered him for a moment, reading his lips. "Humans spent two hundred thousand years to reach the present-day society's momentum and technological advances. He wasted it all by regressing. Then he became a degenerate loser on stage! Amai Mask makes me want to start smoking cigarettes so I die slowly." she shuddered.
He laughed, a bit bitter and unhumorous. He kept on staring at her.
"What?" asked Tatsumaki.
"I want to meet your guy," he tilted his head, crimson eyes gleaming, "and kill him."
Huh? Her guy? Tatsumaki floated right up to his face, slightly above him. "I know you don't have the zest for life or saying extremely dumb things. What's wrong with you?"
"You," he grumbled lowly. "Why do you have a "beloved"? You're in a serious relationship with some nobody in a nobody city. He proposes to you, and you didn't even tell me—"
"What do you mean a serious relationship? And a 'nobody' proposed to me?" Tatsumaki's voice got higher and higher. "Wait. How do YOU know about my "guy"?"
"You and him were televised, everyone knows."
Tatsumaki stopped time for a moment. Something was amiss. Oh. Shit. He wasn't lying at all. What the hell. What the hell! When Lover Boy proposed, it was being televised. Then she announced Baldy was hers on television… Ten days ago.
"You started this chain of earthquakes when speaking to him, right? It's a casual feat. This is the first time I've seen you take responsibility for it, though." Zombieman shrugged.
Tatsimmaki grabbed his arm then went to the TV store on the other side of town. Miraculously, none of them were broken. They stared, watching the screens through the window. Using her psychic remote, she changed the channel to find the one talking about Baldy.
News Channels made their stupidity three dimensional by writing out the headlines and also having the clips. Assholes. Headline after headline was about her. The news reporters usually gushed about her and men were terrified, so it was a good balance. She hated this.
Beloved Of Tornado Of Terror An Unknown, Unsafe Man?
Tornado Of Terror Losing Her Edge Since Getting Into A Relationship?
Why Did Tatsumaki Destroy City F In Order To Spend Time With Her Fiance?
Here Are The Details AboutTornado of Terror's Engagement.
Terror Of Tornado Not Suited To Be Hero…
Tatsumaki's going to murder that Lover Boy and all those reporters. She totally will. What do they mean she lost her edge? Why the hell would the public think that personal relationships affect her work ethic? And what the hell is this sexist stuff?
People have been less friendly since it's accepted fact that she caused this earthquake. With that, people refused her help after she spent time fixing their city. Made sense.
And they were playing Baldy and Tatsumaki's interactions, editing it to make it seem like Tatsumaki kissed him. She got Dr. Gray Baldy mixed up in this news hurricane of idiots, too. His dull face wasn't very clear but his bald head was there… She basically besmirched his image more than genetics did.
Tatsumaki didn't mean to include him in this storm. The public has been confused about her and how to feel. The Princess of the Association has gotten into a relationship, acted erratically and also caused a natural disaster.
They stared, the colours straining her eyes. Zombieman, unknowing of the circumstance, didn't realize she saw him watching her.
I'm not really in a serious relationship. Why does ANYONE care about what I'm doing? Was Zombieman looking out for the day he was close to me? Tatsumaki thought, gazing back at him. No. Impossible.
Zombieman was perplexed, hissing at how smoothly Tatsumaki jostled Dr. Gray Baldy all over the screen. "Why'd you choose someone you could kill? He's fragile. He probably will die." he winced. "Not that I mind. I just wanted that pleasure."
"As opposed to him, I would choose you, a tardy detective?" Tatsumaki drawled.
"Don't cheapen my existence. My face is quite desirable," he protested.
"I can find plenty of pictures of dumpsters on the internet. I can't do the impossible and like you either," she smirked.
Zombieman sighed, deeply troubled by her words. "I don't understand how he could tolerate your attitude. How did you ever find someone who would tolerate it?"
"Hey, the word 'love' is lighter than air. It's a dirty lie people tell themselves, a demand at the end of conversations but I am capable of it. Lots of it. How dare you say that I'm not ready enough?"
He stepped back, raising his arms up. "That's not what I mean—"
"Huh? What do you mean? My attitude is something he adores—"
"You can't pretend it's desirable."
That made her mad. "I am totally desirable! He gets me. You don't get to say that I'll never find anyone. You wanna die knowing that I am in a relationship with someone who loves me?"
"Green Eyes— I am just trying to say… that I am surprised. You don't wear a ring and you haven't said his name yet… I'm just surprised."
"Why? You don't get to judge me or anything I do. We're not familiar enough to be like that and what's wrong with me having someone I care about?" she pointed at his dumb mug. "You're so damn annoying. If I had known you'd bring all this personal shit into work, I'd have to educate you on professional etiquette and what have you."
She floated up, annoyed and tired. Stupid Zombieman. Insinuating that she couldn't be in a relationship. She knew this was a problem. People got irked by her, fairly easily, and that wasn't a problem. She built walls instead of bridges, which was okay. She just… it got lonely but no one was a match for her. Especially not Zomebieman.
He looked half angry and half fascinated with her. "That's not what I meant—"
"Does it matter?" She turned around. "We're no longer working together! Fuck you!" She flew off, prowling the streets for monsters for a while.
Anyway, Fubuki wasn't home. Tatsumaki didn't get texts or notifications. She decided to leave a message that she was coming home. When Tatsumaki passed through the city, the streets were calm and the city lights reminded her of fireflies.
She ignored the crumbled bridges and the dusted city-scape. She can't believe she caused that earthquake. The throb in her head reminded her of a hollowed-out piano, playing notes of pain no one could hear but her.
That earthquake. She couldn't have done it, right? She felt awful about that.
She was unkempt, flyaway hairs everywhere and mind spinning with adrenaline and disappointment. She was working on keeping her dry eyes open. She just wanted to settle down and sleep but nightmares plagued her. She hated sleeping when there was something interesting to do like killing monsters but she couldn't find any monsters. Zombieman, that prick.
Her apartment was nothing special. Boring, wealthy, cold. Fubuki didn't like staying over and was gone most of the time. Tatsumaki's bedroom was quite empty, having a vanity mirror, the one plastic tree in the corner and her king-sized bed, nothing caught the eye.
She didn't have much to stay at home for, really.
Tatsumaki didn't have very many things she cherished. Aside from the all-black kitchen she specifically designed with a huge bowl just for candy apples, Tatsumaki didn't care much for the humble abode.
However, when she got to her residence, it was a breath of relief. She felt like a cat walking in the rain, out of place and uncomfortable. Everything was hot in City A, and it was too vexatious.
She pressed the keypad password but was too annoyed and exhausted to get it right. She pressed her forehead to the french doors. What was it? Argh.
2334?
Wrong.
2343?
Wrong.
Argh! Tatsumaki narrowed her eyes. She was caught within a walking sleep, weight on her shoulders and sweat cloaking her whole body.
2678?
The door clicked open. Using muscle memory, all Tatsumaki did was trudge past the living room, contemplating the day's work. Sounds stopped. Something brushed her foot, causing pinpricks. She lowered her eyes. A crushed beer can?
"Tornado of Terror-sama?" Someone's hushed whimper brought her out of her trance.
All of those crowded in her living room shot alertness to her eyes. She summoned all of the kitchen knives nearby, shielding herself. Someone shrieked. She knew these intruders! All of them were there. Here, infesting her home with B-Class pant-suit parasites.
She pointed the knives at the B-Class assholes. Most of Fubuki's idiot members seemed like they were holding a business meeting; all suits, chiffon shirts, chinos and stiff shoulders. Someone will barf a patterned wool jacket, all looking scared sick of Tatsumaki, crowding each other on her expensive chairs with supple black leather.
Balloons drifted aimlessly. Coloured cups and stacks of presents littered the floor like happy garbage. The room was categorically stained with iron reds, river blues and streamers and cake. Cake! What the hell? It's 3 A.M in the morning and they're still having a damn birthday party.
Why? The night bore down on her and these idiots were throwing a party.
"It's hot and all of you guys are here? I guess the amount of idiots increases with the temperature." Tatsumaki sighed, using her nail to pop a nearby balloon.
The only one who wasn't afraid was Fubuki, who normally brightened Tatsumaki's days, but only succeeded in making her stormy and irritated.
"Welcome home," Fubuki said sweetly, standing before all of her cowering goons.
Fubuki looked adult and classy with a wine glass in hand. Her dark green form-fitting dress spilled like a waterfall. Her huge fur coat lounged on the chair with prestige. Tatsumaki normally didn't get jealous of her sister's curvaceous figure but today was an exception! Fubuki was radiant with her hair styled in a sleek alternative bob. Fubuki was so developed! Everything about her had womanly charm.
Damn it. Damn it. And Fubuki had so many people around her. All the time. Tatsumaki hasn't seen her sister in a week and the first thing Fubuki does is this?!
Fubuki's goons —Eyelashes and Mountain Ape— stood along with her. "It's Lily-chan's birthday," Fubuki informed Tatsumaki's glower.
Tatsumaki interrupted at inopportune moments, huh? The candles on the icing with small white littlies were lit, small bowls of finger foods laid on the table. There was alcohol since the teen girl, Lily, was turning fourteen but everyone else was over twenty.
Lily was glowing with happiness, surrounded by her pseudo-family. Ah. Lily crowded Fubuki every day since she was Fubuki's personal assistant. Of course, Fubuki would host Lily's birthday party here. Lily was unremarkable as a hero but pretty damn good as a secretary.
Tatsumaki pointed at the girl. "You, pipsqueak, why didn't you call me ahead to tell me of this party?" Tatsumaki asked the birthday girl. "Why didn't you tell me? Whenever you guys have these weekly parties, you guys hold it in other places."
Fubuki sighed. "We did, multiple times. You didn't answer. We wanted to do something nice for her, and also plan on getting a car. Everyone wanted to relax." Fubuki smiled. "We thought you would be at City F for another day, too. It's too late to be travelling."
"True. Even so, don't throw parties like this without a missive. Nothing was said to me! See!" Tatsumaki held up her phone. There were no messages.
"We sent the message at the end of February and again on Friday."
Tatsumaki broke her phone two Fridays ago when meeting Baldy. That was when Lily had her old number. Today was Tuesday, albeit the wee hours. Still.
"I have to endure this damn party when you guys constantly throw up at these get-togethers. Puking on my damn floors." Tatsumaki sighed.
One of Fubuki's goons, brave but stupid, took offence. "This apartment belongs to Fubuki-sama. 50% of it. Besides, excuse me, Tornado of Terror-sama, it's natural for people of our calibre to a party like this. You do know what fun is, yeah?" he jeered.
"I might kill you and that'll be my copacetic fun," Tatsumaki told him. "As for the puking, maybe you have that effect on people. You're untenable." Tatsumaki pointed to Eyelashes. "It is my home. Therefore, I have total control over how long you overstay, low-ranking B-Class."
Mountain Ape strained his large muscles. Everyone held their breath, the weight of their inferiority and their grudges against her was heavy on their shoulders.
"N-Not all of us B-Class are losers! We're not useless. We have Boss Fubuki-sama." Eyelash spat frustratedly, his sunglasses shining. "We deserve to stay."
"Oh, you mad? Do you want to stay in my house, weakling? Why the hell are you giving me attitude? B-Class are in no position to order me around! Don't make me beat you in front of your teen fairy girl." Tatsumaki stuck out her tongue.
"Fairy girl?" Lily asked awkwardly.
All of them got uncomfortable with deep frowns and cold-eyes. Fubuki took offence, arms folded, her wine-cup held so tight, her knuckles were white. She looked beautifully angry. "Eyelashes," Fubuki said, stopping the one she argued with.
Eyelashes acted with instant deference. "Okay, Fubuki-sama."
Fubuki avoided Tatsumaki's glare. "They aren't dead weight. They're everything I've worked for. They make sense." Fubuki said to Tatsumaki. "We're going steady to kill Dragon-level threats. We're strong. You'll see."
Tatsumaki gave a bleary sigh. Fubuki, you'll rest in your grave if you don't ditch them, Tatsumaki sighed. Fubuki won't let go of her dumb mafia group.
For all of Fubuki's high-class necklaces and fur coats, why would Fubuki think that these idiots were worth her time? Talking to these little philistine fries was like going through a meat grinder. Low-ranking mafia idiots.
"Stop bullying my group." Fubuki finished quietly.
Fubuki always spoke quietly to Tatsumaki. No power, no passion, no courage in her words. But she ruled with authority when speaking to others.
"Buki, don't tell me how to spend my free time. They should know their place outside of my house at 3 am." Tatsumaki huffed.
"Their place is with me. With the strong and the worthy." Fubuki groused with truculent eyes, daring Tatsumaki to argue.
Tatsumaki dared. "I will purposefully bash my skull against a rock just to forget what stupidity you just exposed to me," Tatsumaki said. "Just because you're the leader of these idiots doesn't mean you could throw these parties when people should be sleeping. Don't you guys have an apartment where you all assemble?"
Lily nodded, eyes shining in admiration. Fubuki gave a tender, crinkly-eyed smile. Every smile between the two was like a concussive hit.
"We got kicked out. We have no choice but to celebrate here." Fubuki said, implying their low funds.
"You did? Oh. If you got stronger, got to A-Class like you are capable of then you would have afforded to have the world. Hell, even this apartment on your own."
Fubuki shook her head. "Can we have a nice day without you tearing people apart? But Eyelashes is right, this is my apartment. You shouldn't monopolize what happens during these celebratory times. Lily deserves a party and I don't think you should ruin it."
"Ruin it? I just want to sleep! The day was exceptionally upsetting." Tatsumaki said emphatically. "I've been fighting nonstop for three days. Why the hell should I sleep in another perfunctory hotel?"
Their glares met.
"You shouldn't be here," Fubuki announced firmly. She nodded to herself then became iced in her gaze. "Yeah, go away for the night," Fubuki ordered.
"Why shouldn't I be here?" Tatsumaki demanded.
"Because you're not invited!" Lily erupted, bursting like a volcanic mass of dyed hair got on her fit.
Tatsumaki turned to the bratty half-pint fairy. "You're kicking me out of my house?"
Lily nodded. "You're stressing Lady Fubuki-sama out and your attitude super-sucks! It's my special day and I don't want any non-Fubuki group membres ruining it. If you didn't get the message or forgot since we reminded you many times, it's your fault. Besides, B-Class are invited. Only."
Tatsumaki observed all of the people then remembered she wanted to sleep. Sleep. Their laughter would nauseate Tatsumaki. Tatsumaki turned to the party plates, the confetti and the idiot smile curling on Fubuki's lips. It was the longest of days and starriest nights, why was she trying to do this? She's exhausted.
"Eyelashes, Fairy, your memory of disrespecting me will become your tears," Tatsumaki said, teeth grid together so hard that her teeth pulsated. "Fight in your pond and be glad. Train for the next couple thousand years, before you come to my sea, B-Class, and fight monsters."
All of them were alarmed. A breeze stirred the grey haze of Fubuki's fur coat.
She smiled dangerously. "If any of you B-Class idiots come to S-Class, I'll purposely ruin you. I promise. You're not invited. All of you!" Tatsumaki rolled her eyes, burning with rage.
Tatsumaki left, ignoring the gasps and Fubuki's annoyed yell. When Tatsumaki finally found a suitable place to be, the affluent hotel was conspicuously tall and operated on privilege.
Tatsumaki went through the shiny glass through revolving doors. Newspapers and stands with magazines of Amai Mask's face were there. Tatsumaki couldn't help but look around in dead wonder. Gold. Brightness. Marble floors. Chandeliers. Business. Suits—
And paparazzi? What the hell? Despite the picture flashes and coos of love, Tatsumaki managed to avoid the paparazzi enough by stapling them in place with her psychic ability.
Tatsumaki's yawn drew her attention to the zany screen with a handsome face. A commercial showing Amai Mask helping people in the clip disturbed her. He was in City F? and didn't even kill any of the monsters! He went there for the press! She hated him!
Amai Mask was the single most popular hero, a teen-pop sensation with an artistic flair. All of his concerts and shows built up some monetary reliance on him. Though funding for the association was large, Amai Mask was a breadwinner.
He was also the figurehead of the Hero Association. Popularity alone keeps him around the office. The higher-ups valued him. Be that as it may, Amai Mask was in the A-class, rank 1 position, he wasn't completely useless. Sadly, he didn't fight monsters unless it threatened his existence only.
What sucked was he could easily be S-Class but chose the life of hedonistic pleasures and pretty faces. Amai Mask was so annoying and so, so pretty. He wore more makeup than Tatsumaki.
Not that Tatsumaki wanted him around, it was a waste that he didn't apply himself.
When Tatsumaki got to the front desk, the hotel receptionist woman was in a trance. With wide bright eyes, a professional uniform fitting her minced waist and cheeks red. She was starstruck.
The woman's perkiness just couldn't be dulled, even though it was nearing close to four a.m? Tatsumaki couldn't care less. At least she couldn't overreact to Tatsumaki's presence.
"Give me your nicest room," Tatsumaki grumbled, sliding her card over. "I don't care about the price or the bed size or your frilly recommendations, give me your nicest room. With apples and wine..."
"That's already taken for Amai Mask but we could give you another suite close to his. That way, you could tell me ALL about what he looks like in the morning—"
Whatever. Tatsumaki lurched forward and paid attention. "Wait— did you say he was here?" Tatsumaki sucked in a breath. She was so unlucky! Unlucky!
The woman nodded. "He's staying here. Would you like the floor below his for better access? That's for less charge—"
"Don't put me anywhere near him. At all." Tatsumaki slammed a hand on the front desk. "Nowhere near his existence."
Tatsumaki's psychic powers splayed for a moment. The woman recognized the green luminosity and regrettably Tatsumaki's identity. Her already wide eyes almost popped out of her skull. Tatsumaki mitigated the incoming shrill scream of adoration by covering her ear.
"Oh my god! You're Tornado of Terror! Amai Mask is totally staying here for the night. I didn't know you'd show up, too, Tornado of Terror!" she spoke quickly.
"I am me. I know. He is him. We are here, together, but it isn't like some planned premeditated murder scene. I didn't want to come here. This is completely a coincidence." Tatsumaki frowned deeply, giving the woman mean eyes.
The front desk woman took Tatsumaki's card. "Is the Prince of the organization going to talk to the Princess? Is that why you guys met?"
Tatsumaki wasn't a stranger to how people wanted Amai Mask to be romantically involved with Tatsumaki. It seemed like the "perfect" couple in the tabloids.
Tatsumaki gave a smile that wasn't too acrimonious. "No. I just wanted to spend the night here without distractions—"
"That's alright," The woman winked companionably, her sing-song voice a nuisance. "Your secret is safe with me."
"There is no secret. Just don't tell him where my suite is, okay! That's a promise—" Tatsumaki cut herself off before a death threat bled through her lips.
"Okay," she drawled, voice high and unconvinced. "You're his girlfriend but you're not his girlfriend. You're just a friend for the night."
Every time Tatsumaki argued with this woman, she squandered napping time.
Tatsumaki was dour and unmistakenly murderous but her face softened up and she released laugh. She smiled in a tight, rigid way. How Atlas forced her to smile during portraits.
"Whatever. Just give me a room on the 16th floor." Tatsumaki said through her teeth. "Now."
The woman nodded, handing her the key card. "Tell me everything when you check out. I want all the details. You will enjoy your stay." she slid over her number. "Tell me everything."
"Okay." Tatsumaki turned away, marching to the elevator. She absolutely loathed everything about hotels and people.
###
The dark sunrise was harsh on her blood-red dry eyes. The city slept for a minute. Tatsumaki hadn't fallen asleep since every embarrassment and mistake played through her mind on repeat. The guilt was worse, though.
Tatsumaki created that earthquake and Fubuki was such an asshole at times. Fubuki prioritized the Fubuki Group over spending time with Tatsumaki. It was so rude.
Tatsumaki threw apple cores off of the balcony, watching them fall, watching them confuse those walking about.
Tatsumaki hasn't slept in 20 hours. This headache was a dagger pressing into her skull and eyes. Damn it. Maybe that's why she hadn't noticed the person settling beside her on the balcony as quickly as she should have.
She spat the apple seeds into the concrete jungle below. She needed about 3000 apple seeds in order for cyanide poisoning to kick in and she'd escape her new company.
"What? Your date cancelled and you want to die, Amai Mask? I would happily take that offer." Tatsumaki groused, looking over. Why did he have to stand so close?
Amai Mask leaned on the railing, easygoing. "For the date?" Amai Mask's embers for eyes burned for a moment.
Some people would die just to stand here, near the Amai Mask with his golden eyes and muted cerulean hair.
People wanted this intimate closeness, a brush of skin and the smell of his hair because he was beautiful. His eyes sang songs to people. Eyes don't have to meet to know he's special, he demanded to be seen.
She bet all of the stars in the universe came together to illuminate his presence. Breezes wanted to touch him or maybe he put that breeze in his hair, in his face. His hair was forever tousled. Tatsumaki swore she'd make him go extinct him one day, starting with his hair.
"No. To kill you," Tatsumaki tilted her head, biting her green apple menacingly.
Did that receptionist tell where Tatsumaki was staying? Or was it those pathetic paparazzi? Legions of his fans told him anything, even going as far to leak information about companies just to get his attention.
Or… being the A-Class monster she knew, Amai Mask probably found out and climbed up the building or conversely jumped down to her balcony.
"Why the hell are you here on my balcony? This isn't Romeo and Juliet. Spoiler alert, Romeo dies. Juliet kills him." Tatsumaki continued, spitting three apple seeds he dodged. Easily. He might as well dodge bullets without fret.
"That isn't how it ends." Amai Mask gave a gentle, practiced laugh.
Tatsumaki feigned incomprehension. "Well, I would kill Romeo." Tatsumaki inspected him closely. "I would kill you, too since you found my room like some stalker." She took another big bite, waving her apple in his face. "Stalker."
Amai Mask blinked and took her apple forcefully but her hand was unsteady, limp.
Her jaw dropped.
Spotting where her mouth made contact with it, he bit it, looking straight into her eyes. He even ate beautifully and tossed her apple over the edge beautifully. He spotted her bag of apples on the chair beside him and hauled them over.
Tatsumaki was too exhausted and superior to do anything, watching them smash down below.
"Hey— what gives?" she shrilled, a window shattering nearby.
"Pay attention." The sun made his eyes a pale red colour. Blood filled. "Is that a way to talk to your senior, Princess of the Hero Association, my association?" Amai Mask smiled, assuming a power position by staring down at her.
Most people would be charmed, letting that smile choose for them but all Tatsumaki saw was a veiny, creepy boss. Amai Mask was the association's spokesperson though he sucked at talking to people, civilian or hero.
Tatsumaki squared her shoulders, glaring at him. "Why the hell are you even in City A? You might be late for another promotion commercial. You know, no one wants to join because of your face." Tatsumaki quipped, though… she couldn't help but feel she was in the presence of a monster.
"Not according to the statistics, Princess Tatsumaki," he reminded her, using her pet name.
Tatsumaki grimaced.
"City A has clean and organized streets. Headquarters is right there. There's the lively nightlife. Beautiful environment. No restrictions. It's a nice place. I'm sure that you won't cause an earthquake here?" he said sweetly.
"I don't follow your words or songs as easily as your brainwashed fans. Don't say dumb things."
"It's a serious question. I am considering you a threat to the justice of the world." Amai Mask narrowed his eyes.
Tatsumaki scowled. "You were a threat to my apples."
"Don't be childish. You know what I'm talking about."
She grit her teeth. "It'll be justice for me if you go have a fucking pasta party and leave me alone. You might be the PR of the Hero Association but even Puri-Puri Prisoner doesn't like you. He hasn't hit on you, what makes you think you're human? I don't think you're allowed to criticize me. I am not a threat. I am talent."
"I could get you locked in a tower because your talent, Princess," Amai Mask said squarely. "Don't do it again."
A cold northern chill settled on her body. People in the association bowed down to Amai Mask. She normally had messages conveyed to her by Bearded Worker but sometimes, Amai Mask would order her around. It's weird when bosses take orders from their employees. Or it's the other way around. Either way, he had too much power in that curled grin of his.
"Your A-Class lackeys would lock me up?" Tatsumaki chuckled. "None of them of the range and versatility of my powers. You aren't on my level of my psychic powers. You and the other A-Class idiots sweat profusely when you see those Dragon-Level threats."
"What's with that glare?" He seemed mildly disgusted by her yelling and tilted his head. He leaned back. "Your psychically charged ego is your worst enemy. It destroys more than it creates. It can't create at all. Your ego won't handlebeing separated from the company. You are hard-working and disciplined but you can't meander while ruining the company's image. You know what the industry expects from you."
Tatsumaki stopped laughing. Suddenly. Worriedly.
"Your dependence on the Hero Association... I know of your reliance on killing. Your job, your ranking is everything you have meaning in. I could take it away, maybe put you on suspension. You'll lose points."
Tatsumaki got defensive, fist ready to hit and powers charged. She couldn't help but just listen, held in his glare.
"Separated from her group, Fubuki does have talent and potential. I would be willing to train Fubuki as a new Princess if it meant you wouldn't ruin the industry's image." he proposed casually.
And now he's done it.
"Don't touch Fubuki or I'll make you go extinct," she said, pointing debris, cars and everything at the building, despite the chaos below.
"I won't." he smoothed out his face, laughing. "You're cute when you're terrified. Fubuki is developed but not as a proficient Esper. Don't think I won't give out consequences if you're too reckless."
"Hmph. As if you could do anything." She set down all the items in an orderly fashion.
"All the Hero Association's social functions, meetings and everything pass through me. You are called the Princess of the Hero Association, but nothing you do is lady-like. The only language you speak is yell and your adolescent face is marred by your social ineptitude. You are a mess. You made the association a mess after causing this indescribable disaster. Why did you do that?"
"Hmph. I don't care if you're bothered. Cry me a river and drown in it, little flipper." Tatsumaki shifted.
"You're not beautiful but you are strong. I allowed you into the S-Class. Don't take that for granted." Amai Mask warned.
"Stop acting like a young God and taking the credit for my feats. You haven't audaciously learned lip service, parasite. You didn't allow me anything."
He was amused, chuckling while pleased. "I let all of you into S-Class. Remember that, Princess."
"A-Class, wanna meet the S-Class member who will let you keep your life? I'll sign my autograph on your grave." she threatened. "I despise all of them but the S-Class aren't beneath you. Remember that!"
"Even your threats are cute." He shook his head. "I will train you to have all the beautiful tactics I have. I like testing limits and setting people straight. Especially after your subpar performances and acts like yours. So unrefined."
"Unrefined?" Tatsumaki hovered in the air, eye-level with him.
"You must be the only good-looking thing on disaster sites. I will teach you that."
So many frosty words shouted inside. Amai Mask thought being a hero was about looking nice. He's so fucked in the head.
"You're so fucked up. I saw you in City F. Several monsters were in your area but there was a photoshoot and you didn't bother to help because of that stupid philosophy. The real reason you were in City F is because of publicity. I didn't see you helping anyone but other fake flimsy paid actors! You suck!"
That ruthless shine in his eyes returned, the one where he looked like a monster. Amai Mask flashed his fangs with the smiling come hither eyes of his. "The people needed to be reassured after the stunt you pulled, Princess, don't forget that. Besides, no one got hurt. It was taken care of."
"I don't believe you, Amai Mask. Guess what, I don't get tricked by lying smiles." she said quietly. "And it's not your association. If Blast were here, he'd fuck you up. It's his association. His."
"Blast isn't here. Come into the office this morning. We have a lot to discuss."
Tatsumaki shook her head. "I'm not going. I'm not taking orders from a guy who shows up at my balcony and threatens my job. You're all too shady and I don't want to."
Amai Mask craned his neck. "Anything I say is for the betterment of the Hero Association. You are in no position to deny my words." He leaned in, lips beside her ear. "Be there or there will be consequences on Fubuki and everything else you care for. We'll go to lunch to discuss the consequences."
"Oh sorry, I'm full." Tatsumaki snarled.
"It's mandatory." he snarled back.
"To me, I deem it optional," she smirked, shrugging. "What I say is, therefore will be."
"You're going." he insisted.
Tatsumaki stuck her tongue out. "That's not my problem."
"Princess, it will be if you don't show up," He tipped his head as if he were a gentleman. "See you there."
Bathing under sodium light, his smooth skin had the milky fluorescence of an angel. Maybe his dewy skin was enticing in a crass way. Amai Mask's regeneration always restored his muscles without a scar. It sculpted his abdomen's shape and duvets through his shirt.
He had the body of a star. One star. Blast was the universe. So far away...
Tatsumaki glared at the man when he suddenly jumped off of the balcony and went up, to his master's suite.
Amai Mask represented perseverance, strength and nobility, the epitome of heroes. Like he talked stars down from the sky. He was an idol, a star, a performer— not a fucking moral person. He managed heroes and killed monsters if his day job didn't fill in his time, which wasn't even the point of being a hero.
He wasn't a hero, he was a narcissistic asshole who took part in the Hero Association. And whoop-di-do, he was at the top… where Tatsumaki was apparently at. Was... she immoral like him?
Tatsumaki looked down at her hand. Trembling. He's the prettiest monster she's ever seen. It's rare Tatsumaki felt unsafe around other humans but some monsters were intimidating. He wasn't a monster but... why did she feel like getting rid of him? How was a monster inside of the association? Actually, what was a monster?
###
-End Chapter-
A/N- Ovidae here. Sorry for disappearing. There are two chapters since I wanted to include Tatsumaki's work consequences along with personal ones too. I mean, with this chapter we see that she doesn't take care of herself, she doesn't work well with others and she also has a jaded view of Hero's Association. It was just a peek into the corrupt scenes of the Hero's Association or at least just how much she could trust the company. And duuude, this is Tatsumaki-centric so sorry for not having our favourite smartass Saitama.
Sorry for any errors. They are all mine. I will be going over them.