Tornadoes For Sighs
-Chapter 4-
Yugen (You Again?)
PFFT, TATSUMAKI DIDN'T MUCH LIKE ANSWERING TO ANYONE BUT HERSELF. So, she never did.
Lunch was better spent in solitude.
Tatsumaki was an uncomplicated woman, she enjoyed being alone. Of course, Tatsumaki didn't go to Amai Mask's meeting. She soon left the hotel minutes after he went back to his suite. He couldn't locate her too easily.
Stupid Zombieman calling. Stupid Fubuki. Stupid world.
Coffee in hand, Tatsumaki finally marched home, five hours of sleep on her mind.
Morning light leaked onto the grey-flecked walls as she scowled into her living room, a poisonous vibration rumbling through the floor. Those B-Class idiots snored, tangled on top of each other like family in the morning white.
Fubuki wasn't there. Her psychic school called her.
Tatsumaki selfishly looked forward to talking to Fubuki, a second coffee in her left hand. She wanted to be awake while she confronted her baby sister.
Tatsumaki settled on the marble island counter, finishing apple pudding and toast. She absently watched the smoke waves of grey over the latte Fubuki would love.
Fubuki's favourite stuff and expensive taste were everywhere but no Fubuki. Who needed decorative towels?
The compulsive shopper Fubuki used satin and cashmere to fill that endless void of hers. Tatsumaki didn't care about materialism or Fubuki's materialism. It would be nice to see her blood sister instead of her latest shopping spree.
The second coffee cup got cold. Only then did Tatsumaki realize her sister was avoiding her. Fubuki used to play with Tatsumaki ALL the time. Tatsumaki was so popular and great, Fubuki thought. Whatever happened?
"Princess, consequences will be executed. Excuses won't save you," was the fine, tender voicemail from Amai Mask.
It was warmer than any sweet nothing Amai Mask could have left, no glitter or eye makeup. Tatsumaki loved ruining people's mornings with toes snug in her bunny slippers.
Smirking, Tatsumaki turned on the squatting TV on the dining table. The explosions were loud, bothering them. Those freeloading B-Class could go deaf for all she cared.
Humbly swilling coffee, watching the latest devastation and burning city was a nice way to start the day.
City S, City G, City J and City N had some small scale attacks that were taken care of. Nothing exciting but the street punk Metal Bat talking rudely on TV.
Tatsumaki wanted to steal the attention from Metal Bat and his ridiculous hairstyle, though. She hated baseball and weird street kids like him. That pillbug head, his skinny baseball bat and his sister were so irritating.
Bearded Worker hasn't called Tatsumaki in for anything… Tatsumaki cleared her life's schedule and dedicated her next few hours into irritating Metal Bat.
Then a glasses-wearing reporter introduced this monster in City Z she couldn't help but want to kill.
Tatsumaki was mildly sympathetic for the pale, shrivelling reporter giving info, risking his life for the public. The reporter in City Z must have seventeen thousand heart attacks if he typically remained in City Z to record these demons. Tatsumaki might give him a candy apple if he perseveres.
"BREAKING NEWS! DEMON-LEVEL MONSTER SEEN IN PARK AREA OF CITY Z! NO HEROES ON THE SITE. MONSTER BURNING TREES AND HOMES ALIKE. SELF-IDENTIFIES AS ABBADON. HERO'S ASSOCIATION HAS NOT DEPLOYED A-CLASS OR S-CLASS HEROES."
Footage of a huge skeleton with flames for hair, bare-bones swayed about on her screen. Abbadon had a vendetta against the living, as it tried to burn down City Z. Abbadon targeted non-burning things and frightened people with its phalange fists of flames.
People were fearful of its charred footprints. Abbadon demonically laughed, heart beating like some unfortunate time bomb.
Tatsumaki had battle attacks, thinking of ways to kill it and have fun, expecting the call from HQ and Bearded Worker. Oh, this was gonna be exhilarating.
The TV twitched and the fraught journalist unwound. He clumsily dodged white shards of something falling.
No one was scared, running for their lives in the background. Firefighters rushed to the scene, literally grinning. Tatsumaki frowned into her cup, sipping a large gulp for caffeine. The fun's over?
"Thank God! Coming in now, Abbadon was taken care of. By whom, only an anonymous hero with one punch." The blabbering reporter articulated.
Tatsumaki spat out her coffee, slippers flying across the room. "One punch?" roared Tatsumaki.
Tatsumaki's coffee cup exploded in her hand as she growled. That was Dr. Gray's damn M.O!
"Its bones ribs are raining all throughout the city. We cannot find the body but one witness says it was defeated in one punch. It might be an exaggeration through the shock but we all are thankful for that hit. Abbadon is dead." The reporter laughed gratefully.
It was Dr. Gray. Maybe. Argh! Tatsumaki wasn't seventeen thousand percent sure but it should be him. Tatsumaki screamed. What the hell was going on? Dr. Gray Baldy didn't call her! Tatsumaki went onto the Disaster Channel website, where they listed monsters seen in the cities. 4 cases of monsters with 2 Tiger-Level threats in the past four days!
Has Dr. Gray even thought of calling? That idiot! Dr. Gray killed Abbadon without Tatsumaki! How the fuck did he do that? And how long has he been doing it? Was she going crazy?
It was raining bones like some apocalypse. It was all Dr. Gray Baldy's fault! Was Dr. Gray capable and strong? Dr. Gray lifted a vending machine and did all those heroic deeds… But could he do that times ten?
Why do I care so much? Tatsumaki paused, glaring at his picture. Am I really this bored? Was it something else?
Tatsumaki will never depend on someone. Ever. Walls. Walls. She'll build more walls instead of bridges. Tatsumaki always went to bed knowing nobody was screwing her over. But she never slept.
###
81-9012345677…
81-9012345677?
81-9012345677?!
That number was burned into the back of Tatsumaki's eyelids. Tatsumaki's called it so many times, she might as well change it to her last name and marry it. Out of the two-hundred times Tatsumaki called, left messages or texted… no one responded. Tatsumaki will kill Dr. Gray for every missed call, left message and text times infinity.
People normally caved now. Tatsumaki was irresistible. Well, not anymore.
Amai Mask leaked Tatsumaki was supposed to work closely with him (whatever that meant) to the press. The media tore Tatsumaki apart because she wasn't being their princess. They alleged Tatsumaki slacked off, failing her heroine duties. Maybe Tatsumaki neglected her normal patrols but this hunt was necessary! Tatsumaki wanted her bloodsport caught.
City Z was a pleasant city, monster-ridden— exactly the scene for heroes to show their strength and grow famous. When heroes get promoted, they customarily chose a city to protect and build a fanbase. Self-serving heroes cared about the later. Monster populations declined substantially.
Yet City Z didn't have a hero who claimed it.
Maybe because it was too damn big. Tatsumaki couldn't find that bastard in this inordinately large city! Dumbly, Tatsumaki had no inkling where Dr. Gray lived!
Interestingly, over the next two days, she found forty fresh monster corpses of varying threat levels killed with one punch. One powerful, calamitous attack that abolished the monster in forests, streets, and highways— restricted areas, where no one was.
Did… Dr. Gray do this? Probably not… but Tatsumaki wanted to know who possibly could.
Bearded Worker —Tatsumaki didn't know his real name, she forgot— was genuinely trying to help her. Evidently, he didn't trust her very much when he provided no straight answers. Tatsumaki wasn't supposed to go poke around Ghost Town but screw about company protocols.
Bearded Worker groaned after the five minutes of heckling and pressing. "I can't tell you all the happenings of the company and classified information!" he parroted, for the millionth time. "If I tell you who supervises the city, you will bully them."
"And?" Tatsumaki asked innocently.
"Oh, Terror of Tornado-sama, all due respect… but… but I bet you bullied other kids when you were young and bulldozed people. A lot."
"I stole their lunches too." Tatsumaki deadpanned. "Don't destroy the coherency of your answer and avoid telling me. Tell me!"
"Are you in City Z again?" he mumbled tensely. Tatsumaki confirmed it. "Why? Why do you frequent that city? The investigation into Ghost Town wasn't apart of S-Class affairs or concerns." ranted Bearded Worker.
"You telling me I'm not good enough to roam the city?"
"No—"
"Then don't worry and push the line." Tatsumaki scoffed. "City Z homes many monsters to fight and win against. I'm afraid I'm the last line of defence, too."
"Last line? You haven't claimed a city." Bearded Worker disclosed wonderingly. "Are you interested in City Z, when you have City A—"
"Don't make assumptions." Tatsumaki snapped.
Tatsumaki was needed everywhere hence why Tatsumaki was never in one city at a time, though City H or City A were exceptions.
Tatsumaki's never had loyalty to City H. However, City H had Atlas with his brats. Tatsumaki lingered in City A because of headquarters. The occasionally homeless Fubuki trained her psychic school and the Fubuki group there. Wanting to shelter Fubuki and work drove Tatsumaki to buy an estate. But Tatsumaki doesn't like protecting the innocuous, monotonous and rich City A.
"Enough lies! Want me to send a meteor to HQ so you could tell me? No pressure." she added casually.
"Hey! So many people would die and Metal Knight would send hundreds of missiles to your bedroom if you did." Bearded Worker grit his teeth. "You wouldn't!"
"Don't make false assumptions," Tatsumaki instructed, all steely.
"Fine. No one has claimed City Z due to its substantial amount of Mysterious Beings. C-Class heroes avoid it, too, or rather… die when trying to. Some A-Class heroes move away to calmer cities. We don't send in our men very often," he declared, "or women, either like you Terror of Tornado-sama, not to suggest that women aren't apart of the organization—"
"I get it." Tatsumaki cut him off.
Cowards.
A-Class heroes who left chickened out. Great! Just GREAT. That just meant someone claimed City Z and hasn't told HQ! They don't know how to write so they have no reports, either. Tatsumaki gasped. Like a certain hero for fun…
"Tell me who works in this city and died. The heroes and villains, of course. Give me the reports of everyone who's done a job here. Send it to my laptop or if the file's too large, send it in fragments to my phone." Tatsumaki explained.
"No. The information is sensitive. I don't like being liberal with information like this, especially under strenuous situations. Who does that?" he croaked.
"Hmph. I like disturbing the comfortable. Besides, your beard would've survived the attack." she shrugged.
"I shaved this morning." he groaned, presumably sweating buckets, head on his desk. "I'm on it."
"Good boy."
Tatsumaki policed a deserted alleyway with a monster husk. It had a cylindrical wound where his heart should have been. One attack. One punch mustered. She cautiously took the photo of the weird dolphin monster.
"Is this monster in our database?" Tatsumaki forwarded the photo to Bearded Worker.
"Nope. He isn't registered," he responded.
60% of the monsters Tatsumaki took pictures of weren't in the company's database nor were they reported. Sometimes, there were bloodstains with monster-like outlines and no remains. She only took photos of the dead monsters' heads with general descriptions of its features. She didn't report the cause of death, though she knew why.
"Tornado of Terror, you don't have to busy yourself with small matters like this. I am looking over it." Bearded Worker seemed moderately offended by her actions. "City Z has some destructive monsters. In fact, Amai Mask is looking into City Z to assign new heroes and he wants you out of there, too— he's considering visiting City Z—"
"Huh? No! Don't bring him into the City Z! I won't ever forgive you or him. I deny his access. There."
"Err, Tornado of Terror— denying Amai Mask doesn't work like that. In fact, here's the message he passed along to you. "Consequences will be executed," Amai Mask said. What are these consequences? Didn't you have a meeting with Amai Mask?" he questioned.
"Nope. Negative." Tatsumaki crossed her arms to further affirm that. "Keep him away from what's mine! City Z's mine. I claim this territory! It's mine. Mine." Tatsumaki stomped her foot.
"Yours? Do you want to claim City Z after those earthquakes? Good move. I'll confirm it with Amai Mask." he began.
Bearded Worker idiot wasn't using his seasonal intelligence to say smart things! She kinda tolerated his advice but this was intolerable!
"It's nice to see him involved in monster work, frankly. City Z needs a guardian and he's pretty equipped to give media attention to the problem within the area." Bearded Worker proclaimed. "And it's good to work on team-building, Tornado of Terror. It's like eating at a new restaurant. You don't know the menu but the person you're with helps with recommendations and company. Go to the meeting later today."
"Fat chance. Eating at a new restaurant? Finish eating the crumbs out of your beard before telling me what restaurants to go to," she mumbled.
"I'm not asking you to get personally involved with him, having a partnership in the Hero Association is good. You need the people skills," he assured. "Why don't you lend him an ear and solve this problem together?"
"I'll lend him both of mine if it means I don't have to listen to him."
"He said it would be exciting." he urged.
"Welp, oops, I'm boring and I don't want to meet him. There's nothing charming in him." Tatsumaki thundered. "I am tired of him. I don't want to see him."
"Wait—" Bearded Worker inhaled sharply. "You skipped the previous meeting? You didn't reschedule? You weren't killing a monster?"
"Nope. I walked away from the meeting. There's a difference. I don't ever skip. That's for children!"
"Tornado of Terror-sama… that isn't how you treat Amai Mask. You have to spe—"
"Sorry. I can't understand you. Goodbye." She hung up and hung her head.
Amai Mask was weaselling into her life like a damn worm. She despised worms. And Bearded Worker was acting like a larva. What was Amai Mask doing, breastfeeding Bearded Worker? Why did he tell Amai Mask everything? Why was he answering to Amai Mask? Bearded Worker was Amai Mask's boss, not his fucking intern.
Amai Mask talked too much while Dr. Gray talked too little. Tatsumaki held her forehead. She had a migraine.
In City Q, Watchdog Man stayed in one place and completely gained his status through others reporting his feats. He habitually claimed there's nothing to report. Everything's dead, he killed them, and he had no more living enemies to report…
City Q was a hot zone for monster activity, even more so than City Z. Maybe the people who defended City Z controlled the monster population so City Z wouldn't become like City Q. Hmm.
Tatsumaki didn't think this Dr. Gray man was on the savage Watchdog Man's level but killing advanced monsters deserved some recognition. The world would rejoice at someone seeing this slew of slain atrocities but no one saw.
Dr. Gray had time to massacre a small city of monsters but not to call? She got lunch, a meatball sandwich that Atlas usually made for dinner. Food tasted bland when she didn't eat at Atlas' home. She denied that it had anything to do with him raising her.
She went back to searching. After a couple more hours of no luck, she called Bearded Worker.
"Any mouth-breathing heroes not doing their job lingering around here?" she pressed. Someone should take responsibility for this mess in the city. "Tell me the heroes in the city now."
Maybe Dr. Gray was a registered shitty doctor, hero and dumbass.
"There is Mumen Rider," Bearded Worker revealed quite easily. She wore him down.
So, Baldy was Mumen Rider? "Is his name Saitama?"
"No. It's Mumen Rider. Were you listening?"
"Let me talk to him," she said. Tatsumaki wanted to lecture this Mumen Rider for not being present like Blast. She had two speeches ready for Blast. Three if children are present.
"Mumen Rider will give you tips about the road and maybe the small-time crooks but I don't think he'll help with Dragon-Level threats." Bearded Worker said, office sounds interrupting him.
Pfft. Yeah. Anyone who isn't me won't help much but I need to have a word with him! Tatsumaki rolled her eyes.
Bearded Worker began listing off facts. "He's C-Class, rank 1. His weapon is a bicycle and gauntlets. Nicknamed "Justice", he is very diligent and has been described to never overlook any crime or criminal, no matter who he's facing. He had remained the top C-Class hero for half a year but denied the promotion to B-Class due to other stronger heroes deserving the spot."
"So… Mumen Rider, he's a useless jackass to this city." Tatsumaki sighed.
Well, Dr. Gray's (Saitama?) work wasn't C-Class… So, Mumen Rider was different from Baldy. If Tatsumaki lectured every weak hero, her vocal cords would snap.
"No. It's honourable. He does patrols during Christmastime. Very popular with the public." Bearded Worker added, charmed.
"Yeah, me too. I work. Hard. He clearly hasn't, stuck in C-Class! People in C-Class are embarrassing to humankind." she groaned.
"Hey, I'm C-Class level in strength!" protested Bearded Worker.
"Yeah, you're a noob. Beardy boy, you've lowered my integrity as a human by conversing with you. Do you know how much you've drained my power levels in the past three years?" she joked.
"If you dislike me so much, why do you use me as your associate?" he sighed into the speaker. "You throw fits whenever someone else consults with you on these things."
Bearded Worker tapped away, probably looking at several screens in an ominous office with a beard. She kinda liked him. Bullying him mercilessly about beards was the fun part of her day.
Tatsumaki wouldn't let anyone have him, though. Not even Amai Mask.
Bearded Worker was assigned to her the first day, him in administrative affairs and her with lowly jobs. Tatsumaki had a head injury when formally applying for the association and almost flunked the written test.
People deemed Tatsumaki and Bearded Worker useless, so they were useless together for a month. They both rose in ranks as Bearded Worker was acknowledged for his technological and leadership skills and Tatsumaki, well, for everything.
"Simple. You buy me candy apples. You're S-Class in intelligence and compassion. You also don't have to use a dictionary for the words I use," admitted Tatsumaki.
"That's not a compliment."
"And I don't throw fits, idiot." Tatsumaki snapped. "Hey, your beard eats other beards for breakfast. That's admirable, you never have to pack a lunch. Chomping away like that."
"That's not what beards are for and we don't do that. I don't even have that much of a beard. Do you know how facial hair works?" he demanded, the only company worker able to use that tone.
"It's a lunchbox for lazy people." Tatsumaki nodded to herself. "C'mon, don't cry. You'll water your beard. If you need comfort, hug your beard."
Bearded Worker wasn't thrilled with her answer. "Anyway, Terror of Tornado-sama, here's a text of his appearance. He will meet you at Yoyogi park in the east. I have real work to do. And no more favours. After this meeting, you're done in City Z…"
Bearded Work gave her the coordinates and Tatsumaki sighed. Mumen Rider really looked like a jackass. And Bearded worker couldn't stop her from doing what she wanted to. Who the fuck was kidding him?
###
Tatsumaki was sure rays of disappointment shone down on her when waiting for Mumen Rider. She texted Bearded Worker whilst lounging on a bench.
Tatsumaki: So. He's bad at everything. Including coming on time. It must be a hero-thing. To be late. I'll kill him.
Bearded Worker: You're meeting in a public place for a reason. There will be less casualties. :)
Tatsumaki: I promise nothing. ;)
Bearded Worker: :(
The park was fresh with kids, people with businesses and hobbies. Childish yells of fun and music were bothersome. The metallic park had bright yellow heated slides.
The open plain of grass was near the inner part of the city, an oasis of green. Many people walking around with sporty wear, stretching or jogging around crisp grass and trimmed trees. It was endless.
City Z had many parks and kids and families and dogs. They interacted with charming street vendors and the flat edge of the river bank.
Tatsumaki stood, comparing the photo to the physical version of the underwhelming Mumen Rider coming closer.
Oh my god, his outfit is worse in person, Tatsumaki thought.
Mumen Rider had a huge beetle green helmet with yellow straps, brown shoulder pads with glasses obscuring his eyes and a dark suit under his thin armour. Mumen Rider was of average height with precipice-dark hair. His goggles were just so old-style with his maroon armour. She was scowling, seeing her narrowed eyes in his wide lenses.
Mumen Rider's green bike made her eyes burn out of her skull due to the rosiness on her cheeks. She wanted to scream nicely and die because she couldn't ride that bike. Or any bike. She never learned.
Mumen Rider didn't notice her wanting to hide behind iron curtains. Even so, Tatsumaki was struck by the sun found in his smile. Tatsumaki ignored the urge to reach out to know if it were real. She was pissed.
Mumen looked like he wanted to shake her hand or hug her or stare forever but he restrained himself. Luckily. She didn't like killing people on Thursdays anyway.
He bowed slightly. "You are Terror of Tornado! Hello, Tornado of Terror-sama! It's n-nice to meet you. Welcome to City Z! I heard you wanted to meet and d-discuss heroic things. Like a team." Mumen Rider gushed.
"I don't do teams," Tatsumaki told him.
"Well, we could get udon. I k-know a great place near here where we could chat. I will pay, for sure. No fighting on splitting the bill. I know there are always fights. But hey, you'll win that one like every epic battle. Even so, I'll try my hardest to treat you." he rambled, nodding his head.
"I don't eat with people. And I don't think your body moves like mine, so you wouldn't ever run strong in that race," Tatsumaki tilted her head. "Ever."
Mumen Rider didn't seem attacked but caught off guard. "Yeah." he chuckled, a bit inferior. He settled his fists on his hips, sprightly and comfortable after her comment.
"I didn't think you'd come here, to my city but I've seen you on the news, patrolling. It's not very often I see powerful S-Class heroes in this part of town." He paused. "Is this your text message?" Mumen Rider held up his phone, which was the model she had. Bearded Worker's slow mannerisms found its way into text alright.
Tatsumaki nodded, watching him impassively. "My Bearded Worker sent you a message detailing the fact we needed to meet. I didn't expect to actually see your bicycle." she directed her glare at the dreaded bike.
She will conquer that distorted tin can.
Not hearing Tatsumaki's sarcastic disdain, Mumen Rider was flattered by her words, accidentally opening space for conversation. Mumen Rider observed his bike, proud like a father. How Atlas looked at her whenever she didn't fail her finals.
Mumen Rider beamed. "It's pretty cool. A n-new model with a revised head tube, chain rail and rear derailleur. I could manage to go 2.5 times faster. But I don't get tired as easily." Mumen Rider said confidently. "And it's—"
"Hmph. I never much liked bikes. They're a yawn." she said, voice high pitched.
At 28, the guy was 2.5 times faster than she was. Talk about embarrassing. The green colour paint job was okay, the colour of fresh green apples before the harvesting season.
However, it didn't spare him but he truly used a bike. A bike to roll in and kill enemies. Ugh.
He nodded, voice not wavering. His fair and fragile persona didn't falter. "I like motorcycles more. To be honest. These are pretty handy, though." he laughed, flustered. "Especially a-after I lost my license."
"There's a story there." hummed Tatsumaki.
"Yeah. It's actually pretty—"
Tatsumaki held up a hand. "I don't need to know. Trust me."
"T-Trust?" Mumen Rider repeated.
Tatsumaki nodded concisely. Mumen Rider turned around, settling his worried arms. Tatsumaki wanted to reach out and flick his helmet, maybe to shake up his brain but she couldn't handle it.
"Shall we go?" Mumen Rider dislodged the kickstand and held onto the handlebars.
"Negative. I don't want to eat." Tatsumaki got closer while they stared each other down. Well, Tatsumaki did.
He looked away. "I'm the bicyclist for justice, Mumen Rider. A C-Class professional, have been for a long while helping people. I've only seen you on TV and in the elevator going to the places with the higher-ups while I'm on the streets for justice and you're fighting Demon-Level threats. We aren't fighting, er, and you don't want to team up… so Tornado of Terror," he swallowed, peering back at her owlishly, "why did you meet with me?"
"Let's skip the formalities and the hassles of meeting. Veteran heroes have a lot to deal with. I found it important to have a summit and ask." Tatsumaki cleared her throat, folding her arms. "What are you doing in City Z if you're not helping much?"
Mumen Rider steadied his bike, kickstand and all with expertise.
"Get it through your helmet, to your brain that your City Z heroes are not making enough effort. Not reporting stuff, not asking for help or not getting stronger. If you're on the level of my sister, Fubuki, why the fuck haven't you helped or trained more? You're on a bike, not a tricycle. You have the opportunity of a full-grown man, hero, whatever. Do something about it."
He took a while to recover but spoke. "D-Do something about it?"
"Yeah! 600 people have died in the past year because City Z can't find better heroes. Why are there are only two of you heroes here on a consistent basis?"
"My skill set matches my opportunities. I only have a bike and a helmet and justice on my side but that's more than enough!" he countered, timid but defensive. "I try to keep this place safe from harm."
"Then why didn't you ask the Hero's Association for help? Aid. New fucking bike wheels! My help! You're there in this company for yourself but not by yourself." Tatsumaki yelled. "You dumb or something?"
"That's not true. We're in this Hero's Association to save people, not to boast about accomplishments and feel good about ourselves." Mumen Rider gave a laugh. It was sort of sad and small, breathy.
So much of the association was about public perception and strong social, societal impacts. Mumen Rider hinted it shouldn't be that way. Why didn't Mumen Rider trust the company? Yeah, there were some creepy bosses like Amai Mask and slouches like Bearded Worker but she liked working.
"I take pride in defending the city indiscriminately. I may lose, at the end of my strength but I fight. I have to fight to protect the peace. The S-Class doesn't care enough about the common folk to appear in this City Z regularly." Mumen Rider explained. "Only the big, devastating monsters are responded to and even then, the S-Class chooses when to appear or how much to fight."
"We don't need to if you'd had just done your fucking job! Oh my god! Demon-Level threats aren't even that hard to defeat and you struggle with a Wolf! It's pathetic. All of you C-Class heroes are pathetic and soft!" Tatsumaki spat.
"I know." he conceded.
Tatsumaki blinked. He wasn't supposed to agree. Those heroes she talked down to normally had pride.
"I know all of that." Mumen Rider lowered his glare, arms shaking with discernible disgust and rage. "I am not strong enough to perform up to your standards but I gravitate towards pain rather than softness and I don't quit this city. I do all of that. What are you doing about the tragedy of City Z?" asked Mumen Rider challengingly.
Hunting a certain Baldy for not calling back, Tatsumaki wanted to say but she didn't. She'd rather rag on Mumen Rider because he hasn't tried to get better. He settled.
"Me? I'm just bringing up the problem to oblivious tricycles like you! You've fallen into the culture of inaction! By dinting your helmet with reality and facts, you'll learn that maybe you're supposed to be complaining about your obsolete self as a defeatist!"
"Why aren't you helping?" he asked simply.
Tatsumaki stopped and looked at him for a moment. "Me? Helping?"
He shifted, pausing loftily. "Tornado of Terror-sama, I'm not a doomwatcher and there is a problem in City Z. Y-You're complaining but you aren't doing anything to help because you think complaining is enough. It isn't. Not in heroism." Mumen Rider said.
Tatsumaki was an autumn tree at the moment, stripped bare by those windy words. She was embarrassed.
"You're a weak, minor C-Class. What do you know about h-helping people? Why commit suicide in your work clothes if you can't help?" she sputtered.
"I'm a hero. Dying's apart of the job. It's not suicide if you're saving someone. At least I'll be here and that means something. Are you going to stay and do something about City Z?" he asked quietly.
She didn't know. Probably not. Tatsumaki responded with silence.
"I'm here, consistently and the public has someone reliable and dependable. You're powerful but absent. Our City Z monsters seem like a nuisance to you." Mumen Rider said bravely.
Tatsumaki sighed, waving her hand. "What are you trying to get at, assuming shit like that? I thought you stood for truth."
Mumen Rider got fiercer, aggression in his body and stance. There was a strange emotion within her but it wasn't pity or jealousy. It churned uncivilly in her stomach.
"No matter how the world changes, justice should remain constant. My justice will remain constant. With power comes duty but with the willingness to fight evil and have justice in perpetuity, people you like should keep." he spoke.
Tatsumaki was angry. Angry at Mumen rider for speaking like that and the guilt inside— no… that was humiliation or guilt. I'm here. For now, Tatsumaki thought. Did that matter? It should. Did it?
Tatsumaki was paranoid now.
"I'm going to go fight monsters or a purse snatcher. It was nice to meet you but I would like to go help now," he said, getting onto his green bike.
Mumen Rider was trying to sting Tatsumaki. Mumen Rider, I only answer to progress, Tatsumaki thought but couldn't say. Tatsumaki didn't normally hesitate or lie but saying it felt wrong.
Mumen Rider watched her for a long while, a slight smile on his face but it was subtle and sour. Like water with a dash of lime.
"What? The meeting's over. I will get no help from a C-Class. As always," snapped Tatsumaki, ignoring how people were staring.
"Ah. It's nothing." Mumen Rider turned away. "Just saying, all S-Class heroes were C-Class at one point." Mumen Rider reminded her and pedalled away, to have a sword fight with q-tips or something.
He left her speechless. She blinked. All S-Class heroes were C-Class at one point...
Tatsumaki sighed. Well, he was useless. She knew that. It didn't get better when yelling at him. Mumen Rider was without filter, without defence. It was incredibly easy to just yell at him… but also acknowledge his purity.
Would it be suicide to him if he died fighting for justice against an enemy he knew he couldn't beat? To her, yes. But he seemed like the type to try anyway.
After standing in the odd scam that people called life, Tatsumaki wondered about the major incidents in City Z she's missed. The natural disasters, terrorism and the dangerous monsters. She complained about them. C-Class looked for purse snatchers, robberies and random attacks. They handled the small grunt work and have to take cold calls. They also complained about it.
People complained but they don't help because they think that's enough. Tatsumaki sighed at him and opened her phone, browsing the monster pics and other photos. Dr. Gray appeared, bald and awful and not calling. Was she trying hard enough? At anything?
The city was quiet. Maybe Tatsumaki should just go home. Metal Bat needed a daily insult to keep healthy and she wasn't helping anyone.
She was about to set off, floating with a bird-eye view of the park. With that one cursory glance, Tatsumaki saw him. Lounging in the sun in the middle of the park, laying on the grass as this mass of yellow stupidity.
Rage. Full-on rage enveloped Tatsumaki with the burn of dry ice. It made her heavy as she settled on the ground. Tatsumaki incredulously stared him down, hands on her hips, blocking the sun from caressing his yielding, tanned skin. Dr. Gray does not get to sunbathe. No. Nope. No. Not after the shit he's pulled.
Dr. Gray was at ease, unusually slack-faced. He wore a belt with a brown buckle, securing his dumb yellow one-piece suit in place. His red gloves and red boots were jarring to the naked eye. He enjoyed the breeze as he was cushioned by his white cape.
So, this was his location, a lovely burial site. Oh, his face will be a punch card. A punch card. Tatsumaki will drag him to a grave, kill him, and bury him with attacks.
Dr. Gray Baldy had the I.Q of a lemon and the suit of one too. Lemons don't hide very long against sharp knives like Tatsumaki.
Dr. Gray's eyebrows twitched. He wasn't able to bask in the sunlight and noticed the interruption.
"Is it cloudy?" Dr. Gray murmured softly to himself.
Hell usually had acid rains. So, she guessed death was pretty cloudy. "Get up, idiot." Tatsumaki kicked his knee.
The pain came a thousandth of a second later. Tatsumaki just kicked a steel box of gold. She held down the scream. She's endured worse than this but how was his skin— like that? Was it his suit? What the hell!
And her foot pulsated. Hurt. Ouch. She hasn't been dealt with physical pain for a long time. As if a fly landed on him, her hit didn't deal any damage. She hasn't resorted to using her body in such a long time and it backfires?
"What was that?" Baldy yawned, becoming boneless and skinny and weak.
Finally, Dr. Gray made eye contact with her. They gaped at each other with varying degrees of horror and scrutinizing disdain.
"Oh, shit. It's that midget grocery thief—" Dr. Gray's eyes widened.
"Don't call me that! Address me with respect after the shit you pulled!"
Tatsumaki wanted to kick him again but that seemed like a bad idea.
"What did I do wrong?" He noticed her glaring. "Hey… Why are you here? How'd you find me."
"You are sincerely the father of all nonsense. All of it." Tatsumaki held her forehead.
"That didn't answer my question. Man, you're too evasive."
What a fucking hypocrite! Tatsumaki was too evasive?! Dr. Gray Baldy was the one who evaded her for almost a week with his weird, shitty chameleon tactics. He was the background characters in dreams with his bored eyes and placid complexion. Such an evasive bastard. He was evasive.
"How I came here doesn't matter." Tatsumaki steadied herself again. "I'm curious, Dr. Gray. You haven't answered ANY of my calls and most of the time, there were monsters around. So hell yeah I'm curious, why didn't you call?"
"Don't be curious," said Dr. Gray simply.
"Huh? Don't be curious! You're kidding me! I have so many concerns and questions—"
He rubbed his eyes. "Why's there more than one?"
He seemed irritated by this. Smartass.
Dr. Gray's the spawn of evil. The evil spawn if he doesn't know what's wrong. With his attitude, she was shocked he was still alive did he really kill those monsters? She was half-sleepy when she made the theory and jealous… Many S-Class heroes could kill with one punch.
Tatsumaki walked to him, hands on her hip. She levelled her face with his, dying to ask the big question. "Hey, Dr. Gray, perpetual novice, did you really kill all those monsters?" Tatsumaki asked quietly.
"Which one?"
Pause. Dr. Gray got uneasy.
"These." Tatsumaki showed him the pictures of all of the monsters she found and all of the corpses that were there too.
Each time Tatsumaki switched the pic, Dr. Gray sweat even more. Something like satisfaction and recognition flashed through Dr. Gray's eyes. So… it was him. Dr. Gray closed his eyes after she repeated her question.
"Will you leave me alone if I did?" Dr. Gray opened a sole eye.
"Quite simply no." Tatsumaki folded her arms. She couldn't.
Dr. Gray Baldy didn't even hesitate, taking on the most ridiculously morose voice. "Then beats me, I dunno who defeated all of those monsters." he put on a dead ass expression. "I, uh, don't know at all…"
"You're a TERRIBLE liar!"
"And you're blocking my sun. Move outta the way, people are trying to relax."
Tatsumaki scowled at the idiot. "Attached to the sun, huh? Wanna see it in high definition? I'll ship you to another dimension for ignoring me." For five days!
"As long as it has a sun, I'm good." Dr. Gray shrugged, arms cradled under his bald head.
"You'd be good? I would've dragged you back by your hair but you don't have any! Your last brain cell will do." hissed Tatsumaki.
Dr. Gray glared at her. "No one was talking about hair! Damn it." he waved his arms, covering his face.
Tatsumaki shifted on the spot. Huh. He's a not-so-perpetual novice. Tatsumaki gazed at his red fist. It didn't seem deadly but… it was. Being around him made her uncomfortable.
Tatsumaki acknowledged him and his dead ass expression. But her house of judgement has been refurbished. He was more concerned about the sun rather than the fact he claimed City Z without alerting the Hero Association. The worst thing was that she saw these monsters on the Disaster Channel. Some of the monsters he killed match up with the ones seen on TV!
"Tch. I thought you'd call when you figured out you needed my help. You needed help with those monsters, remember!" said Tatsumaki, testing whether or not he'd react. She didn't really believe the words but maybe he would justify himself or his strength if he got angry.
"I don't lose and you have a lot of free time," he said resolutely.
Fr-Free time?! What was with this guy's answer? He didn't get provoked by anything serious and didn't even try to say he was strong. Tatsumaki's foot throbbing told her something else, something she didn't want to confront. Tatsumaki could make him her lackey and they will unlock the mystery of the restricted area and the plentitude of the monster population. Starting now.
"Hey, disgraceful baldy, get up." Tatsumaki tilted her head. "Let's go and kill those leftover monsters. See how you contribute to me. See if it's actually you."
"I'm risking it all if I go anywhere with you," Dr. Gray said, quite conscientious and afraid.
"What are you risking, aside from your shitty habits? Just follow my lead. You won't have to think so much. Not like it happens much anyway."
Dr. Gray scratched his head, groaning. "You're really persistent. I thought to humour you then blowing you off would do it but it isn't."
"Why would that work?"
"That's how I usually avoid bigheads."
He was such a dick!
"Me? A bighead?" Tatsumaki shook her head. "I have perfect proportions. Did you know that clams live up to 400 years? They can be small, the average weight of 0.5 to 2 kilograms. Tiny. The tardigrade or "water bears" are tiny and they could survive underwater or in space. It's science that I'm not a big head."
"If I were those things, I would come for Poseidon." Dr. Gray tapped his chin. "That'd be a great challenge."
"It's a challenge? Poseidon doesn't exist and Poseidon is a mythological God. You'll find many monsters who live in the sea. They're pretty challenging. There has been a rather large emergence of deep-sea creatures."
Dr. Gray considered it for a bit. "Noted."
"So, tell me where you find all of these monsters. Don't forget I need to find other idiots like you living in the restricted area." Tatsumaki nodded. "I want to format a concise map of monster hotspots so these monster attacks won't affect so many people. There will be personnel specifically placed in that location to protect people like you. Maybe even a whole regiment of trained heroes who will defend City Z since you nor Mumen Rider can't do it."
Bearded Worker didn't want her to get involved for some reason and she just gave a speech about her rough plans.
"It's okay, I'll just defeat them." he waved her away.
"Maybe you didn't hear me! I'm not gonna mince words. Tell me where they are." she raised her voice, frowning at him. "Better yet, let me answer your question, we're going to go look together and find all of these monsters. A tardigrade was the first animal to survive in space. Behave and you won't die in space."
"Hey…" Dr. Gray said concernedly. Annoyed. "I'm busy and I don't know your real name." He squinted to her. "Is your name—"
"Don't hurt yourself. My name is Tatsumaki-sama. Terror of Tornado. We have a business to do."
"No, thanks, Tats." He leaned back down, lounging in the sun like some societal reject.
"Huh? You wanna call me that without p-permission? That's not what I am. It's Tatsumaki-sama for you. Always."
"Okay. I'll compromise, Tatsu," The line of his smile has a mischievous curb. He was riling her up on purpose. Purpose!
"Curb your mischief, hairless swine, it is Tat-Su-Maki. Not Tats. Not Tatsu. It's Tat-Su-Maki!" she stressed.
"It's too long. It almost has fifteen syllables." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Zuzu is way easier to remember."
Bastard! Tatsumaki impulsively kicked his knee again and collapsed because of the pain. What the fuck. Why did that hurt?! Fuck. Fuck!
"It's dangerous to keep on kicking me, Zuzu. Your foot okay?" he asked, concerned.
Tatsumaki toughed it out and pretended not to hurt. "No, but my hands work. I will beat you until my hands have no blood left to bleed."
"Why not just go to the park, you'll have more fun and luck there?" he asked genuinely.
Tatsumaki raised a fist, trembling and full of threat.
He smirked a bit. "Zuzu, if kicking he was no good, why would you punch me?"
"You really don't care about your life, huh? I almost paid for your shitty lifestyle and a comb for your ear hair." she rolled her eyes.
Dr. Gray tapped his chin. "I like to hoard money like my resources in a game but when buying stuff, it's the thought that counts. And the bargain. Always find a bargain."
"I say, it's not the gift that matters. It's the price of the gift," she said.
"That's not how it works." he mildly frowned.
"In my book it is." Tatsumaki shrugged.
"Can you read properly then?"
"Shut the fuck up," Tatsumaki got back on task, floating instead of just sitting there, on the ground with him. "How many more did you kill? Aside from my counted forty?"
"Wasn't counting," he answered… or rather didn't.
"Do you know any numbers past ten?" Tatsumaki groaned.
"Why'd you come and talk to me if you're all smarmy? A big head."
Tatsumaki composed herself before wanting to punch him into the fucking sun. Tatsumaki sighed. People say time stands still for love and careers are like hand-knit sweaters. One thread or one news report could undo years of work. She couldn't explain the low current of electricity buzzing through her as she glared down at him. It was… weird.
"You are a terrible beloved." Tatsumaki face-palmed. "I can't believe this snowballed into this."
He sat up quickly. "What does that mean?"
"If you've been watching the news. You'd know." There was radioactivity on her cheeks, too hot, so she turned away.
"What's the big idea? Why'd you turn like that?" he asked.
"Shut up, kneecap! I-I'm just scratching my chin!"
He didn't buy it but let her be. She calmed her face down after a minute or two.
She offered a flustered shrug. "The m-media's confirmed they have nothing but filling for skulls. All these idiots say that we're together. On the news. So, I turn to you since you probably saw the rumours." she said stiffly.
"What rumours?" he asked. "You lost me. There was a cloud that looked like Kombu. Haven't had any in a while. But continue your boring story."
"There are rumours about you being a jackass and ones of you and I being engaged. Being Beloveds, by the way, you're terrible at it."
He was appalled and shocked. "You in love with me or something?" he accused her casually.
"No! This is a really bad thing!" she growled. "I don't even like you, let alone love!"
He raised his arms in surrender. "I'm not supposed to have stalkers at this point. And I'm not lookin' for marriage. You're looking to get married but I want to be happy."
Tatsumaki would make anyone happy. She'd make so many apple pies and buy them festival tickets! Tatsumaki should feel worse for including him in this public mess but he was the useless jackass to her. He deserves to be dragged to filth.
He scratched his head. "The media needs hobbies. I don't care much for people's opinions. They were all bigheads."
"Even so, we're a thing. Fake, awful but a thing. People think that you and I are in a relationship. The public isn't supportive of me at the moment." she admitted, casting a look his way. "Beware."
He considers after Tatsumaki suspended him in silence. "Are you going through some redemption arc?" he asked.
"No."
"Man, those don't end well." he blew air out of his mouth.
"I don't care about what people say! Those small fries like you can't even handle the true potential I possess. Redemption arc or not. Being in a relationship is tiring, useless and a bad coping mechanism to everyone who can't deal with their pasts."
"I'm not a small fry, I'm a full potato. Ba dum dum tss," he said.
Tatsumaki gave him a dry look.
"Get it... it was making a joke about fries," he clarified, thinking she didn't understand because of the scowling.
Exasperated, Tatsumaki buried her hands in her face. "This world is hopeless. People are useless. The media is useless because people are useless and the world is hopeless. I can't believe the media thinks I'll marry you."
"Why didn't you just tell the media it was a lie?" He widened his eyes when she looked at him. "Are you doing it for the attention?"
"Fuck attention. I'm not shallow. There are always rumours of whom I'm dating. You think the media would believe me if I told them the truth? People don't like the truth! I just needed to give you a heads-up since you're a participant in this circus too. You don't care, though."
"I don't. I didn't need to know." Dr. Gray tilted his head.
They remained in resolute silence, which was a balm for her nerves. She didn't like starting conversations or participating in them either.
"Enough chattering, let's just go find a monster. I'll pay you to shut up." Tatsumaki changed the subject. "I need to know your power level. It's probably an odd number or you're just too lucky. We'll crush monsters and I'll see who you really are."
Watching her, he noticed the determination in her eyes. "Why do I feel like I won't have a choice in this?" he murmured.
"Because you don't. Let's go to the restricted area and you'll kill a monster," she said.
He sighed, getting to his knees like a tired ox. He brushed himself off. There it was, a man surrendered! Something kind of lucky gleamed in her eyes. She was beaming and cool as she triumphantly floated away. He frowned at her back, she felt it. "I have a feeling you won't leave me alone," he said simply.
"I'm a real slave driver when it comes to doing work." Tatsumaki looked back with a sweet, lily-soft smile. "It's my best quality."
His shoulders completely hunched. "Why are you bragging about it?"
Tatsumaki laughed then choked. How was her dry and colourless heart laughing? That was the second time he made her laugh. Tatsumaki turned away, suddenly covering her cheeks and mouth.
"Zuzu? You okay?" he inquired.
"Don't call me that! It's Tatsumaki!"
"Zuzu, you angry?" he teased, enjoying himself.
"No. I just hope you die from an iodine overdose while your thyroid problems take over your life." Tatsumaki fumed.
"What are you talking about?"
A simper grew on her lips. "Kombu has extremely high amounts of the mineral iodine. It breaks down sugars that the gut can't digest so yeah, you'll be dead, gassy, and huge since thyroids produce hormones to make you grow. Uncontrollably." she said darkly. "Die."
"Kombu is cheap and great." Dr. Gray gave her a nod of respect. "I didn't know you were some science wiz. You just seemed like a sassy, lost child in grade 2."
"Grade 2?!" Tatsumaki shrieked.
Dr. Gray measured her height against his. "Nope. Kindergarten, that's what I first thought," he corrected himself.
Tatsumaki gritted her teeth. "Listen here punk, I didn't know that you, a doctor, can't figure out the secret to hair growth. Pity you don't use your intelligence for good or how to reverse ageing." she shook her head. "Sad."
He held his forehead protectively. "So what if I don't have hair? Why the hell are you so mean if you wanna kill monsters with me?"
Dr. Gray stopped abruptly. They were walking on the gravel path in order to get to the restricted area. She didn't know whether or not to trust his sense of direction or... his anything but he seemed pretty confident until now.
He did have a valid question, though. One she was endeared to answer.
"City Z is in danger and I'm going to do something about it. I like to get things done by myself but you're from City Z. You've been killing long before this city was on my radar. So. I'm seeing why people are dying. With you."
"We've become your project?"
"Yes. You seem to be competent?" Tatsumaki tilted her head. "No other heroes work in City Z because they're dead or weak. So, you, my last option have to work for me. You are loosely... a working partner."
Baldy eyed her. "You don't seem too happy about the fact."
"Working with people wastes time and people waste my time." she snapped. "I insult them just to equal out the score."
"That doesn't make sense," he said. "It's just rude."
"Yes, it does! It's revenge, sweet, sweet revenge!" Tatsumaki rolled her eyes. "It's not like you'll get it."
"That's a bad ideology. It's dodgy and dark."
"Well, Mr. Negatve, do you like working with people?" she huffed.
"No," Dr. Gray frowned at her pointedly. "Not really."
"So work with me here," she ordered.
Tatsumaki didn't care about making friends. Caring was creepy, acquaintances were creepy and family was terrifying. Tatsumaki opened her phone. Bearded Worker hasn't texted the files back. So, he was certainly holding out. She'll wear him down.
"You say contradicting things," he informed her then took off. "I guess it doesn't matter to think about it."
Tatsumaki matched his footsteps so he couldn't wander off.
Anger bubbled in her chest. "Oh yeah, why did you give me a fake phone number?" Tatsumaki asked, words like acid coming up her throat.
"So you wouldn't call," he answered honestly. "I thought it'd work."
"Too bad." Tatsumaki had slits for eyes. "I called anyway and not calling doesn't stop me from getting what I want. Do I need to put that jigsaw puzzle together for you?"
"How many pieces?" he chirped back.
"Hm. 22. For every bone in your skull I'll break." she informed him. "You'll probably die by the time I'm done. So, puzzle-to-be, you will get a phone, right?" Tatsumaki said though it wasn't a question but intention.
"Phones are too expensive."
Cheap thug.
Tatsumaki looked at him, the musculature and his dull features. "You made a terrible first impression on me and then you don't keep promises. I humbled myself for you and you took advantage of that." she shook her head. "That's so rude."
"Rude? I didn't promise anything." he stopped, looking down at her. "Since when did you humble yourself?"
Tatsumaki clucked her tongue. "I thought it was a promise and that bad impression stuck. Now you've killed all these monsters and created some case that I have to investigate. Do you think you help people?" she asked after a pause.
"Yeah." he nodded.
"Then we'll help someone survive by killing the monster we find. You have to care about the job you're meant to do, not the people you work with. Human interaction is the worst part of humanity, after all." Tatsumaki preached.
"I guess you have nothing better to do, either," Dr. Gray said, watching her closely. "You're bored."
"I'm bored when I don't save others. Is that fucking wrong?" she demanded.
"Not a bad reason to be bored." he shrugged.
"It really isn't." she agreed.
Tatsumaki, for the first time maybe, agreed with him. And that wasn't the worst way to be bored. The hunt was over and he wasn't bleeding yet. The monster will take care of that task when they encounter it.
Tatsumaki was mean since caring was creepy. Carelessly, she was caring for this Dr. Gray. Did she help people because she was bored or because she wanted to help others?
That was the question she couldn't answer when looking at Baldy. Was she trying to help him or herself? Damn Mumen Rider for leaving her with these thoughts.
###
-End Chapter-
Ovidae here. SOooo. The two are finally speaking. I love Bearded Worker, idk why. He's kinda like Amai mask's pet in the anime- as I see it. Tatsumaki wonders what it is to be a hero and what'd you think. By the way, I posted two chapters. This is the second.
Sorry for errors.