Tornadoes For Sighs
-Chapter 5-
Scientists
TATSUMAKI DIDN'T LIKE HOW THE MONSTERS DISAPPEARED WHEN THEY HUNTED.
Dr. Gray and Tatsumaki wandered for hours, getting lost and found in their hunt. Dr. Gray used the necessary street signs with transit to complete their job. Or rather to not complete it.
He mostly led the way since he knew the city better. Tatsumaki did try to dominate the situation by trying to direct him, somewhat. It didn't much work and he brushed off her words anyway, like invisible dust on his shoulder.
Tch. Asshole.
Aside from criticisms, Tatsumaki didn't speak the whole stretch they walked but Dr. Gray found it necessary to talk. For such a closed-off guy, he was expressive. It was strange beside her hot-headed, abrasive but selectively quiet behaviour. She never shared her true, true thoughts unless she was angry at the person.
Anyway, he said he wanted a break. Baldy was weak for saying he wanted to take a break. Weak. He couldn't count on breaks. Superheroes didn't care for breaks. Diligence was the mother of success, after all.
Halting in the shopping district wasn't Tatsumaki's intention. Tatsumaki hated seeing her image sliding over the window, washed-out colours all watery and misplaced.
Despite Tatsumaki's protests, Dr. Gray stopped in front of a Hero Association Merch Store: All Of The Heroes Clothes, Figures, Gifts, Posters & More Here! and casually window-shopped while she complained about moving forward and beyond.
He didn't care much and studied gadgets, books, and tattoos with child-like awe.
Tatsumaki was apprehensive of how people made money off the heroes in society. Even Tatsumaki. It was also creepy to see her face on cups, phone cases, posters, action figures and the weirdest ones— body pillows. That was weird.
But Tatsumaki was thrilled she was at the top of the roster, with a lot of merch. It showed her omnipotence as S-Class rank 2. When Tatsumaki wasn't present, other small fries believe they'd get her spot. Who the fuck was kidding them?
The top ten S-Class heroes and a few popular A-Class figurines stood frozen, with arguably remarkable qualities and characteristics everyone cherished. The action figures were the same sizes, not minding the reality of height. Not that Tatsumaki minded a centimetre or two of added height. Heh. Heh.
Nohow, besides Amai Mask, King was extremely popular. He was more embellished than her fellow S-Class action figures.
In real life, King was a compact, tall man with this menacing atmosphere. His mean, steady eyes and sunken cheeks were handsome above his distinguished jawline. Tatsumaki's never witnessed the physical prowess he possessed and he wore a turtleneck. Barf.
His action figure failed to capture that fearsome brute strength.
King was six feet and Tank-Top Master was seven foot three, some boring piece of muscle. But they were huge in real life. Compared to her fellow heroes, Dr. Gray Baldy was smaller, weaker and way lamer than her colleagues.
Maybe Dr. Gray was truly a civilian, getting excited looking at these S-Class dolls in the window, face close.
"They must be real famous to get action figures. Even that guy." Dr. Gray pointed to King with a red glove.
"They might be rich and famous but he's just a guy to me," Tatsumaki shrugged.
King didn't treat Tatsumaki like some God and he didn't act immature like other S-Class heroes. At meetings, the heroes played games to see who could say the dumbest things. Metal Bat usually won. But fuck, King wasn't perfect. He was so picky and never tried hard on the battlefield.
King shouldn't be picky! Why was Blast allowed to be picky? He should be there! Always, too!
"Seems important. That guy," Dr. Gray murmured.
"His name is King, S-Class… rank 7… A good guy?" Tatsumaki cringed. "He even wrote a book, or a manga, I don't know. How I Developed Indomitable Will, it's called."
"Oh. You ever write a book?" he asked, for some reason. More like no reason.
Tatsumaki smirked. "See, small fry, when you get to a point like mine, people write books for you. About you, all the time."
Aside from merch, books about her were always being bought. No one knew her true story, her true history and she sure as hell wouldn't tattle. They had all these assumptions and questions but they ultimately knew nothing. Would they ever? No. Did the public need their noses in her backstory, fuck no!
Besides, people could assume and hope all they wanted but they wouldn't ever squeeze a biography out of her. She was no bleeding heart.
"Ah. You're just lazy, then," he said with a sure nod. "Good choice," he added proudly.
Tatsumaki sighed in exasperation. He missed the point. Then she took offence. "I'm not lazy! What do you mean it's a good choice?"
"You're like me. It'd be troublesome, tiring to write all my achievements down," he admitted after a long hum. "Who'd want to do that?"
Yeah right, she internally scoffed. It's not hard. Everyone wants to see their achievements plastered and recognized. It's like spreading her ego onto a page and seeing everything good about her.
"I get your reasoning of why you wouldn't write a book." he continued.
"You're the lazy one here, bub." Tatsumaki hissed. "How long would writing your list of achievements on the battlefield be?"
"It'd take too long," he said thoughtfully.
Was that a roundabout way to brag or was he being truthful? What the hell? Actually. She didn't care, she admitted to herself.
"You should read his books. Check them out, if you will. People should take his advice as an S-Class ranked hero." Tatsumaki shrugged.
Hearing her words, leaned in close, a careless expression on his face. "Hm. You trust him? You got some strong words for 'im."
"No. I don't trust King but my praises are his glory." Tatsumaki corrected him. "It's only higher law that I carry him on the battlefield."
"Tell your friend he's pretty cool. I'd like to see him fight," Dr. Gray said, slightly happy. "Maybe he does martial arts."
"I'm not friends with King!" Tatsumaki huffed, provoked by this assumption. "I'm trying to crack down on him. He gives up so damn much. The last time I saw him on the battlefield, he avoided fighting! I don't know if he does martial arts. No one knows if he does anything. It's weird. A waste of a hulking brute. And damn that Blast for being picky. Damn Blast."
Dr. Gray had a considering look on his face. He seemed to be calculating and speculative like a real doctor.
"Then what does King do?" he queried.
"Nothing! The Association calls me instead when he feels lazy and shut-in-like. The Hero Association treats me like a fortune spirit. I deal with all of their problems." Tatsumaki rolled her eyes.
Before maturing, Tatsumaki was a delinquent with a bad reputation, who came to the Hero Association to get a better score. Tatsumaki was working to help. Many other heroes stepped into the business to be the recipient of glory and monetary gain.
King wasn't for any of that. Tatsumaki liked King, despite him never doing anything. He would come and help just like Blast when things were in danger.
Tatsumaki had a healthy distrust for the other heroes' fickle tendencies and the shortcomings of theirs but… King wasn't as useless as Tatsumaki made him out to be.
Hmph. She didn't like to defame the survivors or the strong.
Tatsumaki cleared her throat. "Eh. King steps up when needed. He could easily duke it out and win against a God level threat. His reputation proceeds him immensely." Tatsumaki said in full confidence.
"Ah, understood," he nodded. "King's strong..."
He looked concentrated and hopeful. His fingers twitched and his back muscles (which Tatsumaki didn't know he had) flexed within his jaundiced suit.
Seeing how his lifeless eyes lit up a little, she laughed.
She knew exactly what he was bulking up for. Dr. Gray would be killed after hearing that famous King Engine. All that audible bloodlust, capable of shaking the earth. Dr. Gray's dumb for wanting that.
"You thinking about fighting King? Ha! Don't be dumb." Tatsumaki warned.
"Nah," he sighed, all of his zest for life gone. "That's too selfish."
What a weird response. It made her snark too.
"Yeah. King shouldn't take your life. I should." Tatsumaki rolled her eyes.
Dr. Gray shoulders tensed and he got all depressed. Or rather more depressed.
"That's not what I meant." he finished, gazing at the ground.
The way he got all empty and blue… was familiar.
It was almost like telling Fubuki that there were no more crab cakes in the fridge. All of his interest collapsed and he was empty. What the heck is wrong with him?
Tatsumaki didn't know how to deal with the comment, like when he said nothing could kill him. This atmosphere he created made Tatsumaki feel like floating garbage.
"Zuzu," Dr. Gray called out. Before she could tell him to piss off and stop calling her that, his eyes roamed her face. "You kept on mentioning that guy. Who's Blast?"
Shit.
Horror rushed through her. When did she mention Blast? Tatsumaki's whole body filled with a raspberry crush, as her heart beat faster. All of those feelings hurt like heaven. She knew he wasn't around but did he slip into her speech? Damn it!
Tatsumaki swallowed the squeals of embarrassment. She turned away, shaking her head. "He's nobody."
"Oh, so-"
"He's nobody but don't mention it," she said sharply, her voice high and annoying, even to her. "Ever again. Just forget him."
Seeing her aggression and her anger, he gulped. "Al-Alright, who's Blast?" he surrendered, chuckling nervously. "I don't know him."
That's what she thought. Putting annoyance aside, she roared at her idiot self for memories of Blast. Since when was Tatsumaki so careless? Tatsumaki should be on guard. Dr. Gray watched every word she said, despite leaving the impression of the opposite.
A moment later, he chuckled at the rest of the heroes standing on display while Tatsumaki was internally scolding herself. He was looking at her figurine. A sexy, totally womanly figurine if she said so herself. And he was laughing.
"What's so funny?" she hissed.
He pointed. "So, you got a real action figure. I can't even tell the difference between you two."
Tatsumaki glared at him. "Hey, dork, it's seven thousand yen for my action figure. You'll have to lick seventy-five people's boots in order to make that kind of money."
"What kind of calculation is that?"
"The most accurate one."
"How's th—"
Tatsumaki ignored him. "It's a pity that we couldn't find any monsters. They respond to loud sounds and agitation, so you were clearly endangering us. Fix that when we end your imposed break and leave in two minutes."
His mouth fell open. "Huh? You kept on taking photos of me. I kept on finding mosquitoes. They suck."
Tatsumaki was unimpressed. "You're a baby if you can't handle mosquitoes."
"I'm not a kid, kid." he groused.
"You're real annoying, you know that! I'm twenty-eight!" Tatsumaki yelled, crossing her arms. "As for the photos— I just wanted proof that you weren't some damn ghost after your actions. I hate ghosts," she shuddered. Fucking hate them.
She actually took the photos to thoroughly document their time together. If Bearded Worker was going to bitch about her going against his wishes, she wanted to have proof that everything she did was proper and good. But also because she legitimately wondered if he was a ghost.
Damned ghosts.
Amused, he zeroed in on her fear. "What are you, scared of them?"
Of course, ghosts were scary! That's why Tatsumaki feared Zombieman for a while since he was linked to the spiritually damned. Paranormal activity scared Tatsumaki so damn much.
But did Dr. Gray have to know that? Nope.
"C'mon, Zuzu, tell me. You afraid of 'em?" he teased.
"N-No! I hope a durian falls on your head to get that stupid i-idea outta your head. Ghosts… they just freak out normal people." Tatsumaki turned away, calming her face.
"Dude, ask yourself reasoning questions. Ghosts don't exist, Zuzu," he said drily.
"You don't know that! You don't know anything." she snapped. "There are absurd creatures in this world. How the hell don't ghosts exist?"
"I thought you weren't afraid of them?"
Espers were useless against apparitions and ghosts. Ghosts were see-through and completely unexpected and creepy! She shuddered just thinking about it. Ghosts represent the worst things ever!
She closed her eyes. "Dr. Gray, you pulled some scary ghost stuff in the past week. I just needed to know you were real," she said, opening her gaze to him.
"As much as you guarantee you do, you don't need to look after me." Dr. Gray gave her a sure look.
"At this rate, I believe you lack something in your DNA that makes you not pick up on social cues. It's ridiculous. You're supposed to call back. Until you get it through your head, I'll tell you." she pinched the bridge of her nose, defeated.
Dr. Gray shuffled uncomfortably for a moment. "I don't have a phone, remember? And I wouldn't call, anyway."
"Oh. That could be solved." Tatsumaki got a devilish smirk on her face. "I know, I'll just hang out with you every day."
"Oi, don't threaten people with hell so easily," he shook his head.
Tatsumaki wanted to smack him. "I am great company! Amazing company!"
Dr. Gray didn't seem convinced. "Eh…"
Tatsumaki ignored his doubt. "Nothing in the world would interest me less than doing that but work is about getting things done." Tatsumaki looked over. "You'd have to tell me where you live and that will be our HQ. I will mail all the information we gather. Tell me your address."
"Nah. I don't think that I want to do that." He shook his head.
"I wouldn't come over! I just need to mail you!"
He hesitated.
"And well, you have no choice. Just give yourself to fate," she commanded, aggressive in her tone. "You'll walk all the way to the restricted area with me, on Saturday at seven hundred hours in the morning. You may not make it to my home since you normally wear shabby shoes and walk in them."
"Holes have good ventilation on hot days," he suggested, shrugging.
Tatsumaki twitched. "Just how cheap are you? I know you don't care but can you listen for once?!"
He looked irritated. "None of this "hunt" you're hosting is working. I'd just relax on days like these. I have a manga to finish." he said honestly.
Children read manga! He should read books like an adult!
"Even if you don't find relaxing embarrassing, I do. Either you help or you're my damn accomplice." she hissed.
He considered her words for a moment then an agitated tone coloured the air. "Hey… Hey, that's the same thing!"
"You can't get what you want but you can get me. I just wanted to kill a bunch of monsters. There were so damn many before I came here. Maybe you're just bad luck!" she accused him.
He got to have his fun, where's hers?! There should be so many damn monsters for Tatsumaki to kill at her disposal.
"Evil reincarnates and heroes fight those who oppose them. Just wait." he eyed her foot tapping and her muscles twitching. "You know, patience is a virtue."
"Right now, it isn't." Tatsumaki face-palmed. "This conversation is as useless as you buying shampoo."
"Or you growing a millimetre." he retorted.
Rude.
"Don't look down on me." she narrowed her eyes, pointing to him.
"I already am." he chuckled, looming over with more than a foot of height. "I need to call the doc already."
Motherfucker! And he had to crane his neck, just to look at her. It was uncomfortable and awful! And he completely bested her. She wanted to beat him with a cactus and make him die by fighting some overwhelming monster.
Aha! When I'm done eating, I'll transport one sea folk from the beach then see what he's really made up of, Tatsumaki thought happily. If he doesn't die, I'll just slaughter him.
Tatsumaki wanted some food before watching him die. She observed the location across the street. The sandwich shop was homey and cute in its bright colours. It had appetizing pictures of the sandwich she wanted to buy. Not many people were inside. Perfect.
"Drop dead for all I care. I'm going to go eat. I'm getting a sandwich." she waved him away.
Dr. Gray brightened. Seeing his pleasure was a pain. "Can I have some of your sandwiches?" asked Dr. Gray. "Halfsies after a hard day at work."
No. He should die seventeen thousand times. "I owe you nothing! Not even half of something." Tatsumaki raised her voice with rough anger.
Dr. Gray drooped. "I didn't eat lunch since we've been hunting. Agh, it's embarrassing but I'm low on funds. I'll pay you back." he promised earnestly.
She wasn't budging. She'd rather chow on roadkill and die. It's her money. It's her food and money and he's a dick. So no!
Sensing this reluctance, Dr. Gray continued. "Y'know, being a hero for fun isn't very lucrative," he said thoughtfully. "If I had one yen for the times someone said I was frugal, I'd save so much money."
Tatsumaki rolled her eyes. Again.
"C'mon, we're stranded on this victory road for food. You're not tempted?" he asked, gesturing all around him.
"I don't get distracted."
"Oh," Dr. Gray halted awkwardly. "Man, it's all tempting."
"Uh-huh."
Tatsumaki did notice the number of restaurants and shops advertising food. This was sort of a dream spot to get an early supper but she wasn't tempted by anything.
"You owe me for the one hundred and ninety-six calls I did without you trying to answer. You owe me for every text, every message and voicemail. Let's not forget the fact you stupidly had that left a bad impression on me." Tatsumaki brought up.
Desperate, stomach growling, he surrendered. "Fine, I'll do it."
Really? He's giving in? This was the first time he's really done that willingly. "For one sandwich?"
"With veggies," he said.
Tatsumaki got in his face, watching him with fire in her eyes. "I'm not generous to those who have less posture than string. One thousand good impressions you owe me. And I take my promises seriously."
"Me too. I return favours, the next time it comes up." he tried to assure her.
Tatsumaki had a feeling he was only saying this because of the food he wanted. Tatsumaki rubbed her skull. He's so weird and talked a lot about nothing. And didn't listen. It was like a challenge and now he wasn't trying to obey her... He was an enigma and she... Why did she keep on forcing him to work with her—
Dr. Gray started talking, interrupting the rapid-fire of thoughts she shouldn't be having. "Hey, can you add cheese?" he said, almost interested in the conversation. Which was weird.
"Yeah. Maybe it'll shut you up. At this point, I love cheese if it has that possibility." she told him seriously.
"That'll make us like a mouse. Ba dum dum tss." he chuckled to himself. "Well, mostly you."
Huh? Tatsumaki turned back. What the hell did he just say? She bound him with a dirty glare. "What the fuck does that mean?"
He shrunk, not as affably amused. "I made a joke about you eating cheese and being tiny. 'Cause mouses love cheese." he explained.
Another joke about her damn height. For a guy who made no effort for anything, he started a bunch of fights. And he was dumb.
Tatsumaki sighed. "Mice, not mouses, would eat anything of little to no nutritional value. They might even eat your IQ if they found it and be hungry for days. Besides, they'd rather prefer grain or fruits, given the choices."
"Don't you like apples?"
Tatsumaki nodded. Promotion for the fruit was key to everyone loving it too. "They're the king of fruits."
"You're still a mouse-"
"Baldy, speak one more fucking word and I'll send your dick to space," she said quietly. "Literally. I dare you, just talk and say I'm a mouse one more fucking time. I dare you."
He opened his mouth then closed it. All silence from him. That's better. Ah. So much better. She floated across the street to the sound of music- Baldy shutting up for once.
"Zuzu, you're still getting it, right—" he called out as she crossed the street. "Hey! You're no—"
Tatsumaki went inside of the petite restaurant, greeted with the smell of fresh greens and cooked meat. She gave him an evil smile through the window. A small wave.
Tatsumaki liked seeing the terror and desperation on his face.
Tatsumaki didn't like going full chihuahua on him. She hated when people talked about it. Being under five feet made her seem nothing short of harmless. The men and women of the association underestimated her. She would usually kick them and they would stop being so fucking rude.
Dr. Gray kept on surprising her. Tatsumaki made deals with those who wouldn't surprise her. Why she still got surprises anyway bothered her. She couldn't be caught off guard. And he's always getting her angry.
And now she was getting him a sandwich because unlike everyone believes, she was actually quite polite. If he wasn't energized, he wouldn't be able to kill anything at his full strength.
Did he have full strength? Who was he? What did he do? Why was he so... bored with everything? Was he really a hero? All these questions about him kept on drawing her nearer.
Even so, Tatsumaki can't believe she's spending money on him. Idiot. She needed to be the bigger person (when she could) and show him the real way to behave.
What did he want again? Tatsumaki studied the options and choose which one to get for herself and for the other guy.
Someone in the back of the line, standing with her in the air-conditioned bliss looked at her intently. "Hey," The girl asked quietly. "Is that your Beloved?"
Tatsumaki didn't like strangers and she didn't like answering people… but this was important. And she might run to social media and cry about how rude Tatsumaki is.
So, Tatsumaki straightened her back. "Whom might you be speaking of?" she asked neutrally.
"Outside the window. The media says he's bald. It's all people could talk about. We're trying to find his identity." she whispered. "You probably know better than anyone."
The two women turned to see Dr. Gray struggling to stand upright because he almost nodded off. Through the window, they look and this is what they see?
He dared her anger. Couldn't he stand straight, damn it, and not embarrass her? And he was bald. That was one of many shortcomings. Perhaps the most identifiable.
Tatsumaki forgot that people obsessed over Tatsumaki and other relationships heroes seemingly had. Common folk would bring it up to her. Not that she's spoken to very many people as of lately. Tatsumaki forgot people only cared about her relationship instead of how she saves the world many times over.
As much as it pained her, she had to play along.
Tatsumaki had to say something sweet and kind, without attitude to show Zombieman that she had a great attitude. Fuck him, she was lovely to be around.
But did she have to compliment him? That was asking too much.
Tatusmaki's mouth was dry. "Y-Yeah. We've… been going pretty strong. I'm ordering his favourite vegetarian sandwich with cheese and we'll go to the beach later on."
The woman laughed. "That sounds perfect! My guy wouldn't even take me to any beach."
"To me, my Beloved," Tatsumaki recoiled, "is perfect. He'd do anything for me."
The woman seemed aggravated. "My boyfriend is so afraid of the sea folk around there. My dad was a hero before the Association was around, so those fish never scared both of us. My boyfriend should be fearless. He swore we'd go if I offered him something special," she said with a sexual innuendo involved.
Tatsumaki sighed. "Well, some men have more balls than brains." she shrugged.
The woman's laugh rose out of her like a melody. "You're funny, Tornado of Terror-sama! They don't usually put that inside of the magazine articles." The woman complimented her.
Tatsumaki's cheeks burned red as she turned away from the whole woman's cooing and happy face. A while later, she got all of what she needed and left. When she went outside, the man looked like a melted puddle.
"Zuzu! Oi!" he called from across the street. He was obvious and loud, and not melted anymore.
"Dr. Gray, you bellowed," she sighed. Tatsumaki settled in front of him, taller than him of course. With that, she held her bag of two sandwiches tightly.
Dr. Gray inspected her nervously. "Zuzu, did you get it?" he asked.
"The name's Tatsumaki-sama! None of that Zuzu shit." she gritted her teeth. "And I got it."
All of his confusion and doubt cleared like mist rolling away from the sea. He was triumphant. The thought of her not getting his food might have alarmed him.
"Sweet!"
Then, he smiled. His plain face illuminated. Sparkled mutedly. It was like the universe coughing stardust on him.
Tatsumaki didn't know what to do for a second. He usually just had a blank, blank face. It was almost broken.
He looked different. Tatsumaki gathered her wits and looked away. Idiots always look the same, no matter the face.
"Me feeding you…" Tatsumaki finally gave him the sandwich. "This doesn't mean I give all my affections to you. In fact, all my dissent stems from you wanting cheese."
He took a healthy bite after unwrapping the sub. They settled, leaning like delinquents on the window of the shop Hero Merch Store window. She couldn't believe that this man killed all those monsters. All of them. All these monsters were annihilated by a guy with a broken face.
She felt his eyes gliding over the photos she looked at. He shifted, obviously uncomfortable. Why couldn't she kill all these monsters? Wouldn't it be fun—
"How do you look at monster pictures when you eat?" he asked, striking up a conversation once again. "They're rotting."
"Huh? You a baby?" she teased. She looked at the photos of dead corpses on her phone. "This isn't that gross."
"No. It's creepy and gross," he said, munching some more.
"You don't have to look."
"You've got issues, man. Get a new hobby."
Tatsumaki gave him an icy look. "As I said, you don't have to look. You get a new hobby!" she snapped. "Hmph. I wanted to know how you killed them. Not how fast you could eat a damn sandwich."
Which was pretty fast. Dr. Gray finished his sandwich, basically inhaling his food. He ate it with the etiquette of a starving Pig God. It was crass and gross. At least Dr. Gray didn't eat as much as Pig God.
"I'm not buying you another one," Tatsumaki mentioned offhandedly, cutting off the breath he took.
"Huh? That sucks. They're really good," Dr. Gray stared at her expectantly.
"I-I'm not going to change my mind." she stuttered.
Tatsumaki could feel the gaze of his burned into her skull. She ignored it successfully for a little while until she looked at him and then her half-eaten sandwich. And this dog-like stare made her feel so damn guilty.
Moments passed and he stared at her nibbling the bread. She didn't like eating this sandwich and she lost her appetite.
"Can I have some of your sandwich?" he asked.
"No," she said, taking another bite. "I know it's half done and I don't really like it but no."
"Why not?"
"I don't like your mouth." Tatusmaki retorted.
"But—"
"I got you your own, fatty," she shouted. "Don't be like Pig God!"
"Is that an insult or something? What's a pig god?"
Tatsumaki made another disinterested noise, ignoring him. Dr. Gray might get a gray scalp for if he worries way too much. Or if he asks too much.
Being sadistic, he screamed when she tossed it into the trash. He blabbed about how she was so damn wasteful and she laughed.
They were in the business district, hoping to see something causing disarray.
The streets were filled with suits and ties, people leaving their offices. They weren't cheerfully dashing into the sunset. An attack could happen any time now. It was nearing five in the evening. She hoped someone was
Tatsumaki turned around. "Let's go."
"Eh. Fine." he agreed, letting her take the lead. Doing so as Tatsumaki pleased, they toured around the city until they encountered a sea of white amongst the concrete streets.
There were near a laboratory with a metal dome, its window showing large machinery. The sleek building was dotted by white coats. Nothing natural was happening. She hated the stainless steel and their cold eyes behind glasses. She hated the mirrors and the cold cleanliness.
The whole street was decorated with banners, tables and stands with sophisticated people chattering about findings. All she focused on were coke bottle glasses and flapping white coats. She hated lab coats.
It gave her flashbacks of being sold to a bunch of scientists as if she were cattle. Like a cow.
Tatsumaki stiffened.
If these scientists saw her psychic abilities, she would obviously draw attention to herself. She couldn't. They would try to... ask questions or inspect her. She didn't want to be violated. Never again.
Reluctantly, Tatsumaki made herself less defensive. She eased her shoulders and frowned a bit less. She relaxed the green glow around her and settled on her two feet. She looked normal.
Baldy watched Tatsumaki mildly, weirdly attuned to her.
"You good?" he asked.
Again, she gave him a wary look. How the fuck did he know she was uncomfortable? She has to be careful. She couldn't show any of her feelings. She didn't want to be this transparent. She had to strap down her feelings.
Tatsumaki ignored him and gestured to the scientists. "What the hell is all of this? They should be thrown into garbage cans."
"Well, a classroom is a garbage place." he shrugged. "Not my scene."
"Child Emperor would kill you for that comment." snarked Tatsumaki. The kid would probably be able to chase him with one of his creepy bots.
Tatsumaki was so jealous of Child Emperor's weapon proficiency and his skills in soccer. Tatsumaki couldn't even play most conventional sports! Tatsumaki growled. Damn her baby legs. Most of the guys in S-Class didn't care that they were so buff and built. It was annoying. They could naturally pick up ANY sport they pleased.
"Who's he?" Dr. Gray asked.
"S-Class hero. Such a cheeky kid, a genius," she said. "He's also four feet but his brain's probably bigger than a grown adult's."
"You mad 'cause he's taller than you?" he asked.
"Drop dead and die again and again," she yelled. "Tch. Child Emperor was doing integral calculus and playing soccer at the age of two. What the hell were you doing?"
"Yeah. I wasn't good at school." Dr. Gray admitted.
She gave him a knowing look. He ignored it. "So. Amongst math, what other finals did you fail?" she asked casually.
He sweat, chuckling nervously. "Failed three of my senior year finals. My mom didn't care."
Oh. Lax. Atlas was the same. As a caretaker, Atlas didn't think she had much of a future with the sciences. She didn't either. He didn't care about her long history of violence and her terrible school track.
"My pops did though. Mom may have married the wrong man but she gave birth to the best one," he said smugly.
"Oh," Tatsumaki looked at him seriously. "You have a brother?"
"Zuzu, I was talking about me!" he insisted.
Tatsumaki grinned evilly.
Did he have a brother? Tatsumaki's better off not knowing the trouble in his life. It's not like she needed to know.
They perused around, no one paying much attention to them. The scientists' clipboards and pocketed pens scared her but she would transcend it. She still wanted to know why this was happening.
"Hey you," Tatsumaki said to the nearest scientist with loafers, cuffed beige pants and his lab coat. "May you give us information… Just what is happening here, sir?"
The scruffy scientist gave her a wary look then turned in the other direction, arms holding a stack of paper tightly to his chest. He looked down at his shoes, not in front of him.
Asshole! Tatsumaki rudely put up a barrier and he scurried headfirst into it like some cornered rat.
"Zuzu," Dr. Gray said lowly. "What the hell?"
Tatsumaki smirked.
The scientist's papers exploded. It was a blizzard of black print and hypotheses. He screeched and tried to collect them, yelping about the pain on his forehead.
"How... What was that?" he asked, to himself.
"So, you think ignoring me is smart? Think hard but not long," she called out.
The scientist hesitated on his knees. "You just look scary and he doesn't understand the binary code." he trembled, looking at his research strewn about.
"Then there's option one and two, you either tell me what's going on or I just bash your mouth in and you forever hold your silence. You'll swallow your teeth, yeah."
"My— my teeth?" He whimpered when he collected his stuff, sighing. "Fine. Fine, I'll tell you though we have an information desk."
Dr. Gray sighed. "Why do you feel the need to do that? He's just a normal dude. Be nicer."
Tatsumaki ignored him.
"Well, most alpha females try to assert their dominance. It's a tired act yet I'm rolling my eyes." The scientist said, rolling his eyes.
"I'll roll your head!" Tatsumaki said, pointing to his skull. "Tell me what's going on."
He obeyed instantly. "Ar-Around me is a science convention. Scientists have normally locked away, doing their studies. It's one of the few opportunities that we would convene," he said. "Socialize with others from other departments, if you will."
Tatsumaki nodded. "It wasn't that hard to answer a question, wasn't it?" she muttered under her breath.
Dr. Gray shot her another disapproving look which she ignored.
"We test and find monsters and examine their abilities." The scientist raved. "This convention is mainly an exhibition where other scientists vie for attention. The competition between scientists is evident as those who get the most funding have the most publications and tools to unlock the mystery of where these Mysterious Beings originated from." His eyes lit up and he spoke quickly. He radiated uncompromised intelligence. "You both know the theory of how monsters form?"
Tatsumaki thought for a moment. "Humans can turn into monsters from the desire to transform into something else. It's like a demonic makeover." Tatsumaki tasted the words, not liking it too much.
Then superior heroes like me chose their funeral outfit. Ha, Tatsumaki internally laughed.
"Well, yeah but not completely. Human bad habits, obsessions and desires ignite a transformation when their cells have an abnormal reaction. Some changes happen through engineering, pollutants and environmental changes. City Z has many monsters but its the scene where those specimens are found." The scientist said.
Tatsumaki turned to Dr. Gray. "See! Even these scientists know that there's something wrong here. Let's work to dispel the curse of the monsters."
Dr. Gray groaned. "You're just looking for problems. Problems and trouble. Let's go back."
"Be quiet. This is important." Tatsumaki hissed.
Dr. Gray looked at her through the narrow corner of his eye. "Zuzu, we shouldn't wait to go," he said loudly.
"Hey, hey, patience is a fucking virtue!" she whispered. "Just work with me here."
They glared at each other for a while. None of them looking away or blinking. Why wouldn't he just bow down and surrender like everyone else? They both shared the same irritation.
The scientist blinked at Tatsumaki and Dr. Gray with wonderment. "So… you work with her?" he asked Dr. Gray, casting a skeptical eye.
"Nah, man."
"Yes, positive!"
Dr. Gray and Tatsumaki said at the same time. They locked eyes, both glaring in open disagreement.
"Wh… So you're his working partner?" The scientist looked at the growling Tatsumaki.
Before Dr. Gray could say anything, Tatsumaki stepped in front of Dr. Gray. "It's better to be the right hand of the devil than be in her path. Isn't that right?" she purred over her shoulder.
"That's right... right," he said, obviously intimidated by her sharp look.
Tatsumaki nodded, giving a predatory smile to the man. "Good."
Tatsumaki was happy, bruising his feelings. Suddenly, watching the two of them, the scientist started laughing. He's laughing! Tatsumaki gasped. Why was he laughing, pointing at the two of them…
Tatsumaki considered it for a moment. "You're laughing. At me."
"Yeah. At you." he chortled. "Your tough-guy exterior. It's cute-"
"Stop making aggressive lawnmower sounds! Don't call me cute!" Tatsumaki growled. "Stop that. Or I will eviscerate you."
The scientist's laughs cut off abruptly as he collected himself. "I thought it was cute." he adjusted his glasses. "It was a joke," he added quietly. "Joke."
"Yeah, sorry man, Zuzu doesn't like jokes," Dr. Gray shrugged.
"Yeah. That's why I don't like you." Tatsumaki retorted, pursing her lips.
The scientist and Dr. Gray shared an odd look of exasperation and she tsked at the both of them. Scientists were so fucking weird, acting like they know stuff. Tatsumaki's adoptive mother was one after all. Aihara Kizashi. That's why they don't get along. Tatsumaki hated scientists so damn much.
And there were so many of them around.
"Even so, why the hell are you lab coats swarming the streets?" Tatsumaki asked. "Couldn't you guys just stay inside?"
"We're looking at the samples and specimens that the scientists collected over the years. Some of them are alive! One demonstration will have the dissection of Quark, the monster who can reach temperatures of minus forty degrees. He's dead, of course, but we got loads of data from him. But magically he reverted back into a human, which contradicts our research. Some other people are like that. It'll be fun to observe Quark's kin under extreme situations and the reaction to cages."
"They're in cages?" Tatsumaki thought back to her days.
"Yes."
"They're being tested on, yeah?"
"Yep!" he paused, looking at his trembling hands. "Maybe one of them was an Esper. We're trying to get one of the kids from The Psychic Sisters' school to allow us to do some minor tests on them," he said wonderingly.
Fubuki's school? Did he want to start gobbling up Fubuki's students? For science? Research?!
"Huh? The Psychic Sisters? Who were they?" Dr. Gray asked.
"The specialists from the Alis Association about twenty years ago had a safe, consensual academy where they got an insurmountable amount of findings because of Terror of Tornado." The scientist nodded. "She was obviously taken care of and now has benefitted from the Alis Association, that's what I'm told. She is S-Class rank 2 for a reason."
Tatsumaki controlled her flinching. The public was told that they tested on children at an academy?! And Tatsumaki gave those bastards fame and fortune and findings?! What?
The scientist's cheeks were red, eyes excitable. "It was fascinating. Fascinating, I tell you!" he gushed.
He looked completely blissful, talking about the suffering she endured. Motherfucker. Experimenting on monsters was fascinating. Her suffering was fascinating. Maybe one of them was an Esper? And what the hell was that human getting tested on for?
All things were beneath her notice, blaring away, words too indiscernible to understand. Her heart pounded and all restraint escaped her.
The scientist looked at Tatsumaki. "You kinda look like her but you must be a fan, you don't have her famous glow but nice cosplay—"
"Hey," she whispered, feeling hot and angry. "Scientist."
A smile coloured his voice. He was smiling before but the smile was sincere. "Yes?"
"I'm gonna exterminate you," she told him frankly, sucking on her lip. "For safety."
"What-"
Before Baldy and the scientist could react, debris and dust sliced through the air, spinning, spinning so she could watch his work be destroyed. Their papers got sucked up and shredded.
Tatsumaki threw the scientist around, spinning him like the tornado she famously caught her epithet from. City Z was a victory road for food, life. Yeah? There was a lot of prey to devour! Dark cherry blood spilled in small doses. Ha!
"Are your people coming after my sister? And kids! Children! They're babies!" Tatsumaki yelled. "Why can't humanity grow up? Learn that we're people!"
His answers were screams and pleads.
"Don't you dare come to Buki's school! I don't give a damn for your reasons why but you touch that school- church bells will be crying," Tatsumaki yelled. "Stay away from ALL of us espers, fake Raegan!"
The scientist went in circles, a blur of white, beige and pain. He was about to be contorted, but she wanted to play with him longer.
He was so fragile. Was this all he got? She's only given some love taps. Die! Die! Tatsumaki smiled.
"Raegan! Stay away from us!" Tatsumaki warned.
Tatsumaki saw the world spinning so prettily.
Then she saw flashes.
Bright lights. Young Fubuki. Heartbeats. Dark cages. Pain. Tests. So many tests! It all flashed before her eyes. Raegan's dark hair and lab coat. Money. Blood. Young Fubuki.
Young baby, precious Fubuki crying because of Raegan paining her with so many tests. She didn't want to be reminded or without Fubuki.
And her heart stopped beating.
Restraint captured her.
Someone was touching her wrist. Brought her back to reality. Somehow, Tatsumaki was close to the building wall. When did she move?
She pinned the scientist against the wall again with her psychic abilities. She didn't realize Dr. Gray was there. His face was plastered with muted worry. And he was touching her wrist.
No, he held on with a surprising amount of strength and there was a pressured warning. Pain shot up her arm when she attempted yanking her arm back. She stifled a gasp of pain. Tatsumaki's arm could snap if she moved too much, that's how hard he held on.
He could easily throw her across the plain or something, with this grip. If he squeezed harder, he would have literally broken the left side of her body.
Why was this affecting her so much?!
How could she have left herself so open? Damn it. He was so under the radar that she thought he wouldn't be able to do anything. He did kill those monsters… she just forgot.
"Zuzu. His name isn't Raegan. Stop it. You'll kill him." Dr. Gray said, just subtle environmental noise.
"What?!" Tatsumaki glowered at Baldy, murderous intent whirling around her. "That's the idea! Death will make his scientific life more interesting."
Dr. Gray looked between her and the scientist. "I'll pay you ten yen to set him free," Dr. Gray said, vice grip on her tightening.
"I'll pay one hundred thousand yen to see him die!" Tatsumaki raised a fist. "You don't even have any money. Who the fuck are you kidding?!"
"That's all I got."
Disgusting! "You're willing to go broke for him?!"
"I'd do anything to save someone's life."
Tatsumaki flinched. "Me too. But not him."
"C'mon, you're making him look like modern art. Don't you have any respect for this building?" he asked calmly.
"No. I don't have respect for him or the dead right now. Nothing!"
"You don't have respect for the dead?"
"Actually, I'd like the scientist to join them, that's how much I respect it! I'll destroy the whole city if it means a brief moment of safety," Tatsumaki said, as darkly and as certain as nightfall.
"Safety, what are you talking about?"
Ignoring him, Tatsumaki settled her gaze on her prey. She will make him stay away from her sister! No matter what.
"If you wanna live dangerously, don't bring others into it. If you keep this up, I'm gonna have to get serious…" Dr. Gray threatened.
Tatsumaki looked up. "Pfft—"
Tatsumaki clamped up, a cold chill going over her body, gelling her limbs together. She didn't notice his sharp expression. She forgot about who she was... and what he was. He could kill monsters with one powerful punch. And he… was stronger than she knew. She shut up for her own safety.
"As heroes, we fight monsters. Not humans," he said, leaning closer.
Tatsumaki paused. Why did she feel intimidated? He looked determined without that braindead sort of expression. Now he wasn't looking at his simple eyes and basic mouth, he was going to kill her.
And he was raising his hand, she was prepping an attack. Before a rock could saw off his hand, he lazily flicked her forehead.
"Get that through your thick scalp, Zuzu," he told her.
Relief went through her as he released her. She ignored the slight throb in her wrist.
Crap. Bearded Worker was going to scold her so hard. Fuck. Atlas, too. The press was going to tear her to bits. Tatusmaki didn't kill humans, no matter the rumours or what she said… Why didn't she think a bit?
As the chaos stopped, she let the debris fall. It didn't land on anyone. All that remained in the air were sharp cries of panic. To this entire scene, everyone just saw her randomly attacking some frail scientist. And Dr. Gray probably thought the same.
Tatsumaki ground her teeth, eyes steady on the mostly uninjured scientist. She let him fall to the ground. He didn't throw up, which was impressive on his part.
She wanted to see him cough up blood, a bit. Sigh. Everyone watched as Tatsumaki shuffled all of his intact pages in order. She landed the sorted pack on his lap. All the papers weren't shredded.
She stared him down, ignoring the crowd, ignoring how Dr. Gray watched her carefully.
Bits and pieces of the scientist's research fell languidly like snow. It got in Tatsumaki's hair and the scientist snatched the particles with sad eyes. He was trying to salvage what was left.
Tatsumaki rolled her eyes. "You're pathetic, you know. Walk away from what your idiots are doing."
Noting how close they were, the scientist jerked backwards. His head collided with the wall but he still retained some pride. He stared at her owlishly, white knuckles clenching his papers. "You won't hurt me, Terror of Tornado. I'll report you to the— the Hero's Association. They'll do something! They'll protect me." he promised, unable to keep his volume low. "I s-swear."
"Whatever. Science ruined you, people," Tatsumaki rolled her eyes.
The scientist gasped. "Science is the closest thing to the truth. Science is infinite and a gift to me as happiness. I would never distort it!"
Happiness was all self-talk. She hated his cause. "Pain is infinite too, you ever considered that?!" she demanded.
He couldn't respond. His clasp on his papers weakened. She shook her head. A scientist had blood on their coats. They ALL have blood on their coats. They're untrustworthy bastards.
"Don't touch them. You know damn well what I'm talking about." she whispered.
The scientist grew even paler. "We wouldn't do anything wrong! We just— I haven't done anything."
Maybe you don't have skin in the game but this is wrong! Don't you guys study morals, too? For all that scientists know, you guys don't know shit. Tatsumaki sighed to herself.
The scientist was broken, blabbering. He was anxious and confused. She stood in her heartache. Maybe she was too involved in the past. Blast now scientists talking about Alis Association and Raegan. Damn it.
"Ne, Zuzu," Dr. Gray said quietly. "What's goin' on?"
Oh yeah. Him. What right did this scientist have to know her past? Coming close behind her, Dr. Gray had his aura of worrying that Tatsumaki couldn't stand. She didn't owe Dr. Gray anything. Why did he care? Why was he looking at her like that?
Tatsumaki fixed her cold gaze on him, speaking in a low tone. None of these scientists could hear. She got close to his face, levitating and stern.
"Don't ever touch me." she hissed lowly. "We're still on for Saturday but don't touch me."
"Hey, it's not like that. I just needed to stop you from—"
"I don't need advice," Tatsumaki said rudely. "Don't think you could do anything without my permission. You do not know anything about me."
Her ears caught the whispers and high-school level gossiping. Disgusting! She looked at everyone whispering, pulling their phones out, calling the police.
"None of you do, either. For a bunch of smartasses, can't you learn compassion and stop testing on people? Humans! We bleed like you." she sighed roughly. "If anyone is from the Alis Association, I swear to God that I will stop your malicious practices immediately."
Tatsumaki flew all the way to the other side of the City Z, shaking her head.
She thought Blast had taken care of decimating the company? Did he fail? No, Blast doesn't fail. What happened? Were there consequences? She'd never thought about it. She never wanted to.
Now they're trying to get Fubuki!
After getting no calls back, Tatsumaki left a message for Fubuki. "I don't know why you're avoiding me. We both got the same blood. My cursed blood is your cursed blood. Why the hell do you avoid me? If we run, we run together," Tatsumaki said loudly. "You gotta call me anyway 'cause it has to do with your school."
She sat on a building, arms spread out looking at the coming sunset. Since when did pain stop and why did scientists start it?
Since when.
Since when.
She took one breath and screamed for the next minute and a half and flew off like nothing ever happened. Because nothing did. Nothing really.
When she got to City A, it was annoying. Articles about how the scientist got attacked came out. None of them cared. Nobody cared. It sucked. Dr. Gray showed some false caring at that moment. She was forcing him to work with her and they couldn't find anything.
Just as she inputted the password that would allow her into the apartment, she noticed something. A mysterious thing found on her doorstep.
It was a gift. It was small, its pot being wrapped in this green, expensive mesh. It was a pretty deciduous tree with thin branches and broad green leaves.
Tatsumaki instantly recognized it. It was an apple tree.
Did someone get her this?
The note that came along with it was extra delightful.
Hey, Green Eyes. Wanna talk? I gave you an apple plant as an apology. Now you won't have to bother yourself with getting apples at the store if you have an apple tree at home. Just wait a little, treat it with love and care (like you straight can) and it'll be huge in no-time.
Can you give it time and allow me to also grow it with you?
P.S, I find your attitude great.
P.S.S, I'm sorry again. Call me.
P.S.S.S, You probably look great today. :)
-Zombieman.
Tatsumaki hesitated but didn't call him.
"Idiot," she whispered, caressing one leaf. "I don't need compliments. Idiot."
Tatsumaki couldn't deny the smile she had. This was so nice. No one else but fans had gotten her presents and even then, she didn't accept them. Those had fake love or appreciation.
No one who was close, admittedly less than three people, gave her anything of value. Or anything at all on a whim... They didn't really like her. Bearded Worker, Fubuki, Zombieman were always exasperated with her. They treated her as a childish nuisance, which she wasn't. All the time. Usually, they thought she should apologize and she was always a hero on the streets but a bad guy at home. Maybe the roles switched now after that attack.
Even after the earthquakes and now this incident, he bought her something she would care about for years to come. Instead of extending an olive branch, he gave her an apple tree. And he knew she would love it. He was a big dope but one who made her feel better. On the side of being a hero, he's actually a pretty good detective. He may help her find these bastards from Alis Association. And he would actually care...
For everyone that didn't care, Zombieman made up for every single one of them. Sometimes. Just barely. Barely. Completely.
###
-End Chapter-
A/N- Ovidae here. SOrry for ghosting this story. I was working on my other fics but this one had too much potential, sooo, I continued. Hope this chappie wasn't too angsty, next couple of chapters will deal with cannon plot, with Zuzu sprinkled in. All the mistakes are mine. Lol. I'll be fixing them.
And look at zomebieman being all cute. And look at saitama being all gentlemanly. He probably knows that tatsumaki is lonely and is looking for fun. Can't blame him for taking pity. and she got all these problems too. Agh. and tatsumaki trying not to be a small, small child. ah. Love all of them.
this chapter was hard to write but I have the next three chapters written. This one was a doozy.