Chapter 13

"News of the Blue Serpent has been spreading across the city. He has been appearing with the Class A Rank 1 hero the Leviathan Prince. But he does not appear to be the M Class hero we are all familiar with Snek. More on this story as it develops." The news has been all over the 'blue serpent' as of late, it makes Snek smile more or less as the world hasn't figured out it was Amai Mask. Yet as he watched the news, he heard Drax raising his voice.

It was a few days later since Drax's training with Suiryu. And in that time, he has tried to convince his mother in moving to City Z at Garou's place. "NO" she said defiantly.

"But mom!" he protested. "Why can't we? What's wrong with the idea of moving to City Z?"

"We are not going to barge in on someone else's home and insist we move in, that is rude Drax, you know it was rude, how could you ask something like this?"

He remained defiant. "It's because I want a dad!" he yelled.

Even Snek turned the TV off when he heard that. Angela's face turned red as she turned to Snek. "You heard me, I want a dad! I like Snek, and I know you two were close back in the day. Why can't it be him? Why couldn't you and Snek fall in love again and we could be a family? Even if he does turn back I don't give a damn, he's a far better father than what's his face was. He has never beaten me, or you for that matter. He's taken care of us, he barely knows me but is taking the time to do so. Mom… why can't…" he couldn't control his emotions any more, he ran to his room crying and slammed the door shut.

Angela turned to him, still embarrassed. "I'm sorry…" she said.

"Don't be, the kid knows what he wants, but I doubt you know what you want just yet." She was stunned. Angela turned to him, her cheeks grew even redder than before. He sighed aloud. "What I am isn't a forever thing, I get it. You don't want to be attached to a snake monster for a boyfriend… I get that also. But I know, I can be a damn good role model for him. Even if I am not human, you know that too. But… I also know something else."

"Snek…"

"I know monsters terrify you." He said gently.

Angela turned away. She was embarrassed. "I put you through a lot bringing you to Garou's house. I saw the way you reacted, you were on the edge of your seat the whole time and you didn't want to say anything to me, since you didn't want to embarrass me in front of my friends. Angela, it's okay to be scared. And I know…"

"Snek, how could it work?" she asked. "How could we be a family when you become that thing again? How would Drax explain to the children at his school that his mother has a snake man for a boyfriend?"

"I THINK IT'S PRETTY DAMN COOL!" Drax shouted from his room.

Snek laughed, but Angela wasn't. "We were judged before, after Bob got turned. I can't put him through that again."

He nodded and understood. "It's fine," he said. "Even if it doesn't work out between the two of us. I'll still be in his life. I'll still come by and hang out with him. He wants a father figure. I'll be it damn it!"

She was stunned. Angela couldn't believe her ears. "You mean that, don't you?"

"Yeah, Angela. I am not the same guy I was all those years ago. I got no rank to be obsessed over, I am not out for glory or to make a name for myself so the world would know who and what kind of hero I am as well. All I know is this. I was a complete idiot for letting you go. I don't want to lose you again." he said. "But… I don't know how you feel about me. I broke your heart, and that I cannot fix easily if at all." He paused. "I think I am going to go out for a while."

He walked out of the apartment; perhaps he would drop by Garou's again and see how everyone was doing.

#

The city got its first snowfall of the season. Snek marveled at it, but then smirked. He remembered the first year he grew those spiked scales that would allow him to slither in the snow, if he didn't have those, he would get nowhere fast… that or he could rent himself out as a toboggan and slide down hills with great ease. Getting back up though was a whole different story!

He thought a lot on his way to City Z. He walked most of the way much to his own surprise, and yet, he couldn't help but wonder if Angela would stay when he turned back. Snek kept staring at his hands, wondering once more. Was it worth it all? "Do I talk to Alley again about a cure? Do I have her make that thing that the house of evolution used and turn me back?" he wondered.

That nagging sensation returned. At the back of his mind he knew if he remained human, there was little he could do as a hero. His hands could stop a few minor things, but the monsters he wouldn't be able to take all of them down. Not to mention work. How could he be a hero with an A Class salary to provide for Angela and Drax? Would he take a different job to ensure they have all they needed? Would he be able to get his old rank back if he became human again?

As a snake, he could easily provide for them. He didn't really need the money for anything, he could keep them in comfort and give them whatever they needed with what he earned. He hunted his own food, had no need of clothing, instead everything he made could go directly to Angela and Drax!

Yet, he thought of Drax and what the kids said. He saw him as a father.

"Damn it…" he muttered. "I want everything now!"

But he can't have it all, there was no way for him to. He took the train the rest of the way to City Z, and still, he wondered, could Angela learn to love him as a serpent? Was it possible? He knew from the moment they dated, she was utterly terrified of monsters. That didn't change after Bob was turned, and then the fallout from it all. People turning against her and Drax, claiming it was them who pushed him over the edge and made him into the Pig Butcher. That didn't help matters with her fear. Now, he wants her to be with him after he turns back.

"What the hell am I thinking?" he muttered.

The train came to a stop, he stepped off and found even City Z got its first snowfall as well. "Huh, winter came early." He made his way to Bang's dojo when he saw something strange. Floating in the small pond was a blue serpent. "Amai? SHIT AMAI!" he jumped the fence, Snek trudged through the cold water and grabbed Sweet Mask. He wrenched him out and turned him over. Mask coughed up the water and breathed on his own. "Son of a bitch!" cursed Snek. He got on his phone. "Garou… you need to pick someone up at the base of the mountain… and me as well, damn that water is cold!"

"Wait, what?" he questioned.

"Amai looks like he tried to have a shower at the foot of the mountains. You know how well snakes take the cold right?"

"That moron! I'll be right there."

Snek hung up but did as best as he could to pull Amai out of the chilled water. "Damn it, you're heavy!" he cursed. He only managed to pull him up by a foot, by the time Garou arrive. There was little time for chitchat as Garou grabbed hold of Amai and Snek and flew them both back to the house. Once they arrived, Melee had a bath robe for Snek but Amai was out cold.

"That idiot! Snakes are cold blooded, I could only take the chill since I got fat!... well… not fat, fat but you know."

Alley just came from down the hall when she heard the commotion. By this time, Snek started to shiver from the cold. "So much for the surprise, okay follow me everyone!" she called. Alley led everyone down the hall to what appeared to be a closet. "I didn't notice this here before." Said Snek.

"It's new, watch" she opened the double doors and revealed a pathway. Instantly Snek could feel the warmth as she led everyone down through the path and to a hot spring of all places! "Welcome to our own private spa!" she announced.

They put down Sweet Mask as Snek took in the place. It was marvelous. There appeared to be four hot springs in total, the two farthest from them were the largest out of them all. And Alley appeared to have made a divider so when the girls use them, they will have privacy. The warmth was starting to wake up Sweet Mask. Snek leaned over. "Hey, wakey wakey princess!" he called.

"Huh, I thought for sure that would wake him up." Muttered Garou.

As Amai came too, Snek let him have it for being so stupid to try and take a shower at the base of a waterfall after the first snow, especially if they are wearing an electrical warming device. Lucky for him, the thing didn't short circuit but it was frozen. Alley was quick to take if off of him and announced she would go and fix it again.

Sweet Mask still wasn't quite coming too, Alley made certain he got into the hot spring and it woke him up rather quickly.

From there, the guys all tested out the new spring. It was perfectly warm and the heat melted every stress away. It was quick to take the chill out of Snek's body, the warmth was just what he needed. Yet as the men grew tired of it, Snek stuck around to savor the heat. Amai remained in his own spring. It was quiet between the two of them, Snek was resting his eyes when he heard Sweet Mask say two words he would never hear from him. "I'm sorry."

Instantly his eyes shot open, he turned and stared at the A Class hero who appeared to have a look of great sincerity. "What did you say?" He had to be sure he heard it, after all. One in a relaxed state could hear things they may not have.

But clear as a bell, he said it slowly. "I'm sorry." And meant every word of it. Amai went on to tell Snek how he didn't realize how difficult it was for him to be such a creature, and yet, despite his form, he was still a hero, doing his job.

"I've been trying to tell you that since I turned! I wasn't going to have a jackass like you dictate to me what I can and can't do being that!" Snek scolded.

The two had a good chat, and yet Snek's guard was still up about the whole thing. Amai is many things, a good actor is one of them. How does he know this isn't all part of the performance? Yet, the more he spoke to him, the more Snek began to feel that perhaps things were changing. Despite his cocky demeanor, Amai appears to be learning and having a proper understanding of his 'punishment.' Also, it allowed Snek to see that he was still a hero as a serpent, what he was able to do and how he goes about doing it in that form was nothing less than amazing.

If Angela couldn't see it, then why should he try and change himself otherwise? Snek knows the good he does, what he can do is far greater as a monster than a human.

After their conversation, Snek decided to take his leave. He found a fresh robe to put on and left Amai to soak in his own thoughts and the hot spring.

He rejoined the others back at the house. Melee gave him a set of Pac's clothing to wear since his were soaked. "I'll get them dried for you but for now, you should fit into these."

"Thanks…." Snek paused.

"Something wrong?" asked Melee.

He turned to the family and sighed. "Has Garou spoken to you about what Drax wants to do?" Her head nodded. "I want to do it too, but… Angela doesn't. I'll be honest, she is terrified of monsters… and I think she is scared of what I will become after this is all over. She doesn't want her son to be associated with something like me."

"Is that so?" questioned Melee. She appeared hurt by the comment, her arms crossed rather defiantly. "Snek… if I may. I like her, she's a good person from what I have gauged…"

"Wait for it…" muttered Garou.

"HOWEVER!" she announced. "If she doesn't see you beyond what you appear to be, is she worth it? Because let me say this, serpent or not, you're the same Snek I have known and am proud to call you a friend and family member. I don't care what you look like, the only ones who do are the twins because in your serpent form they can sleep on you!"

The twins snickered. "It's true," laughed Goliath.

"We nearly crushed him when we gave him a hug the last time," explained Draven.

"Anyway…" Melee said. "We don't care what you look like, if she does that's her problem. If anything, I would like to have a chat if her if you are okay with that."

He was stunned, however he didn't know if Angela would agree to it. Melee insisted though, she would handle it and requested that Snek take Drax out to do something for a while.

"I'll come by tomorrow."