Apollon liked throwing parties. They had a huge ballroom right in their office building, so naturally the executives would rather use it than let it stand empty and gather dust. To the big-wigs, parties meant publicity and one-upping the competition. For Kotetsu, parties meant a night of standing around and smiling at really important people and not going home and relaxing with beer and the TV. He hated office-time, and business parties were just more office-time but in stiffer clothes and with a bunch of unfamiliar faces that he couldn't care less if he impressed or if they impressed him. He usually spent those nights hoping for a disaster, because the company would look bad if their heroes didn't appear on TV because they were at a party while the people needed help. Sometimes, the sponsors looked good when Kotetsu protected the peace, and he had to be grateful for those little chances to be a hero the way he wanted.

This party in particular (thrown to celebrate a new president of one of Apollon's sub-company thingies) had taken a bad turn. Lots of guests had an interest in Kotetsu thanks to his rise in the ranks—fifth place, solid distance between himself and Dragon Kid, close to Fire Emblem's fourth place—and that kind of attention wasn't bad, but then the head of some department, Kotetsu didn't care which, came to offer his complements.

"Your performance in Hero TV has improved stupendously," the man said. "Life is a lot easier when an Alpha takes care of things, isn't it?"

Kotetsu's hand clenched, putting the skinny stem of his champagne flute in grave danger of snapping. Take care of things!? What right did this man have to say things like that about Kotetsu and Barnaby? Okay, Barnaby had the attentive care of an Alpha down pat, but Barnaby had trusted Kotetsu with his past and relied on him in turn.

"What do you know about being an Omega?" Kotetsu asked, a little growl in his voice.

"Sorry?"

"Do you know what you're talking about? Are you Scented?"

The man smiled sheepishly, "Well, no, but some things are easy to understand—"

"Do you understand that Barnaby and I can't smell each other in the field? We might as well be Betas out there. Our teamwork has nothing to do with Scenting."

"Yes, but—"

"And he's not my boss, he's my partner. Our teamwork is so good because we don't worry about who should be doing what. My life isn't easy because he's taking care of everything. It's easy because he knows not to."

The man blubbered a little bit with his next point, and Kotetsu realized that he was four seconds away from doing something that Lloyds would surely drag him across the coals for, so he made up some excuse about seeing someone and left. He ended up near the food table, fuming, with a glass of champagne and a plate of teeny hot dogs wrapped in pastry (pigs-in-a-blanket; that's not what it said on the card next to the platter, but whatever, they were pigs-in-a-blanket) trying his best to have his back turned so no one would recognize him as a celebrity or think to approach.

I'm a hero, not a party guest… Kotetsu grumbled, tossing a little sausage in his mouth, chewing it vengefully, and chasing it with champagne. He could already hear a distinctly Barnaby-like voice in the back of his head explaining that sponsors made sizable investments in the heroes, and to secure continued support, Kotetsu needed to put up with these stupid parades. In other words, "It's part of our job."

Another hand reached around Kotetsu, a suit-sleeve and man's hand aiming for the food. "May I…?" the guest trailed off trailed off.

Kotetsu looked over his shoulder and realized he was blocking one of the platters. "Oh! Sorry, my bad," Kotetsu moved his food and drink to a smaller, round, standing-only table, less secluded but less likely to interrupt anyone. The man filled a small plate with a few egg-cracker things and then glanced at Kotetsu again, meeting his eyes. He smirked.

Please don't come over here. I don't want to talk to you. I don't want to be here, I just want to get through this, don't come over here…

The man approached Kotetsu's table and set his food down. "Wild Tiger, I presume?" he asked, as if there was someone else at the party wearing a mask.

Simultaneously, an Alphas Scent drifted to the forefront of Kotetsu's attention, dreamy and electric, and Kotetsu bit his tongue to keep from cursing his luck aloud. A corporate scumbag had already insulted him, and now he had to spend time deflecting an Alpha? He just wanted to go home. But, if this Alpha had an invite to this party, he was probably important enough that Kotetsu had to at least pretend to be nice.

"Yeah," Kotetsu decided to respond.

The Alpha waited a second for Kotetsu to elaborate, but when Kotetsu said nothing, he brought up his own conversation topic. "Quite the party, don't you think? Only Apollon could pull together a guest list like this."

Kotetsu barely knew anyone's name, let alone what they were doing here, which probably said something about his social circles, so he opted for a vague answer, "Yeah, lots of people showed up."

"You don't seem to be enjoying yourself."

Kotetsu popped another pig-in-blanket into his mouth and chewed it. Yes, this guy was an Alpha, but Kotetsu still felt mostly okay. Sure, pheromones were wafting into his personal space, bringing with it the strange, soothing heat, but compared to something like Barnaby's Scent, this Alpha barely affected him. Maybe exposure to Barnaby had built up Kotetsu's resistance to lesser Scents. He didn't even feel light-headed.

"Are you stressed?" the Alpha prompted, guessing at Kotetsu's thoughts.

Without a better answer, and still not interested in conversation, Kotetsu shrugged. "Kind of."

"Well, I know it's been ten years, but does a familiar face ease your mind?"

"Eh?" Kotetsu looked up and studied the Alpha's appearance, trying to find something familiar. He looked about Kotetsu's age, with crow's feet and a few miscellaneous wrinkles, oily-haired and sharp eyed. And he had no idea where he had seen this guy before.

The Alpha slid around the table by a mere six inches, enough for the air between them to shift so Kotetsu could catch the Alpha's Scent clearly. "They say that smells form the strongest memories," the man said. "Ring any bells?"

"Uh…" Now curious, Kotetsu took a breath through his nose and thought for a minute. The Scent was still rather weak, and kind of… teal? If Kotetsu had to describe it, he'd pick that color. Where had he smelled a teal Alpha before? Even with no recollection of the man himself, the Alpha was right—this Scent was familiar, like a fingerprint on his brain. For a second, Kotetsu panicked, as he thought that maybe the Alpha had met Kotetsu out of costume, and discovered Wild Tiger's secret identity by his Scent.

A moment later, the memory finally clicked. "You're that reporter!" Kotetsu cried and jabbed a finger at the Alpha. 'The one who outed me as an Omega!"

The man raised his eyebrows. "You don't remember my name?" he said.

"Like hell I'd learn the name of a traitor!" Kotetsu scowled, the freshly touched ten-year-old wounds burning. "What were you thinking, breaking trust like that?"

"I was young and full of dreams," the Alpha said. "Much like you were, am I right?"

"Don't even try that! You stabbed me in the back. There was a reason you were supposed to only ask certain questions. What if you revealed my secret identity?"

"That thought occurred to me, but I disregarded it," the reporter said. "I thought the truth was more important."

"And you never stopped to consider what I thought?" Kotetsu insisted. On top of the other justices tonight, this Alpha would be lucky if all Kotetsu gave him was a piece of his mind. "Do you have any idea what it's like to live with Alphas trying to decide your life every time you turn around? I chose not to share my Scenting, and you did it anyway!"

"Yes. I realize now that was wrong." The reporter looked Kotetsu in the eye. His expression shines, a little sad and hopeless. "I'm sorry."

Kotetsu's tirade froze. Whatever he had been expecting the Alpha to say, it wasn't that. He stood there, dumbfounded, as the reporter continued.

"For years, I rationalized my decision to publish your Scenting by thinking it would become public eventually. Truth is truth, and there's no shame in revealing truth," he explained. "But all this attention focused on you and your partner, and the rhetoric of choice, made me realize that it wasn't my truth to share. I disregarded your right to make your own decisions. You're right. I betrayed you."

Kotetsu kept staring at him, barely able to comprehend this situation. An Alpha—one who had used Kotetsu for his own ends—now apologizing? And after ten years? Sure, Kotetsu still felt the sting of treachery, but this reporter published his article so long ago, most people probably didn't even remember how the world found out that Wild Tiger was an Omega. What did this guy have to gain by apologizing now? Was he not trying to gain anything, and was actually sorry?

"Can you forgive me, Tiger?" the Alpha prompted.

Finally looking away, Kotetsu fiddled with his call band, rubbing his thumb along its smooth surface. "You… cost me a lot. But you weren't any different than the other Alphas I had met. Just another bully. For a while, being an hero gave me a chance to stop being an Omega for a little while. It gave me peace." Kotetsu smiled fondly at the people who mistook his NEXT power as signs of Alpha status. "Then you destroyed that."

"I understand now what I took from you."

Kotetsu smiled wryly. "It's too late for me. You can't take back what you've done. But I think there's still something you can do to make it up to me."

"What do you have in mind?"

Kotetsu took one more sniff, just to be sure. "You smell single," Kotetsu observed, calling attention to the lack of a not for you odor.

The Alpha, so fixated with his sharp eyes, finally looked away. "I had a mate for a few years, but it didn't work out."

"If you're sorry, you can apologize by treating all the other Omegas you meet with the respect you didn't show me. Sound fair?"

The reporter laughed. "Just because Barnaby can respect an Omega doesn't mean we all can." Before Kotetsu had a chance to fully comprehend his statement, the reporter added, "I'm kidding, kidding. It's not like that, I promise."

Kotetsu breathed a sigh of relief as the reporter continued. "On the subject of your partner, the fact that Barnaby has resisted an Omega, and the reasons he's given for doing so, have sparked a bit of a fashion."

"Fashion? Like his clothes? Don't tell me his hairstyle is a new trend."

He laughed again. "No, nothing like that. As you can imagine, a young, handsome, successful, strong, and charming Alpha like Barnaby has won himself a number of Omega fans. Naturally, many Alphas are a bit annoyed that Barnaby is stealing all that attention, but they're trying to win back potential mates by emulating him."

"Emulating?" Kotetsu repeated. Well, which part, the 'see ya's, the sly smiles, or the teasing favors?

"Do you read articles for Scented people? Health, entertainment, relationships?"

The articles that have headlines on drugstore magazines with models on the front advertising sex and dating tips for sex and dating that Kotetsu never wanted to have? Why would Kotetsu touch those things? But he simply answered, "No, I don't."

"To follow Barnaby's popularity, a lot of experts and writers are encouraging Alphas to switch their approach to mating. Slogans like 'be your Omega's biggest fan' are catching on. People are realizing that the best thing you can do for your Omega is to help him reach his dreams, rather than trying to make him act the way you want." The reporter rotated his plate slightly, but didn't eat. "I covered a story recently on 'Omega's choice' nights at Scented lounges, where they encourage Omegas to hunt for Alphas, a reverse of normal mating practices."

"That doesn't sound like change. It sounds like a gimmick," Kotetsu pointed out.

"But it's a gimmick that sells," the reporter emphasized. "And that's revolutionary. Such a change can only be attributed to the example that you and your partner provide."

Their example? Kotetsu reached for another mini-sausage, and found his plate empty, so he tried his best to subtly change directions and grab his drink. Barnaby and Kotetsu couldn't be providing an example; they weren't paired. More than that, Agnes wanted to play Barnaby as a long-suffering and hopeless suitor, tormented by Kotetsu's rejections. Why would Alphas want tips on how to end up in that kind of situation? Someone could probably argue that Kotetsu's vague responses could indicate he had an eye on his partner, but that was a long shot.

"I do believe that Alphas are capable of resisting Omegas," the reporter filled the silence. "Scents are powerful, but they don't rule your entire personality. The key is un-learning years of conditioning and tradition. Such change doesn't happen overnight, but at the same time, that change is unstoppable." He paused and leaned one elbow on the table. "I'll be doing my best to report on this social transformation, if you'd like to watch for my byline."

"You seem really upset that I don't know your name," Kotetsu noticed.

"It's a bit like this," the reporter said. "When you've met the mythical Perfect Ten, and even though he's leagues above you, you still want him to acknowledge you… in a way."

Kotetsu's cheeks heated up. "Now wait a second! That's not—I mean, I'm not—a—a—"

"You're a Ten, Tiger," the reporter cut him off, face solemn. He breathed deep, closing his eyes, and when they opened again, Kotetsu saw the familiar, predatory edge of an Alpha. "You were a Ten then, you're a Ten now. That much hasn't changed."

"I don't like people drawing attention to it," Kotetsu said, shifting a little away from the reporter. "It's bad enough that I'm an omega, why do people have to make a big deal about it?"

"Because you are a big deal. You're unique. A rare, untouchable treasure. And then your brash attitude, your signature headlocks, no, you've never been a normal Omega. It's remarkable."

"I don't care about that. I'd give up this wonder-Scent in a snap if it made Alphas stop trying to push me around."

"Does Barnaby push you around?"

"Wha—huh?"

The reporter smirked. "Barnaby's attitude is quite different now, compared to his early interviews. He certainly started out like any other Alpha, but something is different now. Hero TV doesn't like to emphasize it, because it would mean their shining star wasn't perfect from the very start, but to another Alpha, it's like the change from night to day."

"What's so different?"

"He's promised to respect your autonomy."

"Yeah," Kotetsu shifted on his feet. "He's—a great partner."

"He's your dream Alpha, isn't he?"

"What? No, Bunny and I aren't like that!"

"But when you described your ideal Alpha in old interviews, and on the Tiger Tamer Challenge dating show, you talked about someone willing to respect your right to make your own choices. Someone who listens when you tell him to back down. A friend first, an Alpha second."

Kotetsu scratched behind his head. "I… I said that?"

"If your work in the field can attest to anything, you and Barnaby are good friends," the reporter said. "But has there ever been a time when Barnaby backed down, at your request?"

Lots of times, actually. The fireworks, when Kotetsu realized Barnaby was at his limit—now that he thought about it, Kotetsu didn't even ask for Barnaby to back away, Barnaby deduced that wish himself. And so many other moments qualified, too. Barnaby left Kotetsu alone while he slept on Barnaby's floor; he had Kotetsu pinned at the top of the Fortress Tower, but he let go on Kotetsu's word alone; on the iceberg, Kotetsu's headlock failed, but Barnaby decided to leave his prone body alone. Combined with dozens of other moments—the hospital visits, the office rhythm, their field teamwork—Barnaby backed down a lot.

"Yeah. He has," Kotetsu answered.

"Interesting," the reporter noted. "What about in the presence of another Alpha?"

"Eh?"

"Competition defines an Alpha's life. The rules change significantly when there's more than one Alpha in the game. Has Barnaby ever tried to come between you and another Alpha?"

Kotetsu swallowed, not liking where this reporter was going. "I don't really know any other gay Alphas…"

"Then you've never seen if Barnaby would really let you choose another Alpha."

"I don't need to see that! I'm not interested in any other Alphas!"

One of the reporter's eyebrows popped up. "Any other Alphas?"

Kotetsu's face burned, and he amended, "I meant… any Alphas."

The Alpha chuckled lightly, but drew no more attention to Kotetsu's slip. "I admire your absolute faith in your partner. I really do," he promised. "But if you ever wanted to see that faith in action, now is your chance. If your partner wants me out of the picture, there's nothing I can do. That's a reality I've lived with for years. All of the conditions are perfect for an experiment to test Barnaby's willingness to listen to you."

Kotetsu drank from his glass again, struggling with what to say. Was this guy serious, setting up an experiment? Did he want to stir up trouble between Tiger and Barnaby so he could report on it? Or on the other side, did he want proof of Apollon's duo's bond? What did Kotetsu have to prove to this guy? He'd caused Kotetsu nothing but trouble the only time they met.

"What do you want from us?" Kotetsu asked flat-out. "Why do you care so much about whether he'd leave me alone or not?"

"It's not every day you get to watch history in the making. Before Barnaby's debut, I didn't dare dream of a scenario like this. But now there's a chance to see something greater in the world."

Kotetsu turned back to his champagne and drained the glass while the Alpha pushed his point. "There will be no clearer contrast between the attitude of past Alphas and Barnaby if he decides to leave you alone. And it never hurts to have all the facts before you decide."

"I'm not deciding anything!" Kotetsu set down his now-empty glass with more force than necessary. "Bunny and I live our lives just fine. There's nothing else we need to do."

"Are you sure?" the reporter asked. His words slid down the back of Kotetsu's neck like cold oil. He got chills.

"I… just… What does this matter to you? You came here for forgiveness," Kotetsu snapped. "Are you trying to leave with another headline story, too?"

"I work for an Apollon subsidiary. My editor would never let such a story run. At this point in my life, I can't take the risk of selling the story outside of the company, either. I'm on your side this time, Tiger."

Kotetsu wished he could just make this Alpha shut up. It didn't matter to Kotetsu what Barnaby would do with another Alpha around. It just wasn't important. Barnaby had made his promises, and that was enough. He didn't care about any of this! He didn't!

…Did he?

The reporter's stance shifted away from the table, and Kotetsu looked up. Barnaby approached them, sleek and handsome in his formal suit, with a winning smile and a champagne flute in each hand. He held out one to Kotetsu, who stared at it for a second before he realized it was meant for him. With Barnaby's arrival, his Scent clashed with the reporter's and the two distinct odors clashed and wreaked the usual havoc in Kotetsu's brain. The pheromones competed for Kotetsu's attention, but it wasn't even a contest. Barnaby had the inherently, obviously, and overwhelmingly superior Scent.

"Keep your strength up," Barnaby teased, before he turned to Kotetsu's companion. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Barnaby."

"Barnaby Brooks Jr, It's an honor," the reporter stuck out his hand. I'm Elijah Woodward, for the Sternbild Star."

The two shook hands, and Kotetsu leaned a little more onto the table to support his weight. Already, he wanted to bail on this 'experiment.' His imagination dreamed up a perfect way to do so: take Barnaby's arm, rest his head on the rookie's shoulder, and let his body language say the rest. But, a niggle of curiosity held Kotetsu back. Even before Barnaby, Kotetsu had never found himself in a situation where two Alphas competed over him. Maybe it was morbid, but Kotetsu couldn't deny that some part of him wanted to see it. But just to prove why he chose to be a hero and not an Omega! He'd never tolerate this kind of stuff ever again. And it wasn't like Barnaby or Elijah could do much to each other in public.

Barnaby continued with some small-talk, asking, "Are you here to cover the party?"

"Not officially, no," Elijah said. "I suppose you would say I'm 'off duty,' but if something catches my eye, I won't let it pass me by. I just found Tiger a little while ago, and I thought this would be an excellent chance to catch up."

Barnaby blinked, and glanced between Elijah and Kotetsu. "Catch up? Have you two met before?"

"We did an interview together, years ago," Elijah said. "Wild Tiger's Wild Facts, I think. Was that the title?"

Elijah directed his question at Kotetsu, and he nodded, staring disinterestedly at some far-off stranger's shoes. Kotetsu didn't care enough to try and remember the real title.

"Yes, that was it," Elijah continued. "I have to say, the most surprising fact of all was learning Tiger was an Omega! It just hit me the moment I entered the room. No one prepared me."

"You're an Alpha?" Barnaby asked.

Elijah smiled a snake's grin, and he leaned closer to Kotetsu. "Yes. Cued for males."

Barnaby's expression changed instantly. He dropped the cool, charming appearance in favor of a cold, ruthless face best summed up in a single word: Unacceptable. And Kotetsu found himself way less interested in other people's shoes.

"Have you kept in touch since that article?" Barnaby asked, his polite tone slipping along with his kindly public face.

"Our lives took us in different directions, so no," Elijah admitted, but his voice sounded light and confident.

"When did you write the article?"

"Close to Tiger's debut."

"If it's been ten years since you saw each other, then Tiger doesn't want anything to do with you," Barnaby summarized.

…What?

Kotetsu gaped at Barnaby, but his partner didn't notice, his own green eyes trained on the reporter as if staring at him hard enough could make him disintegrate. He looked angry, and jealous, but worst of all he looked mean. He might as well not be Barnaby anymore. Literally any Alpha—any arrogant, self-absorbed, rude, inconsiderate, hostile Alpha—could take Barnaby's place and Kotetsu wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

"We're talking now, aren't we?" Elijah took Barnaby's judgment in stride. "We don't need a past to share a future."

"What are you imagining? More interviews? Ten-year pen pals?" Sarcasm dripped from his voice. "What sort of future could a journalist give a hero?"

"You're the one who has to worry about providing a future. You're a hero yourself, one of the most dangerous occupations in the world."

"That means I can protect him, where someone like you would break like a toothpick." Barnaby straightened his back another two inches, glaring down his nose at Elijah. "Don't pretend you're stronger than me."

What the hell are you saying, Bunny? Panic started to rise in Kotetsu's chest as the fight escalated. This guy hasn't done anything to you! He's just—

He was just an Alpha. An Alpha talking to Kotetsu. To Barnaby, that was enough reason to destroy him.

"Is strength really what Tiger needs? He has strength of his own, so what does he need you for?"

"Then tell me what he needs!" Barnaby's tone sharpened. "If you know his needs so well, tell me what it is, and I'll prove to you that I already have it!"

"You need me to tell you your partner's needs? Looks like you're not that close to him after all."

"And you think you're close to him? You don't even know who he is! He'd never share that with the likes of you!"

"Can you really be sure what he will and won't do? You don't share his values, Barnaby Brooks Jr." Elijah's mouth twisted in a smile as oily as his hair. "I can't think of an Alpha less qualified to claim him."

"You delusional fool!" Barnaby declared. "Tiger would never consider someone like you for a mate! You're a nosy gossip-grubbing idiot, and if you came here hoping to leave with Tiger then you should leave—"

"Hey!"

Both Alphas whipped their heads to look at Kotetsu, the fire of competition blazing behind their eyes. He looked between them, all three men startled that Kotetsu had spoken up at all. But Kotetsu couldn't just stand and watch anymore. He couldn't listen to them fight like this, for no other reason than they both found Kotetsu's Scent attractive.

He met Barnaby's eyes, aggressive and cold. His partner looked angry, and looked angry at Kotetsu. Kotetsu had seen that look time and time again, ranging back to the first Alpha he ever met in high school. It was the look of an Alpha who thought he owned Kotetsu.

And five minutes ago I was complementing you. But you're no better than them, are you?

"Maybe you should leave," Kotetsu said, the words heavy in his mouth, staring Barnaby right in the eyes. "Okay, Bunny?"

Barnaby—or, the Alpha who looked like Barnaby—glared, furious at the insubordination, but Kotetsu held his gaze. Four agonizing seconds passed… and then Barnaby closed his eyes, loosed his shoulders, and lowered his head. The Alpha was gone.

"I understand," Barnaby said softly. He turned to Elijah and offered him another handshake. "Very nice to meet you. Enjoy the rest of your evening."

"Of course. I'm glad we got the chance to talk." Elijah replied, accepting the hand, and Barnaby walked away. As Kotetsu watched him, it looked like his partner was missing his soul, or like the light that dawned following the defeat of Jake had been extinguished. Even with such a distinctive profile, he quickly disappeared among the other party guests.

He looked down at the glass Barnaby had brought him. Kotetsu had done the right thing, hadn't he? Barnaby acted way out of line, picking a fight with another Alpha. Kotetsu made his own decisions! He couldn't let Barnaby get in the way of that!

"I've never seen anything like it," Elijah summarized. "The stronger Alpha backed down at the request of the Omega. A fight between Alphas is usually to the metaphorical death, and it takes a lot to interrupt it. You're really fantastic, Tiger."

Kotetsu did his best to ignore him, staring at the golden liquid in his glass, bubbles rising to the surface and bursting like fireworks. Fireworks…

Kotetsu looked to Elijah, with his oily hair, manipulative words, and eerie curiosity about other people's lives. And now Barnaby walked away, filled with his own assumptions about what Kotetsu's dismissal meant. Oh, Bunny… I did make a mistake.

He pushed his untouched glass into Elijah's hands. "I gotta go," he said, striding out into the crowd without a single glance backward.

The crowd had swallowed Barnaby already, but Kotetsu searched anyway, heading straight to the back of the room and scanning for those famous blonde curls. He couldn't let this night end with a misunderstanding, but he couldn't see Barnaby anywhere, not even hidden among mobs of guests seeking his smile or autograph. Where could he have gone?

In his search, Kotetsu almost ran directly into Lloyds, sloshing his boss's drink but thankfully not causing any lasting harm.

"Tiger, what are you doing? Where are you going in such a hurry?"

"Uh, sorry to interrupt," Kotetsu said, noticing the other suited businesspeople talking to Lloyds, though he didn't feel that sorry. "I'm looking for Barnaby. Have you seen him?"

Lloyds frowned slightly. "He asked to leave, about fifteen minutes ago."

"What? Seriously? Did you let him go?"

"Barnaby has been talking to guests all night and representing Apollon Media well," Lloyds told him. "Where have you been, Tiger?"

"Ah—I've been talking with guests, too!" Kotetsu insisted, though the lists of 'guests' he had talked to was disappointingly short. "Please, I really need to talk to bunny. I think I—I mean… There's something I need to explain."

Lloyds clicked his tongue. "Can't it wait?"

"I don't think so, sir."

Lloyds calculated the potential losses of dismissing Wild Tiger, the less socially graceful of his two heroes, after he had already allowed Barnaby to leave. He finally decided, "Fine. Smooth this over and be at your desk on Monday, nine o'clock."

"Got it! Thank you!" Kotetsu turned to sprint away with his new freedom, but he paused to ask Lloyds, "Did Bunny say where he was going?"

"He said he was going home."

"Okay! Thanks again!"

Kotetsu booked it out of the hall and into the elevator, jabbing the ground floor button. He couldn't get away from this party fast enough. He had to make sure Barnaby was okay, that they were okay together. If a night like this ruined their partnership, Kotetsu would never be able to forgive himself. Yes, it might be painful to hear and say all the things Kotetsu had been avoiding for weeks, maybe even months, but now he understood. It would hurt much, much worse if he had to watch Barnaby walk away from him again.