Barnaby refused to remain in the hospital for long. The last thing he needed was the media plaguing him with even more questions and attention than he was already dealing with. On more than one occasion during Barnaby's two-day hospital stay, Kotetsu had had to deal with frustrated calls from Lloyds about the desperate interviewers swarming the Apollon Media building in hopes of finding out where the great Barnaby Brooks Jr. had disappeared to.
"It's been two days. Two days," Barnaby huffed as Kotetsu finally ended yet another call from Lloyds with an exasperated roll of his eyes. "So I guess heroes can't get sick. It's not like we're human or anything."
Kotetsu shook his head. "Believe it or not, I used to be popular, too. Went through the same thing. You've got the flu, too bad. You've got a wedding, too bad. You've got a wife in labor, doesn't matter." He promptly ended his rant when he realized that it was likely doing nothing but wearing Barnaby out further. "Look," he began more gently. "I'm handling everything with Lloyds the best I can. There have only been a few minor crimes, nothing big to worry about."
Barnaby shrugged, looking peeved and staring with a slight scowl at the bland hospital wall. "Either way, I want out of here. I'd almost rather be braving the press than sitting here doing nothing." One more night for observation, the doctor had insisted earlier that morning. Barnaby was seriously considering ignoring that piece of advice.
Observation, he thought wryly. My entire life is observation. Not a second goes by I'm not being observed.
When Kotetsu's call bracelet began its obnoxious alert, Barnaby made up his mind.
"I'm coming with you."
Kotetsu didn't object as Barnaby carefully removed the IVs from his arm and rushed to the hospital room's tiny mirror to check his hair. It was a lost cause. Thank Heavens it would be covered by a helmet. He hurriedly slid on his boots and jacket as Kotetsu waited by the door, a hand on the doorknob, with a smug grin curling his lips.
As much as Barnaby would never admit it, there were a few ways in which he had grown to be just like his partner. Kotetsu fondly remembered multiple times when he had done exactly what Barnaby was doing then, abandoning the confines of a hospital bed and ignoring the pesky doctor's orders. Kotetsu felt partially responsible for the rare rebellious streak that appeared in the young blond, and he felt it something to be proud of.
"Let's go, old man," Barnaby said, and he pushed past Kotetsu and out the door before the veteran hero had even had time to respond.
When Wild Tiger and Barnaby finally arrived on the scene of the crime, a hostage situation as typical as a hostage situation could be, they found everything already resolved. Fire Emblem and, surprisingly, Origami Cyclone had been the first to respond, and the captor was already being driven away handcuffed in the backseat of a police car.
That didn't stop the press from immediately turning their attention from Fire Emblem and Origami Cyclone to Barnaby, video cameras and microphones shoved at his helmet before he could even dismount his Lonely Chaser.
"Where have you been, Barnaby?"
"Do you have any comments on your decline in point standings?"
"Barnaby, what's really going on?"
"Is your health already declining when you're still only a rookie?"
Barnaby blinked within his helmet, the sudden influx of questions shocking him even though he should have been expecting it. What was he supposed to say?
Wild Tiger covered for him when the pause became too great, enthusiastically stepping in front of the cameras and assuring everyone in Sternbild that Barnaby was still at his absolute best and just waiting for the next big crime to solve! He directed attention back to Fire Emblem and Origami Cyclone, who picked up on Tiger's hints and did their best to distract the reporters from Barnaby by attempting to resume their own interviews which had been so suddenly interrupted.
Barnaby thought he had managed to sneak away, but just as he had once again reached his motorcycle and Wild Tiger was getting situated in his usual spot in the side car, a second, smaller group of reporters rushed up to them with cameras flashing.
"Sternbild Chronicle, Mr. Brooks! Just a few pictures, if you will!"
They didn't wait for consent (When did any part of the media ever wait for consent?) and the flashes continued one after the other.
Barnaby suddenly felt dizzy again, and he knew exactly why. Those lights. Again and again they flashed, blinding him and taking him back to the way that blue light between Maverick's fingers would come closer and closer, eventually obstructing Barnaby's vision completely before the light obstructed his thoughts also. That was how he felt now, as each flash seemed to him a ball of brightness coming closer and closer and stealing away his thoughts. He found himself motionless, in a daze, overwhelmed by the sheer number of them as they seemed to multiply because he was probably seeing double.
When he swayed where he stood and had to grab onto his Lonely Chaser to remain standing, the larger group of cameramen and reporters once again turned their attention from the day's heroes and rushed over to Barnaby.
The blond thought he heard Kotetsu's voice distantly in the background, sounding angry and insistent, probably yelling at the reporters. Even farther away were Nathan's and Ivan's voices joining in to the commotion, but Barnaby could barely hear any of it. The primary voice in his head, surrounding him and grating against his ears, was his Uncle Maverick's. "Good night, Barnaby," he said. Then, "Sleep well, my dear." Maverick's voice again, but seemingly coming from another direction, "Sweetest dreams, my precious little hero."
Barnaby was on his knees then, gripping his head and trying to rip the helmet off so he could breathe. If the damned cameras would stop flashing for long enough that he could just-
In Apollon's studio, Agnes immediately cut the live broadcast and called off her own crew while trying to order the employees from other stations, magazines and newspapers to do the same. Agnes may have sold her soul to ratings, but she knew when too much was too much. Besides, she couldn't have one of her most popular hero's reputations tarnished by something like this.
"Stop!" he cried, finally getting the helmet off and throwing it somewhere to the side as he drank in huge gasps of air.
Wild Tiger was at Barnaby's side in an instant, lifting the cover of his own helmet and kneeling on the ground beside his partner to shield him from the view of concerned bystanders and media personnel alike.
Fire Emblem and Origami Cyclone helped to clear the area of people by providing their own stunts and entertainment, but for once the cameras were not drawn to Origami's antics or Fire Emblem's alluring flames.
It wasn't until Wild Tiger led a staggering Barnaby away from the crowd and Agnes herself arrived on the scene half an hour later that the people dispersed entirely.
Only a few moments after Kotetsu and Barnaby had ridded themselves of their armor and, at Kotetsu's comfort and urging, Barnaby had finally managed to calm down, his thin red flip-phone began buzzing on the table in front of them. "Amaranthe Spring" flashed across the preview screen on the outside of the phone, and Barnaby leapt to answer it.
"H-hello?" he stammered, using two shaking hands to try to hold the phone steady against his ear.
Kotetsu draped an arm over his lover's shoulders to keep him steady, and Dr. Saito peeked curiously around the corner into the main room of the Apollon van.
"Barnaby," she began softly, sympathetically. "I just saw what happened on TV. Are you all right?"
Barnaby swallowed. "Should be."
Amaranthe was quiet on the other line, likely running her fingers through her hair or nervously rubbing the back of her neck.
"Barnaby, I had a feeling something like this would happen. I just knew it. But I had hoped I was wrong."
Now it was Barnaby's turn for silence.
"For the sake of your own health and, well, your sanity, we believe you should take a break from the hero business, Barnaby.
"A permanent one."