Disclaimer: I don't own Tiger & Bunny in any way, shape, or form. I just like to play with the characters.
Summary: Kotetsu and Dragon Kid are looked at from a new, unflattering angle. [Future Fic]
Tiger woke up with a groan. Head pounding, eyes burning, and dry feeling in his mouth not combining for a good start.
How much did I drink this time?
"Tiger? Are you awake?"
Dragon Kid? She doesn't drink with us...
It took a Herculean effort, but Kotetsu pried open an eyelid, squinting as if that would give him protection against the harsh light they were in. It didn't. He was in a metal chair with coldness wrapped all around his body.
"What happened?" He couldn't see her, but the only warmth he could feel against his back, just the right size for a still growing Hero... that was probably her.
"There was a hissing noise in the tunnel-"
"I see my little experiments are waking up!" trilled a high, sharp voice, interrupting the younger Hero.
Ugh. Kotestu winced. I think that tone is harsher than the lights.
Waltzing into Tiger's somewhat blurry vision came a tall woman. Her lab coat was covered in a multitude of stains, and her pigtails looked as if she had stuck a fork into an outlet only moments before. Around her shoulders there were some rips in the fabric, and another spot her her hip as well; he could see blue underneath. "Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. Now, to ready the equipment!" As quick as she had come in, she darted back out, the two Heroes alone in a room that smelled musky, and cloying.
Were those brown smears blood on her coat? Wait, experiments?!
He could feel his mind scrambling to figure out what happened, and with that his body began pulling against whatever was binding it.
"Ow!"
Tiger paused.
"You okay?"
"My chains tightened," Dragon Kid explained. "When you were struggling."
Great. My hands are literally tied.
Tiger snorted in amusement.
"What?"
"I was just thinking that my hands are tied."
There was a pause, and then the younger Hero groaned; he could feel her head thunk against his shoulder.
"Really? We've been captured, and all you can do is make a dad joke?"
"I thought it was funny," Kotetsu defended himself.
"How are we getting out of here? She creeps me out." Despite the steadiness of her voice, Tiger could feel a slight shaking.
Yeah, I don't like it either.
"...just our luck, huh?" He let his voice smile, and rolled his eyes, even if she couldn't see them. "For what it's worth, I was enjoying our day out."
"I just thought that you'd like to see the new tiger exhibit," said Dragon Kid,. She sounded miserable, words clipped and stilted. "And when I won the tickets, I was so excited, I wasn't... I didn't..."
"It's fine. None of this was your fault" Tiger said, keeping his voice smooth and mellow. "And if it was, then I'd be to blame too, since I've been Heroing longer than you have."
The day had been pretty fun actually, the two of them using their exclusive passes to explore the redeveloped tiger enclosure. Their downfall had been when they entered the tunnel area that allowed them to poke protected heads up into the enclosure. Neither of them had noticed the gas util it had been too late.
There was rattling sound, accompanied by a rhythmic squeak, and then a fully equipped surgical tray appeared in the doorway, in Tiger's side view.
Shit. This doesn't look good.
"I thought it was just going to be a normal day, thinking that the two of you were just human. But, testing your blood and finding out that you were NEXT?" the woman laughed. "It was fate! And then your bracelets went off, showing me that you were Heros!
Crap, we didn't answer a call? I hope everyone else was able to handle it.
"After that, it was only a matter of matching up silhouettes, but still, what wonderful luck" She grinned at them. "I got the two animals of the Stern Heroes, right off the bat!"
You forgot Bunny was Tiger's semi-amused thought. And Bison. Or does the old cow not count?
"Let us go," he ordered, staring at the woman. There was something... off about her, either the way that she stood, or how her face looked when she was speaking. Then she picked up a surgical knife from the tray and kissed it before setting it down and looking for something else.
Or that. Yeah, let's file that in the creepy category.
"Why did you capture us?" asked Dragon Kid.
"Because I could use you. You both fall under my power."
"What is your power?" asked Tiger, fists balled up at his sides.
What was it with crazy NEXT? First Lunatic, then Maverick, and now this woman.
"Zoopery."
What?
She laughed, bringing the wheeled tray closer to a bed set up and clicking the locks on the wheels.
"I was ten when I discovered I was a NEXT. Back when we were all seen as animals, and not wanted. But in all those years since, I've come to embrace it, to love it." She hugged herself and sighed. "To learn and grow from it!"
"What the hell's 'zoopery'?" asked Tiger, reluctance and wariness in his voice.
Thought I honestly don't think I want to know.
"Experimentation on animals." She finally looked him in the eyes, her own blue ones dancing. "Hello, Tiger. Dragon."
There was a faint gasp from the other side of him as Dragon Kid understood what was going to happen. They were going to be taken apart by this lunatic.
Lunatic himself would be a better deal a small part of Tiger's brain whispered. Come on! Think think think! How can you get out of this?
"So, do I have a volunteer to go first? Oh, my name's Trixie by the way."
Neither of the Heroes said anything, though Tiger thought he could hear a slight sniffle from behind him.
Wait a second...
"We're not volunteering for your crazy experiment," he said, resting against the heat source along his back.
"Oh? Shall I flip a coin?"
Please let this work!
"You can't," Tiger said. "We're both not animals."
Trixie froze.
"What do... what do you mean?"
Tiger grinned at the crack in her voice.
"Exactly what I said. Sure, I'm an animal. Wild Tiger, here to look at the tiger exhibit-not much of a surprise. But she's," and here he threw his head backwards a little, "is a dragon. That's not an animal, that's a myth. They don't exist."
"Tiger what are you doing!?" hissed Dragon Kid.
"Huh..." Trixie put the knife down and stared at the two of them. Tiger tried to shrug, but the rattling of the chains stopped him.
"So you can't ask for a volunteer," he continued, ignoring the continued jabs in his side.
Why aren't you zapping me? That's what you normally do when you're annoyed.
"Because she doesn't fulfill your requirement," he finished with a flourish.
And get as annoyed as you want, because even if I'm not leaving, I can at least get you out of this.
"Hmm..." Trixie took a step back, running a small hand along the surgical table under the light. "You make a very good point Tiger. She really isn't an animal, is she?"
"Nope."
"I guess I'll have to return you to your human habitat then. Be right back!"
"What are you doing!?" whispered Dragon Kid as soon as the woman left. "I can't leave you-"
"Yes, you can, and yes, you will," interrupted Wild Tiger, leaning against her. "Listen up. None of the other Heroes know what time we were getting back from the zoo, so they're not going to miss us until it's too late. Get out, gather them, and then come back for me. Can you do that?"
The sniffles came back, and when she agreed, her voice was at a slightly higher register.
"Good. Don't worry about me, I'll activate my power."
Take down this woman and punch my way out of here.
"But Tiger-"
"Found it~!" Trixie was back, holding aloft a small box of medicine. "Okay little Dragon, open wide! Judging from your body weight, three doses should do you, but to counter any NEXT strengths, I'm going to give you a double dose."
"Hey, wait-!"
Tiger felt Dragon Kid struggling against him, with the chains pulling against his flesh now as she tried to get away from the crazy woman.
"Hey!" He tried to kick at the woman, but groaned as he leg stopped short, chained to to the chair. "What are you doing?!"
"I can't have her awake when I put her back, now can I?" Trixie stopped for a moment. " It'll cause all sorts of panic, or she might attack me. Open your mouth and swallow this, girl, or my new tiger will start experimenting with how much blood loss he can sustain."
Tiger swallowed, and he heard Dragon Kid do so as well, coughing afterwards.
Crap. Doubly not good, I was hoping she'd be able to get the others immediately.
"Don't you dare throw it up either," warned Trixie, watching hawkishly. "Good! That'll take effect in about fifteen to twenty minutes, so let's get started!"
She bent down and untied them, not even twitching when Tiger got to his feet in front of Dragon Kid, shielding her.
"You can't power up, so don't even try."
Huh!?
"That's what I was trying to tell you earlier," said Dragon Kid. "It's the collar. Maverick used the same when he captured us. They suppress NEXT abilities."
"And I found the blueprints," Trixie said, a smug smile on her face.
Tiger's blood burned when he realized that's what the coldness around his neck was.
You can't suppress who I am!
"Not a problem," he said, cracking his knuckles, and spreading out to the side. "Between us, we know enough martial arts to take you out."
"Which is why," Trixie said, pulling a small gun out of her coat pocket, "I have this."
The two Heroes froze.
"That's playing dirty," Tiger finally said in disgust.
"It's completely fair for me," she retorted. "My power isn't as suited for combat as both of yours are. Now, I've watched enough HERO TV to know your weakness, Tiger."
"Fried rice?"
Tiger had to grin as Dragon Kid snorted.
"Your heart."
Tiger's grin slid off of his face, and he tried to step back in front of Dragon Kid, but the gun cocked loudly.
"You don't care about yourself, but you can't stand seeing people, friends or not, get hurt. The ultimate Hero I suppose."
"Don't," Tiger said softly.
Dragon Kid didn't say anything. She also made sure that she wasn't moving, or drawing any attention to herself. This wasn't her first time staring down a gun, but without her power or her staff, it was a lot more frightening than normal.
"Obey my instructions and I won't," cautioned Trixie. "Do you accept my deal?"
Tiger nodded, eyes darting to Dragon Kid.
"You shouldn't have agreed," she said, her voice the barest of whispers, but the woman still overheard.
"If I pulled the trigger, he doesn't have the speed to throw himself in front of you." Trixie licked her lips. "So he'll do exactly as I say."
"Tell me what you want then," said Tiger, scowling. "Stop dragging it out."
"Very well. Go over to the examination table, and lie down on it."
Tiger walked over, each step echoing in the chamber, looking at it with wary eyes.
This is going from bad to worse, and she's still got the upper hand.. I wonder...
When he got to the edge of the bed, he leaned over far more than necessary and swiped at his pocket, trying to grab his cell phone.
If I could just get a call out!
"What are you doing?" asked Trixie, moving closer to Dragon Kid. "I told you, I'll shoot her."
"I'm not doing anything," he said, smiling and putting his hands up. "I'm just trying to get myself on the table. It's a little high, and I must have injured my knee earlier when you gassed us."
Look harmless, a fuzzy little cub instead of a big old tiger. Get her to lower her guard.
Trixie bit her bottom lip, then nodded.
"Fine. Keep going."
Wild Tiger climbed up, balancing on his knees and calmly sticking his hands into his pockets.
"You didn't tell me," he said, playing for time. In his pocket, he'd turned it on, but was stumped about what to do now.
If I call anyone, she's going to hear them. The only way I'll be able to get out a silent message would be if I remember where that messenger app is positioned on my phone.
"You're up to something." Trixie frowned, pulling Dragon Kid closer. "Hands where I can see them!"
Immediately he took them out of his pants, complying.
"See? Nothing."
Not planning a damn thing, see?
Trixie didn't look pleased.
"Fine. Take off your vest, shirt, and tie. I don't care about your hat, or anything lower."
"Well that's good," grumbled Tiger, loosening his tie. "Because I don't want to show you anything that's lower."
He looked around for a place to put it, but gave up and put it on the table. He then shrugged out of his vest and shirt, putting the two garments on top of the green one, then finishing the top of the stack with the tie.
"Dragon, take those and put them on the chair." The gun didn't waver, so the young Hero moved closer, reaching out for the clothes.
"Um, thanks," said Tiger, rubbing the back of his head. Dragon Kid just nodded, her wide eyes taking in the marks all over his chest.
"I didn't realize..."
"Yeah, my power just heals small ones, so I've kept all of the bigger ones.
"Enough jawing. On your back Tiger. I need to see you at your normal condition before we start the experiments."
He complied, wriggling to get comfortable on the table. Trixie walked forward, bending down to shove Tiger's legs into metal holders at the bottom. Quickly, he turned to Dragon Kid, extending his pinky finger and thumb while wiggling his hand near the side of his face. Her eyes lit up, and she folded her hands behind her, searching for her own phone.
Okay, one thing taken care of. Now let's see if we can stall her.
"I get the feeling you've done this before," he drawled, noting how quick Trixie was at tightening the straps.
"I have. Can't always trust someone else to do what you need, so a person has to learn do it themselves."
"I meant," he grunted as she pulled hard on the straps, "that nobody should be this practiced at tying people up."
"You clearly don't have a vivid night life," she returned, tracing a hand up his rib cage. "My my... I see why she was staring at you. There are many scars, aren't there? And you said these are only the deep ones? You're in rough shape, but I expected that."
"These are nothing. The deepest scars can be hidden in the mind, or in the heart." He looked at her, trying to hold her eyes. "What scars are you hiding Trixie?"
Tiger felt her hand creep up chest, then stop at his neck, covering where his Adam's apple was. Her other hand brought the gun into play, caressing the side of his cheek with the cool metal.
"I am ashamed of nothing," she said, words even, measured. "I found that I have the power to cut open any animal, and learn something from them. To absorb an ability of theirs."
"And what have you learned?" asked Tiger, his throat dry.
"I learned how to survive on my own because of cats. How to be social enough to pass, thanks to dogs. My mind can soar to the greatest heights, and swim down to the deepest depths."
"...you're insane."
The tense moment between them stretched, and then she turned her back to Tiger, focusing on her other prisoner... who was just putting away her cell phone.
"NO!" Trixie shrieked. "What did you do?!"
"Called the other Heroes," Dragon Kid said, her vivid green eyes flickering between the woman standing up and her friend lying down. "They'll be here any time now."
A scream of pure rage echoed throughout the room, and Tiger saw her spin, finger on the gun.
Dragon Kid's behind her and to the left, so...now! he reached out, grabbing and not letting go.
"Drop!" he shouted to Dragon Kid, reeling in Trixie by the arm and pulling her close to him.
"Let me go!"
"No!" Tiger shouted back. "You need to get help, see some-"
The gun went off. Tiger slumped down on the table, feeling tired, weak. Dragon Kid was suddenly in front of him, her eyes tearing up and her mouth moving, even if he couldn't hear her.
"What... what are you saying?" he muttered, shaking his head and closing his eyes.
Just for a second... too tired to keep them open right now.
"Hold on!" yelled Dragon Kid, seeing Trixie stumble away out of the corner of her eyes. But then Tiger coughed, spraying blood across the tiled floor, and she turned away, yanking his shirt away from the chair and tumbling to her knees.
"-wha?" She looked up and the distance kept moving, eliminating any trace of up or down. "No... no, not now..." Dragon Kid staggered to her feet, then dropped back to her knees. "...ti..ger."
He didn't notice when she stayed on the ground, all movement stilling. He did feel that it was getting colder. And then finally... that stopped too.
Tiger woke up, groaning as he saw the too-familiar hospital ceiling.
Ugh… this is too familiar...
"...dragon...?"
"I swear you are a trouble magnet," huffed Barnaby, pulling a blanket up to Kotetsu's neck. "She's fine, they're letting her sleep the drugs off naturally. You're the one we were worried about."
Wild Tiger smiled, then allowed the clouds to pull him back to sleep, Bunny's warm hand resting on his.
Letter from the Soup - Z for Zoopery
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