Disclaimer: I don't own Tiger & Bunny in any way, shape, or form. I just like to play with the characters.

Summary: Kotetsu loves the winter season, and making his friends laugh. [Future Fic]

It was magical. Enchanting. Charming even.

Kotetsu could almost eat the air there were such delicious smells upon it* cotton candy (at both Karina and Kaede's instance), green tea (Ivan's influence), and ice wine (Bunny's contribution) along with other delights for young and old. Most potent was a heady scent of peppermint threaded with baked sugar, then topped off with a touch of pine, created by the surrounding festival booths selling do-it-yourself candy canes, icicle doughnuts, and snow-powdered cookies. The pine was coming from the ginormous tree Rock Bison and Bunny were currently wrestling with, Sky High giving instructions from his natural, high-in-the-sky view point.

Music was a part of the magic of course. Being coaxed out with an old piano, Blue Roses's fingers had been running along the scales for about two hours now, leading the gathering carolers into singing bouts of everyone's favorite songs, from Jingle Bells to All I Want for Christmas. Dragon Kid was helping out in that aspect too, her enthusiasm making up for her off-key notes.

He chuckled.

Some of the expressions Blue Rose was making behind the piano, when she thought no one was watching of course, showed she didn't quite agree that Dragon Kid's enthusiasm made up for missed high notes.

Across from the musical stage was the Snow Cafe, made entirely of ice. Fire Emblem was running the drinks bar; shaking, mixing, and generally ladling out the 'alcoholic's delight eggnog' as the Heroes had dubbed the concoction. It had over five different alcohols in it, and getting Sky High up and moving again had been an intensive group effort. Origami Cyclone on the other hand, had taken to it like a fish to water, surprising them all. Speaking of the shy Hero, he was working beside Nathan, passing out hot desserts that could be held in hands, like waffles and crepes, along with hot cocoa for anyone whose taste buds didn't like coffee, or who weren't old enough to enjoy other drinks.

A hand caught his attention, and with a widening grin Kotetsu waved at his mother and Kaede. They were here as well, wrapping presents to raise money for the orphanage. That was one of the things he liked best about the season. Sure, gifts and presents were fun to give and get, but everyone else being nice, kind, and understanding... that was always better. Best.

Blue Roses's latest song wafted out, ringing clear in the night.

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart

The very next day, you gave it away

She met his eyes, looking away almost as soon as he saw the bright red on her cheeks.

"She's gotta be cold up there," he muttered. Not even being able to move around to keep warm... though maybe having control of ice gave her some measure of warmth?

This year, to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special

Karina was in university now. Kotetsu smiled. She probably did have someone special, someone that she was keeping an eye on. Maybe the lucky guy or girl would even get chocolates for Valentine's day*. Last year she had given him chocolates, amazing ones that were fudge-rich in the center. He'd passed them out; she'd made a whole box, and it was just enough for each Hero to take one, even Dragon Kid.

Once bitten, and twice shy

I keep my distance but you still catch my eye.

Karina looked at him again, and for a moment, no matter how popular the song was with the carolers, he would have sworn that her voice was the strongest, the loudest. The one with the most emotion. He nodded in acknowledgement, and she smiled at him this time. The idol Hero was a great singer.

Tell me baby do you recognize me?

Well it's been a year, it doesn't surprise me

A year was a long time, and the younger Heroes had changed over the days. Kotetsu let out a bark of laughter. Had to be careful with that word, most of the Heroes were younger than him at this point. Dragon Kid had shot up like a weed during the summer, putting her new height to great use with her staff. Origami was less shy and more confident now, following his weekly chats with Edward. Kid was even coming up with more than a few new ways to get points. Bunny was enjoying the small things in life, taking the time to travel and find what he'd missed for so long. And Keith, ever the young at heart, was even seeing someone, after having met them at dog obedience school. Blue Rose though... out of all of them, she was the one who had shot up the most. She had finally touched a part of her dream, releasing a record written and sung by Karina Lyle. Her fans didn't know, but while Blue Rose topped the charts, Karina Lyle was right at the bottom of the top ten.

(Merry Christmas!) I wrapped it and sent it

With a note saying "I love you," I meant it.

She had sent all of them a note, saying that they'd love her music. Kotetsu's note had read a little different from Barnaby's-he'd snuck a little peak. She'd told him that if he listened hard enough, he'd hear music that he had helped create. And he had. One of Karina's songs had been about a normal person wishing to be a Hero, and then finding their courage to stand up for what was right. He'd been crying after that one.

Tiger smiled as he watched her, glistening on stage like the ice power she wielded. It was a nice idea, her having someone waiting. She was beautiful, strong, and fearsome. A great catch.

Now, I know what a fool I've been

But if you kissed me now, I know you'd fool me again.

It began to snow when she sang about kissing, little flakes nestling on people's hats and coats. Some of the children wandering around stuck their tongues out, giggling as their breath melted exactly what they were trying to catch.

"Tiger! A little help!?"

He turned to see that the tree was winning against the Heroes and jogged off through the crowd, chuckling under his breath.

"Come on guys, I've seen you all holding up buildings and you can't manage one little tree?"

"We didn't want to damage it," explained Barnaby, his voice muffled by branches.

"Why'd we invite 'Crusher' then?" laughed Rock Bison.

"Tiger! Thanks, and thanks again, for helping! If you take the south side, then we'll be able to set it in the stand."

Kotestu nodded, taking position where Sky High had pointed out. The next few minutes were filled with overwhelming pine, a few curses from Antonio, a snap from near Bunny, and finally, the slotting of the tree.

"I broke a branch," complained Barnaby, tugging his face mask up.

"Look at it this way," said Kotetsu, "at least the sap got onto the armor and not in your hair."

His partner's green eyes went wide, but then calmed down with a wry grin.

"Too true."

Antonio emerged from his spot, shaking like a wet dog to rid himself of pine needles.

"You guys did a great job," said Kotetsu, looking the tree up and down. Later on there was a ticketed decorating event, all proceeds going to charities picked out by each of the Heroes in a combination popularity contest and way to use themselves to help others. "How about you all clean up; Sky High and I will get some drinks."

"Sorry Tiger," said Sky High. "But I need to do a perimeter check. I'll join you later for drinks though." He took took, saluting before heading towards the entrance.

"Please get him something non-alcoholic," Bunny's voice murmured in his ear. "We've all still got a lot to do for the festival".

"Agreed."

"Ice wine for me though."

"Gimme some Black Bull Brandy."

Kotetsu snorted, waving to show that he'd gotten the orders. The crowd seemed denser, thicker, and his stride slowed to a snail's pace right before the stage.

A crowded room, friends with tired eyes

I'm hiding from you, and your soul of ice

My god, I thought you were someone to rely on

Me? I guess I was a shoulder to cry on

He had to smile at that. If there was anyone with a 'soul of ice,' it wasn't Blue Rose, no matter what handcuffed villains or rebuffed fans said. In fact, Fire Emblem and Blue Rose were almost the opposite in how their powers manifested. Nathan, being older and a bit more burnt, allowed themselves their physical pleasures, but still kept their mask in place emotionally when others were around, enabling a look at situations from an observer's point of view, which in turn let them gather information for an informed attack. Karina on the other hand, still had too much school to allow herself the smaller pleasures that Nathan enjoyed, and so she usually spoke her mind, as if needing to restrain herself forced her fiery spirit to reveal itself in other ways.

"Maybe I can talk Fire Emblem into teaching Blue Rose strategy?" he thought aloud, ducking and weaving his way to the Snow Cafe.

A face on a lover with a fire in his heart

A man under cover but you tore me apart

Now, I've a real love you'll never fool me again

Kotetsu stopped, turning to clap and yell for Blue Rose's performance. She stood up and bowed, then quickly walked off stage, promising to be back after a quick. break.

"Hey! Hey, Blue Rose!" he called out after her, ducking and dodging to make it to her side, and right as he reached the edge of the crowd, slipping on a bit of ice. "Ooomph!"

"You okay Tiger?" she asked, bending down to help him up.

"I swear that ice wasn't there earlier," he muttered glaring at the spot. He turned to smile at her. "I just wanted to say, the song was great-"

"Thanks," she blushed, "That means a lot, coming from you."

"And I wanted to say I'm glad you found someone!"

Her face snapped back to his, eyes wide open and brows furrowed.

"What?"

Tiger took a step backwards, rubbing his neck.

"Um... well... you sang it with such emotion... I just figured you'd found someone special at university. Someone else who loves the way you sing." He felt his grin wobble the longer she stared at him. "That's... that's what the song's about, right?"

Sighing, Blue Rose suddenly seemed to age about ten years.

"That's... part of it, yes."

"Oh..." Kotetsu thought about the other part of the song, the longing for someone to take notice. "Then I hope, for Christmas, that the person you were singing about realizes it."

She started laughing, tears springing to her eyes as she covered her mouth, and Tiger grinned, glad that he was able to make her smile.

Letter from the Soup - C for Carols

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