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

Summary: Kotetsu learns to be careful about wanting anybody, somebody, to help. [Future Fic]

Author's Note: Thank you everyone for being so patient, this has been a long time coming!

Sky High became Sky Low in seconds, faltering in the wind before stalling, crashing down to earth.

Now a voice in his head whispered. Or was it from his communicator?

Tiger activated his powers and jumped, catching his friend in midair with a move that looked easy, but packed a powerful punch. The two of them hurtled toward the street, and he maneuvered to take the brunt of what was coming, wrapping around Sky High's already damaged armor. Tiger let out a pained cry as his own armor made a crater of smashed bricks, splintered woods, and sharp slivers of glass; he didn't let go of the body he cradled.

Ugh... this is going to hurt for a while...

"u'kay?" gasped Tiger. He tried deep breathing. Holding onto ragged breaths. Straining to hear an answer. Listening with everything.

Please, please tell me I didn't catch a corpse...

"sky?"

Tiger's head bowed. He controlled himself. And he listened.

"fine... and... fine again," came a slight wheeze. A smile.

Tiger breathed, his lungs aching.

Sky High pressed one hand against his head and left the other wrapped around his waist, blood bubbling up from the wound.

Thank the gods. I thought... Tiger saw the replay in front of his eyes. Sky High, jetting straight up at top speed, "trying" to break out of the blue barrier they were being held in. Truthfully, the plan was that he'd force it to thicken in his area and let the others Heroes break through a weaker section. Then, Tiger and Sky would hit it together and escape.

The reason they were still trapped was Daniel. One of the villains they'd been chasing this morning.

He was also the reason Sky High was bleeding in Tiger's arms. Another NEXT, his "bullet hounds" were a mix of homing missiles and hunting instincts wrapped into one. It had followed the wind Hero, bypassing every other exposed body part to hit him square in the back of the head.

His girlfriend Mandy was the one with the blue shields; these were the last two of a group that had mostly been captured earlier. These were the cornered rats, and they were out for

The silvery helmet had performed its job though - dents were proof of skull protection, proof that Sky High was still alive, and even though five furrows showed exactly where he'd been hit from that damned bullet hound, none of them were bleeding. The bottom part had been half ripped away though, and the golden fin at the top was long gone. Tiger's armor wasn't much better; an acid-spitting NEXT had been the cause of that.

"they're out... at least..." Sky High's eyes were cloudy as he looked to Wild Tiger.

Truth. And the only good news.

Origami Cyclone, a concussion bomb taking him out of the battle too early. Dragon Kid, her staff snapped along with her left ankle. Fire Emblem had broken ribs, but they weren't sure how many, or how close they were to piercing lungs. The plan was for Rock Bison and Barnaby to carry the injured out, Blue Rose taking offense. None of them alone would have been able to get through the barrier, and since Tiger's power wasn't as good as Barnaby's at sustained protection, he had stayed behind with the wind ace. It should have been enough.

"You were supposed... to get out too!" Tiger placed Sky High on the ground, then stood protectively in front of him, fists up and ready for a fight. "Damnit!"

I don't know what I'm going to do when my time runs out... and since we've not heard a thing from the others, I'm going to guess this shield also blocks communications.

"Got... hit."

"I noticed," laughed Tiger, dry. It wasn't humorous. In front of him, the two criminals they'd been hunting showed themselves, walking up the scared, iced, and melted road hand in hand.

A testament to how badly we were overpowered.

"Power?"

Almost to the same second, his timer beeped at him.

"Gonna need another hour," Tiger said, his voice even. Pronouncing their death like it didn't matter.

Sky High went to say something, but coughed. He turned onto his side, blood splattering onto his fist, flecking onto the ground as well. He stayed there, panting, on his hands and knees, lips crimson. Eyes drooping.

How badly is he hurt?

"Where?" asked Tiger, his eyes narrowing. There were too many injuries to check them all right now.

"Where not?" asked Sky High, lips quirking upwards. "I think... I think my feet are okay."

...shit.

"You can fly though, right?" Tiger didn't wait for the answer. "

"Why?"

"Leave." Tiger focused a glare on the two laughing figures. They were taking their time coming up the road, but that was okay. He wasn't in any hurry to engage any more of those bullet hounds,. "I won't be able to hold them."

"I won't."

"Do as I say Keith!" Hissed Tiger, using the man's real name to show he meant business.

"Ko... tetsu," came the response. "I refuse, and refuse... again, to leave you."

"Better one of us dead than two!"

"Hey, you giving up already? Neat!" There were close. Too close. Daniel opened his palm and let loose a hedgehog. The creature, faster than it should have been, skittered up to them and exploded into sharp energy bolts with wings. Tiger threw himself in front of Sky High. Each hit felt as if he'd stuck a fork in the wall socket, but he couldn't let Sky High get even more injured.

Not if I can still do something about it.

He grabbed a nearby piece of concrete and tossed it in his direction.

"We need," Tiger gasped. "To move. An' hide."

"Where? That barrier..." Sky High grimaced, teeth and lips red.

And that was the problem, wasn't it? That damned barrier. It had grounded electricity, deprived flames of oxygen, and withstood numerous attacks. Even worse, it was shrinking.

"We got through once, we can do it again," said Wild Tiger, his voice grim.

Somehow.

Neither of them mentioned it had taken all of the Heroes combined efforts, and that the gap had closed up since then.

"Done praying?" It was the woman with the barrier power, his eyes still glowing blue. "I've been thinking about how I want to kill you."

"Why are you doing this?" asked Tiger, making sure that he stayed in front of Sky High.

I've got to trust in my friends. They'll find a way, I'm sure of it. I just need to keep us alive until then.

"Do we need a reason?" She grinned, showing a row of even, white teeth.

Tiger's mind thought of another NEXT, one with a neon blue palm for a face, a flame-tipped crossbow, and a white cloak that crumbled to dust when they needed maneuverability. Or an threatening image. Lunatic, the Vigilante Hero.

If even he has a reason...

"Yes," said Tiger. "Nobody's evil to be evil. Unless you're a childish, caricature of a villain."

That remark got him a shot stomach, but he still didn't move. Behind him, he could hear Sky High's wracking coughs.

"Fine. Here's a reason. You Heroes suck. You capture guys, and when they get out or when they get free they terrorize people again. My kid brother died because of you!"

...shit...

"I'm sorry-" Tiger's apology was cut off as Sky High staggered into him. He spun with sudden weight, and the King of Heroes smiled.

"Ooops. I guess he saw me," chuckled Daniel, his eyes glowing blue.

Red spots bloomed over Sky High's uniform, and the hands that clutched Tiger's arms grew weaker. They slid down as the Hero fell, his eyes closing. And lay upon the ground.

"No!" Kotetsu shouted. Tears welled in his eyes as he eased his friend's position, choosing not to look at his chest. "He had nothing to do with this!"

"Him or someone else, it doesn't matter. All you Heroes can die," said Daniel, shooting again. Tiger didn't, couldn't dodge. He took the bullets as they came, protecting Keth the same way he'd been protected earlier.

"This isn't fair," he said between gritted teeth. "You can't... punish others... for the crimes... of some."

Then, with his vision bleeding black at the edges, it came time for him to fall. His knees cracked hard enough to feel through the fog that had enveloped his brain.

Help... we need help... somebody, anybody...

"Is this your idea of justice?" boomed a voice in the night. Kotetsu let his head loll, seeing a bright red moon in the corner of his eyes.

No... wait, not him. Tiger wasn't sure what was going to happen. Either Lunatic was going to murder these two in cold blood, death by fire... or they were going to drag him down to die with Tiger and Sky High. Neither one was a good choice.

"You say that the Heroes were the one to kill your younger brother? Amanda 'Mandy' Groves. It's on the official paperwork that you did it yourself."

What?

Daniel shot a bullet hound at Lunatic, but he took off, jetting around as the missile snarled. Then, Daniel was in front of him. The hound attacked its master, and the man staggered back, not able to absorb the power fully before it hit.

How did he know that would work? I thought a person's power couldn't be used against them?

"You're lying about the reason you're here. And," Lunatic grinned, his voice echoing through the barrier. "You're a murderer. An unrepentant killer."

"No," whispered Tiger. He knew what was coming, and even though his arm reached out, there was no way that he would be able to stop it. A green fire appeared on the tip of Lunatic's crossbow. "You can't kill them!"

Lunatic paused, his head turning to look at Tiger.

I feel as if he can see me, right through my armor.

"I will do exactly what I have to; bring Justice to where it's missing. She's murdered before."

Tiger's hands scratched at the ground, trying to get up.

No! Not again!

"Do you admit it?"

"Admit what?" Mandy laughed. "That my little brother died? It was an accident."

Tiger heard the twang. Heard the screaming. Heard Daniel's cries of horror.

Damnit! I'm always too late!

Lunatic stepped in front of Tiger and said something.

"...what?"

"The barrier's down and the way is open." He stopped, tilting to see Tiger better. "It was... intriguing to rescue someone for a change."

He left Tiger on his hands and knees.

Screaming internally.

I must be stronger, I can't let him kill anyone else!

"Tiger!" Pink and red appeared in his vision. "Tiger, are you okay?!"

Shards of his soul clawed each other; the smell of burnt flesh was thick in his nose.

"Yes."

No.

"Check Sky."

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to send out a Wild Roar!

Letter from the Soup - H for Help