Disclaimer: I don't own Tiger & Bunny in any way, shape, or form. I just like to play with the characters.
Summary: Unthinkable, meet Unavoidable. AKA Barnaby and Kotetsu have a reminder that some NEXT Powers are really f*ucking horrible. [Future Fic]
Author's Note: Camp NaNoWriMo is coming up for April, so all works will be paused, resuming in May. Thanks for your patience!
The mall was strewn with debris, and this time not all of them came from their resident Hero klutz. The criminal that they were fighting (Marge Deloas) was just as dangerous (read: annoying) as Robin Thicke, and she had forced all of them into causing the differing spots of damage (Rock Bison charging full force into a wall had been funny, in a schadenfreude type of way; Blue Rose making the fountain shoot ice daggers at everyone, not so much.)
Which was why the ice wielder was currently blindfolded, gagged, and bound on the sidelines. Rock Bison still kicked every so often from his spot in the wall, each attempt to pull himself free failing. And Sky High was playing with puppies in the pet shop. Origami Cyclone, once he'd seen the repercussions of listening while under Marge's influence, had shifted a small part of his ears so that a pair of plugs nestled inside.
He's getting much better at precise shapeshifting.
Barnaby stood in only his under uniform, a little on the cool side, but much more confident in dodging minus armor with joint problems.
Blue Rose really knows how to shoot for a guy's weakness.
So now there were ripped, burnt, and iced pieces of clothes laying across the main corridor. Holes were everywhere, destroying displays, wasting walls, and resulting in glittering glass. Pretty much everywhere else were broken toys from the nearby Toys R Us and pages ripped from a decimated Waldenbooks.
And the reason they had all gone to war with the scenery? Little tiny mines that attached to people's limbs like shackles, and that caused them to follow any orders given.
Stupid things we can't see until someone is captured.
With that thought in mind, Barnaby winced to see puffs of purple smoke go off.
Who now? We're running out of candidates.
"Bunny!" Kotetsu's voice rang out over the communicator. "I've been hit!"
Of course. And he's been holding back on using his power too. Lovely.
"Oops, did someone fall into my traps? " Marge certainly didn't look sorry; her face contained a grin of pure pleasure. "Listen to only-"
"Me!" countered Bunny, right at the same time four other voices yelled out.
I heard Fire Emblem, Dragon Kid, and her.
"Attack your partner!" Marge shouted, pointing to where Bunny was crouching behind a robot-selling kiosk (the super toy of the holiday season!) "Force him to submit to you!"
Kotetsu's on the third floor, so it should take him a minute or two to get down here. Come on Barnaby, think! What's the best strategy for this?
"Tiger!" yelled out Dragon Kid. "Don't attack Barnaby!"
Lightning quick thinking from Dragon Kid, that might actually work.
It hadn't with the others. In Blue Rose's case, he hadn't thought to cancel out the orders when she'd turned to attack them. Rock Bison, thankfully, had taken himself out with the wall charge. Sky High was a... special case.
As close as I can figure, the air currents he generates created a vacuum in which he can't hear anything else.
It was a good a thought as any. Him not listening had made Marge ignore him, which in turn meant that Sky High was still "stay out of this fight"-ing at the pet shop. Which, on the other hand, was a good thing since he could make sure nothing dangerous happened to the animals over there.
The last thing our PR needs is more work, and the last thing we need is-
A thud sounded behind him, causing the hair on the back of his neck to prickle.
No. He wouldn't.
He would though. It was totally a Kotetsu move, to take action before thinking of the consequences.
Please tell me he didn't.
Barnaby turned around in time to see Wild Tiger lift his face mask, glittering eyes focused on him. There was a tenseness in his stance, an aura of power, focus, and drive. Something his partner only got when talking about the importance of Hero work.
Shit. I should have kept my suit on.
Barnaby spun and ran off to the right, something large crashing behind him and sending fragments against his back.
We need to stop this.
"Don't worry about me!" Barnaby shouted, passing Fire Emblem and the flames they cradled in their hands; judging by the looks they were giving, they were wavering between throwing them at Kotetsu or not.
Not like fire does much against our suits anyhow.
"I've got this! You get her! It'll amount to nothing if she gets us all!"
"Dragon Kid! Grab Origami and come over here!" Fire Emblem sang out, extinguishing the flames and retreating, an eye warily watching Tiger. Behind them was a sign advertising pretzels and smoothies. "Council of war!"
The food court. Gotta stay away from them.
Barnaby kept running, looking behind him every so often to keep his partner on his radar, make sure that he hadn't lost him.
Not that I need to worry about that. Is this how he felt when I was after him?
Antonio had told Barnaby the tale, straight from Kotetsu's view point. How the two of them had used their powers to beat the crap out of each other. How apparently, just as Kotetsu's power had given out, the hated nickname of "Bunny" had been muttered, snapping Barnaby free of the mind control before he had... injured his partner.
And I'm more afraid of me hurting him than the other way around.
Something smashed into the wall in front of him; he slid to a stop.
"Bunny." Kotetsu's hard words came from behind. "Stop running."
"Tiger." Barnaby's heart was beating hard, and it wasn't only from the chase. He turned to face his partner. "You don't want to do this."
"Yes. I do."
He kicked out; Kotetsu grabbed his foot and pushed, shoving him back into the wall,which stayed up firmly behind him, damn it.
This isn't good... he's still listening to her.
"Snap out of it!" he shouted, dodging a thrown fist. "I know you don't want to do this."
Tiger smiled. Not in a playful, fun manner, but hungry. Sharp.
"We've got an idea on how to capture this trouble maker. How are you holding up Handsome?"
Barnaby tried to answer his communicator, but reaching for it brought him into Kotetsu's field of opportunity.
That was a mistake.
The thought was rammed home when he stopped sailing through the air and hit a reinforcement column.
"Tell me... you've got her..."
"Almost!" said Dragon Kid, voice crackling. "Can you keep Wild Tiger occupied for a few more minutes?"
He looked up, eyes instantly focusing on the green, black, and white power suit watching him.
"Yeah." Barnaby got to his feet, settling into a fighting stance. "Not a problem."
Can't let him get to me again - I'm not used to taking hits at that power without my suit.
A hand thudded onto the wall on his left; the other to the right.
He wasn't in his armor, realized Barnaby, trapped. He was baiting me!
Tiger stayed there, a snake waiting for the mouse to blink wrong.
I'm not flinching. Come on Kotetsu. What's your next move?
Barnaby stared into those brown eyes.
Usually sweet as molasses, but now... Now they are as hard as rocks.
"What are you waiting for?" Speaking made the other Hero flinch. "Come on! Hit me if you're going to hit me!"
Tiger grabbed Barnaby's wrist, pinching right where the communicator was.
"She said to force you," he whispered, desire thick in his voice.
Kotetsu?
"And I know I can do that."
This is not Kotetsu
"Handsome... is that Tiger I'm hearing?" Fire Emblem's was incredulous, and Barnaby didn't blame them.
This is something I never saw happening.
"I can make you..." Kotetsu stepped closer, now less than an inch from his face. "...submit. To me."
"Barnaby!" Dragon Kid sounded terrified, but he was angry now.
She's turned my Tiger into this.
"Get. Her." ordered Barnaby between gritted teeth. He glared at the man looming over him, as effective as a hiss from a wet kitten. "I've got Tiger."
"No." Kotetsu grabbed the blond's chin and tilted his head up further. "I've got you."
Truer than you think; you've had me for a while.
"Barnaby, hang on, we're on our way!"
He tried to wrench his head away, but his partner's fingers were welded iron. There was no way out.
Kotetsu, don't do th- Barnaby's thought was cut off as warm lips pressed against his. Surprise left his mouth slightly open, and Kotetsu didn't hesitate, his tongue slamming forward and drawing a moan.
"St-stop."
I'm going to kill her.
Kotetsu pulled back, his thumb caressing Barnaby's cheek.
I've wanted this.
The other hand let go of his wrist and ran down the length of his body, tantalizing against the thin fabric.
But not here.
It settled at the small of his back, and when Barnaby opened his mouth to protest again, Kotetsu pulled him forward.
Not like this.
It was hard to concentrate.
I've imagined this in so many different ways...
But they were nothing compared to reality. The heat of the kisses. Grinding movement against him. Growing heat he could feel from both of them. Barnaby felt it when his knees weakened, and he leaned in.
Which is when Kotetsu was ripped away by a very angry looking Fire Emblem.
"You two are going to talk about that later," they promised, looking between the two of them. "Or else it's going to be poisonous. Barnaby, are you alright?"
...yes?
"I think so," said Barnaby, adjusting his glasses. Behind Fire Emblem stood Dragon Kid and Origami Cyclone, holding onto Marge's arms. "You. This is your fault. You made him do that!"
There was a whimper from his left, but her cackling laugh overpowered it.
"No, this is your partner's fault. My power just demands that the action be done. He could have made you submit in a fight; he wanted to make you submit to him." She licked her lips and smirked. "Sexually."
He wanted to do that?
Barnaby flushed bright red as he looked over at Kotetsu... who was hiding his face.
"Come on," said Fire Emblem, nodding their head at Marge. "Let's take her in and help the others. The fight's over, so they should be over their compulsions. Also, that'll let Barnaby and Tiger talk."
Dragon Kid and Origami Cyclone nodded, wide eyes moving between Barnaby and Fire Emblem.
"Um... we'll see you later," Dragon Kid said softly.
Barnaby waited until all of them had left, Fire Emblem freeing Rock Bison and Blue Rose so that they could help with Sky High. Blue Rose caught his eyes, sympathy in hers, but Fire Emblem had to pull Rock aside and briefly tell him what had happened. Finally, they all left, including the gloating Marge.
"Tiger?"
His partner hadn't looked at him since Fire Emblem had ripped him away.
"Tiger, talk to me."
I think my knees are fine enough now.
The blond made his way over to where his partner was standing, completely turned away from Barnaby.
"Damnit Kotetsu!"
"I'm sorry!" came an answering yell. "Oh god I'm so sorry for doing that! I feel like I'm going to throw up!"
Barnaby felt as if Blue Rose had iced his insides.
Wouldn't be the first time a criminal lied...
"Are you sorry for forcing it?" He had to clear his throat to ask the next question. "Or sorry for kissing me?"
That caused Kotetsu to face him, tears running down his eyes.
"Never for kissing you,"he said, voice soft, hoarse. "Just that... just that..."
Huh. I didn't think I had a chance.
"Then, if that's how you think, I want a different memory," said Barnaby, stepping forward.
Fire Emblem's going to want a report anyway... should I make it an R-rated one?
Letter from the Soup - O for Obey
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