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

Summary: A hurricane blows into Stern Bild, and our Heroes try to do what they can

Author's Note: Thank you for your patience on this one, 'T' for some reason was really hard to write... on the plus side, there's a 'T' for Ivan and Nathan. :D

Tiger was beyond heavy. His legs were the tree trunks behind the collapsed shrine near his mother's house, and his arms were made of the cracked stone foundation. Each finger throbbed, out of sync with his heartbeat so that he wasn't sure which throbs were hurtful and which one was keeping him alive. His partner was pinned by a car, almost as if he was a bug instead of a bunny, and was now splayed across the hood; they were were trying to save their powers in case the situation inside was bad, or if they needed to evacuate during the storm.

And couldn't get up his mind laughed, any mirth covered with a heaping dose of sarcasm. The problem was less of an attack and more of a disaster - a natural disaster in the form of a typhoon bearing down on Stern Bild.

A typhoon that sprang up with no warning, he reminded himself. But it doesn't matter if this is natural or NEXT powered, we need to get to those kids!

And that was the crux of the matter. They'd been watching the weather map, seeing where weak places needed help in the form of paramedics or other professionals, when Barnaby's face had lost all color.

"That's the orphanage," he said when questioned.

'That' being the SOS call made to 119, a woman's panicked voice saying the water had surged over the road and was blocking them, and the children, from being able to leave.

"We need to help," Barnaby had said, turning to them all with fear in his eyes. Even if their friend hadn't grown up there, none of them were going to say no. When it came down to it however, the only four people that could make it through the winds were him, Bunny, and Rock Bison. Sky High would continue to remain grounded as long as the wind currents were over 150 mph.

And as long as the water currents don't wash us away either Tiger thought, feeling a sucking pull at his ankle.

"Right!" Tiger yelled, waving one arm forward so that Rock Bison would understand. He wiped the rain out of his face and turned so that his partner was parallel to him, making it easier to cut into the wind. At this point he was wading through mud and debris that reached mid-thigh, and any time that something brushed against his legs, he wondered if it was a body.

Way too many nights watching the weather channel reports on disasters he scolded himself. On the other hand, watching about what not to do during a hurricane or tornado helps.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rock Bison change directions, about three meters away, and following him.

"Hey, Bunny!" Tiger greeted his partner when he got close enough. "You're supposed to hit the road, not get hit by the car."

Barnaby glared at him; he could tell even through the face plate.

"Ha. Ha. This doesn't tickle."

"I know, we're workin' on it." Tiger studied the car. Its front hood was pinning Bunny to a store front wall, and didn't look to be moving anytime soon. "If we can put it into a tailspin, then maybe..."

He put his hands against the trunk and pushed, immediately stopping when he heard a low moan.

"If this is hurting-"

"I don't care," said Barnaby. "It needs to get off me, and if that hurts, then it hurts."

Tiger nodded, pushing against the car again and letting the wind blow away complaints. The effort left the two of them panting.

"What's the plan?" asked Rock Bison, coming up with a splash.

"You're gonna have to drop down," shouted Tiger. "We'll push the car with the current."

They waited a few more minutes for Rock Bison to join them, and then all three of them pushed at the car. It creaked, then shrieked, moving a little in the water until the right rear tire dropped.

"It's stuck!"

Of course it's stuck - that's how everything goes to hell, right?

"How ya feelin' Bunny?" Kotetsu called out.

"Like a butterfly," came the deadpanned response; Kotetsu laughed despite the situation.

"Let's try it again," said Rock Bison, positioning himself near the downward slanted end. "I'll push up, Tiger, you sweep to the side."

Both of the other Heroes nodded; Kotetsu to show that he understood the directions, and Barnaby to show he knew pain was coming.

"On three! Two! One!" Rock Bison crouched down and lifted, causing Barnaby to cry out. Kotetsu shoved as hard as he could, and the (CAR DESCRIPTION) wrenched sideways with a squeal of metal, letting go of their friend.

Barnaby took a step, then sank up to his chest.

"Shit!"

Kotetsu felt his heart sink.

"What's wrong?" he asked, wading closer to his partner and pulling him up from the mucky water.

"My leg," said Barnaby. "I think that car broke it when it pinned me."

"Damn it," cursed Rock Bison, looking to Tiger. "We're not going to be able to get there if he can't walk."

"We're halfway there," said Barnaby, the grit, and pain, evident in his voice. "And that's my home. My family. I'm not turning around."

"But even if you make it there, you're not going to be able to help," said Tiger, giving Rock Bison a look.

The wind whipped up around them, sending water further up their legs and even more debris at their heads.

"You're not going to make it," Tiger repeated, shaking his head. "And out of the two of us, if there's an emergency, my Hundred Power would be more useful than Rock's unbreakable skin."

"You're not-"

"He is." said Rock Bison. "I agree with him. I'm going to get you to a hospital, and he's going to continue on."

"What?!" Barnaby struggled to stand on his two feet. "That's an idiotic idea! Look, I'll power up now and heal-"

"Hey!" snapped Tiger. "You know that's not going to heal your leg correctly, so don't do it, or we're going to have to rebreak your leg later!"

"That's rich coming from you!"

"If you use it now, you won't have your power to help when you get there," rumbled Rock Bison. "Tiger will."

Kotetsu saw the exact moment Barnaby accepted the situation. It was when the blonde's shoulders straightened, and his eyes snapped up.

"I'm trusting them to you."

"I know."

There was nothing else to say, and Tiger watched them start back in the same direction they'd all come in. Then a street sign clanged off of his armor, and he turned to the orphanage, hands up to fend off the wind.

Some Time Later

"I shouldn't have left." Barnaby groaned, looking out the window to glare at the weak sunshine. "The storm finally broke up about an hour ago, and he's still not answering."

They were the only two in the hospital; Pao-Lin was out helping to keep the electricity running, Karina was icing down out of control fires, Antonio was sifting through debris with Ivan, and Nathan was using their flames to cook up food for evacuees.

"You didn't have a choice," Keith pointed out, blue eyes on the dissipating clouds in the sky even as his helmet rolled around from hand to hand. "I'm heading out to check on him right now."

"I haven't heard from anyone at the orphanage either, neither the kids nor the sisters. Let me know..." Barnaby swallowed hard, blinking rapidly to hold back tears. "Whatever happened. Just, let me know."

I'd rather know than sit in the dark.

"They'll be fine." Keith put the helmet on, then raised his arms. "And fine again. I'm sure of it."

Barnaby didn't say anything.

I'm not. I'm sure though that he did everything he could to help the sisters.

Then he was alone in the room, only the soft noises from the hallway keeping him company. Each minute that Sky High spent flying over there was a century of tapping his communicator, counting out the seconds and making them eternities.

"As requested," came Sky High's voice over the communicator. The call became a video, and Barnaby drew in a sharp breath at what his old home had become. Nothing was left of the porch, neither the soft yellow of the Goddess nor the posts that they'd all swung around on as kids. Dirty greenish-brownish muck suckled high on the walls, even dripping down off of the rooftop, slurped up by the remaining water below.

I don't pray much but Goddess, let them have survived that! He could easily imagine the cold, brackish water surging higher and higher, the kids being held up, the sisters standing on furniture to make sure tiny heads were out of the water, able to draw in desperate gulps of air.

He choked, feeling his throat constrict at the thought.

The area inside was still dark, even with a few rays of light shining inside. Nothing looked normal, or even identifiable since everything that could be seen was sodden, covered in mud. Sky High climbed the stairs, his feet squishing rather than creaking; Barnaby could hear every sound. Finally, he open the door and shined a flashlight into the highest room.

Wood, more wood, and then finally, something just as dark but certainly not wood.

Tiger?

Sky High moved further into the room, and Barnaby jammed his fist into his mouth to stifle a sob. It was Tiger. Still in his suit, but laid out on the floor, surrounded by several of the kids. Each arm had one, another child was curled up on his back, and a fourth was hugging his legs.

Oh. Oh Goddess no.

Barnaby closed his eyes. He didn't want to see any more.

"At least... at least they didn't go alone," he said, the words slipping through the burning of his throat.

"Barnaby..."

"Sky?" asked a sleepy voice, tearing Barnaby from his dark thoughts and forcing his eyes on focus on the video. Kotetsu's head had lifted up, and he was currently yawning, the sound coming through easily since none of the kids were up yet. "It over? 'Cause I'm really tired."

"It is," rumbled Sky High's voice." Barnaby's been trying to call you. I've got him on video.

"Ah," sighed Kotetsu, not moving. "Sorry Bunny. We ended up swimming, for *yawn* a while, and then we all went to sleep."

"Where are the sisters?" asked Sky High.

"Um..." Kotetsu yawned again. "They're in the building next door. Got the younger ones. Was tryin' to pass the older kids, but it became too dangerous. We stayed here, took a nap."

Barnaby shook his head, groaning, crying, and laughing at the same time.

Around him, Barnaby could see the kids waking up, their voices loud and clear, exited that they were getting to see one of their favorite Heroes up close.

"Bunny, how do I get ya to stop thinkin' the worst?" chided Tiger softly, concern (and sleepiness) in his voice.

Letter from the Soup - T for Tired

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