Title: & Bunny – chapter six
Author/Artist: Cheza-chan
Pairing/Characters: Kaburagi Kotetsu/Barnaby Brooks Jr.
Rating: PG-15 (overall R)
Genre: Alternate Timeline; science-fiction; superheroes.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, and I definitely don't own the sponsors that they wear.
Summary/Notes:Taking Ben's advice, Kotetsu decides to separate himself from Hero TV and the Heroes of Sternbild (deviated from the original storyline after ep. 16).
"You look great." A gloved finger tipped the woman's chin upward, revealing her shy expression to the grinning man hidden behind dark shades. A hint of stubble could be seen on his chin in the dim lighting of the room. "Your best friend put together this ensemble for you. It's only fair you wear it when she comes back to us. Ja?"
"Ja," was the soft response from the woman. The ensemble in question consisted a pair of leaf-green tights, hidden away into the tops of knee-high boots a similar color; obviously Dark Star's touch, but this NEXT's were more on the feminine side and softer than the other woman's usual combat boots. Her midriff was exposed, as she wore a sleeveless halter top, the collar "turtleneck" and the back out. Each upper arm sported a black band. Nestled within her hair, allowing only her short bangs to fall forward into her face was a gold and green headband, white puffs at the ends, stopping just above her ears.
"I think you look great. Everyone thinks you look great, but you're stronger than they are, so don't let them touch you. If they do, tell your big brother." His smile widened as he gently caressed his sister's cheek. They both had auburn hair, hers a shade lighter than his, and brilliant green eyes; green eyes that would occasionally turn bright blue. "Dark Star allowed herself to get caught. You're the only one that can set her free. Show me how."
With a faint nod, the young woman held her hands out, palms facing downward. Her body became outline by a bright blue and the material of the concrete floor buckled and rolled before cracking. At the same time, thin vines crept up her forearms of both arms, intimately winding around the appendages. Large roots erupted from the earth beneath the building. His hand slid down to her shoulder, squeezing reassuringly. Above her head, he smirked at the few people that lined the walls, exerting his dominance, daring them to challenge him. No one would; they knew they were all expendable. The trembling stopped after the sound of a trilling phone rang through the air, and the roots disappeared back into the ground.
Evelyn Gustaaf folded her hands between her thighs as her brother stepped away to accept the call.
"Wat?" Radboud Gustaaf snapped into the phone. He paused a brief moment before continuing, "Her getting caught wasn't part of the plan." He tilted his head with a soft scoff. "I was already working on getting her out. My Star doesn't like certain places." Radboud stopped his short, pacing movements to turn back to his sister. Evelyn remained motionless where he'd left her seated. "I'm sure it wouldn't be wise to ask if that's certain, but… there will be no interference of any kind?" He grinned darkly. "That makes our job so much easier. Dank je wel. Evelyn!"
Evelyn stood, feeling less self-conscious—her brother had praised her—and joined Radboud where he stood waiting for her.
It was by chance that she had been captured, so they had no special cell prepared for her. Dark Star was placed within the vacated room where Jake Martinez had served his time. The mural he'd left behind was refreshing, but several hours of solitary confinement didn't sit well with her psyche; the special cuffs she wore didn't help her case any.
She hardly slept that first night.
On the second day of her imprisonment, Dark Star was appointed a second guard as a precaution after her muffled screams continued through the morning.
"This… is all his idea—his creation!" She slammed her restrained arms against the wall, hoping to damage the device in any way. No such luck. She continued, however, drawing on her hatred for the man that employed them, and pulled their strings. "This is why… this is why…!" Dark Star fell against a bare wall, her two-tone hair obscuring her pained and tired features. "This is why I follow you, Ray. You better have something up your sleeves to get me out of here." Drawing her knees up, she rested her head atop them, letting her eyes flutter shut.
x
Not realizing she'd worn herself out and fallen asleep, Dark Star awoke, unsure of what had roused her. Her gaze was drawn upward to the fluorescent bulbs and she watched them as they continued to flicker, threatening to go out. They did, for a brief moment, and she was plunged into darkness. The quiet emptiness was a comfort, but one that was short-lived. The lights returned, almost with a vengeance, but Dark Star was more concerned with the floor splitting open beneath her feet.
The floor bulged, cracking ever so, then stopped. "Vee…?" Dark Star called out tentatively. The pressure returned with more vigor and the thick roots broke through, showering the NEXT with debris. She grinned, rising from the floor to stumble to the hole. "Vee, I love you!" A slender vine rose from the darkness, slipping around the brunette's waist. Several more followed, and soon Dark Star was encased in a leaf-green protective shell that was tugged back into the earth.
Dark Star knew she was miles away from the prison after feeling herself lifted from the dirt, but the only thing she truly cared about was the fact that she was free. The protective cocoon of vines unwound and she grinned at the shy young woman that stared back at her. Letting her eyes adjust to the afternoon light, Dark Star's gaze swept over Evelyn and she released a bark of laughter. "You wore it! I love you!" It was an awkward hug—her arms still captured—but Dark Star still attempted it. "And thank you for busting me out. That place… was driving me crazy."
"Is that possible?" a new, low voice questioned.
"Ray!" Dark Star left the sister to attack the brother, who'd been standing a mere few feet away. She held up her arms, glaring around them. "Is this yours?"
Radboud scoffed, his eyes hidden behind dark shades as he observed the cuffs. "This is a child's toy. I could make this in my sleep. Do you want them off?"
"Of course!" Dark Star shouted. With their current location in the Bronze Stage—the bottom tier of Sternbild—nobody would look twice in their direction, so she made all the noise she pleased. They resided in the top floor of the apartment complex Dark Star had destroyed upon her reappearance; "caution" tape did nothing to keep them out.
Radboud smirked, dark glasses slipping down the bridge of his nose. Evelyn remained silent as she stood back from the pair, watching as her brother and friend exchanged banter. It took fifteen minutes for Radboud to work his magic, but once he'd figured out its inner workings, the bulky device fell to the floor with a dull thud and echoing "clank".
Dark Star rubbed her arms, groaning deeply. Almost immediately, her body shone orange and a black pebble appeared in the palm of her hand. She tossed it into the air. As it rose, its size rapidly grew, and by the time it came back down to her, it was double the size of a bowling ball. She bounced it in her hand as if it were a simple beach ball. "I hope you didn't help them make those bracelets for me… Ray."
"My Star." Radboud lifted a hand, his body now outlined blue. Dark Star gritted her teeth after catching the large rock and finding it weighed more than necessary. "I already told you," he continued, lips curling up into a wicked smile. "That was a child's toy. A piece of crap."
The brunette grunted, dropping her own weapon when it became unbearable.
"If I'd made it… Well," Radboud chuckled softly. "I'll leave that to your imagination." The floor creaked under the onslaught of intense gravitational pressure. He cocked his head to one side and the light around him faded. Gravity was his. He was still expanding his range, hoping to get past his current "mile" marker.
Dark Star's own orange light disappeared and the large object between them dissolved, swept out the broken side of the building by the wind. She grinned, tossing her dusty, untamed hair over her shoulder, and faced Evelyn. "Let's get cleaned up! Is there a working shower in this place…?"
"We're not staying here," Evelyn replied calmly. "We're in the middle tier. And I'm not dirty."
Dark Star rushed her, both arms going around the petite frame. "You are. You love your brother."
"I do," Evelyn answered honestly, her eyes wide as she was dragged along.
"I've missed you, Vee," Dark Star laughed, pressing her cheek against the other woman's. "Ha. Now you're dirty."
Radboud sighed, staring after them over the tops of his shades. A smile tugged at his lips and he followed, kicking aside broken debris that lay in his path. There had been nothing planned for the day, unless he received a call; he could spend time with his girls—properly welcome back their missing member.
X X X x x X X
Kaede refused to eat Kotetsu's fried rice, even for lunch, and managed to talk her father into taking her out. "You owe it to me," she stated, hands planted firmly on her hips as she glared at the figure sulking on the couch. "We've done nothing since we got here."
"Sorry," Kotetsu whispered, his fingers inching towards the remote for the television. "Let Papa watch a bit of television while you search for a good place to eat."
"You can't complain… no matter how expensive the place I pick is!" Kaede stormed off upstairs.
With a relaxed smile, Kotetsu flipped through the channels, stopping when a familiar face caught his eye. Dark Star, her grin taunting even in a still shot. "She escaped," he murmured aloud. Checking the other news channels, he found that they all spoke of the dangerous NEXT's escape. "They've never captured her before, but… Ah..." Kotetsu glanced at the stairs and found his daughter staring at him.
Kaede held menus in her hands, ready to share her choices with him. She rolled her eyes, deciding now would be the best time to tell him: "I already know you're Wild Tiger."
Kotetsu's eyes widened. "How...?" he inquired, gripping the remote control tightly. "Did your grandmother…?"
Kaede's expression turned serene, yet sad, and Kotetsu immediately knew what her answer was going to be. "Mom told me."
"When?"
"Not too long after she was admitted into the hospital… when you weren't there."
Kotetsu's chest clenched. There were few times that he wasn't at his wife's side, and the only one he clearly recalled was the last one.
x x x
"Kaede." Tomoe's voice remained melodic, her smile enchanting, despite the whites of her robes matching her pale complexion. "Stop crying." There was a gentle touch to the young girl's head and her shoulders shook as the silent sobs racked her small frame. Tomoe laughed softly, sliding her hand down so she cupped Kaede's tear-stained face. "Kaede look at me."
Kaede shook her head.
"I have something important to tell you, so please look at me."
Slowly, Kaede lifted her head, revealing her red-rimmed eyes and tear-stained cheeks. Tomoe's smile only grew warmer as she wiped away the tear tracks. "Your father has an amazing and important job."
"It keeps him away," Kaede mumbled softly. "He left you today."
"I sent him away," Tomoe corrected with a smile. "And he's upset that he can't be with us. Kaede. Your father protects us, along with everyone in Sternbild."
"He's a...?"
"He's a Hero," Tomoe stated, her voice filled with pride. "Wild Tiger-san."
Kaede's eyes sparkled, and not from the tears that remained in them. "Otou-chan is? That's amazing!"
"I know," Tomoe giggled, leaning closer to her daughter. "But... while he protects us, I'm going to need you to protect him. He doesn't know how to do that, and I can't do it from here."
"Kaede will! I'll protect otou-chan and okaa-chan!"
"That's my wonderful girl."
x x x
Kaede walked across the room and sat next to her father on the couch. She fiddled with the small stack of menus, rearranging them before sliding them apart; she kept her hands busy. "I stand up for you when other kids say you should quit. I'm proud to have you as my father." Kotetsu smiled, his eyes burning as he forced himself to hold his tears back. Kaede's next soft-spoken words were like a punch to the gut, though. "Did you really quit, otou-san?"
"I… did."
The papers crinkled in Kaede's fisted hands. "Why?" she asked, unable to look her father in the face, her voice hoarse. "Why… When you're obviously worried about Barnaby-san! And not just him... That's why you came back, isn't it?" The menus ripped, but she held on tight to the glossy pieces. A thought suddenly struck her and Kaede's head snapped up, her brow dipped as she glared. "You… You haven't told him yet, have you?"
It was soon Kotetsu's turn to avoid her piercing gaze. "I don't like burdening other—"
"You're more of a burden when you don't say anything! Especially… especially something so important!" Kaede threw her arms up in the air, the sheets of paper fluttering aimlessly back down.
As thought mocking them, Dark Star's recorded voice could be heard in the background: Wild Tiger—where is he? Retired or fired? It's been weeks since his appearance!
Kotetsu exhaled deeply, "Kaede..." He lifted a heavy hand, rubbing the back of his neck. "Antonio and the company are the only ones that know. I told them not to tell Bu—Barnaby… because I'd planned to do that myself. I really hoped I wouldn't get you involved, but that was obviously a moot point."
Kaede ignored his sheepish smile. "So you have Antonio-jiichan is carrying around all these lies—"
"Kaede..."
Kaede shot off of the sofa's cushion. "Stop running away!" she shouted.
Kotetsu smiled wryly; that, amongst being a 'coward' were the only phrases he kept hearing as of late.
"It's not like you... You're... you're Wild Tiger! And if you won't do anything... I will!"
Kotetsu pushed himself up from the couch, but Kaede was already at the door, shoes in her hand. "Kaede, stop!"
The door opened, but the young girl's arm was snagged in a gentle grip. Her fingers clenched into a fist and she glared at the ground. "Don't stop being a Hero. Mom said not to let you give up your greatest dream ever."
Kotetsu felt the icy grip of fear close around his heart as he recalled Tomoe's smiling face behind the words. "There's no helping it," he rumbled, tugging Kaede back inside. He reached over her for the door, letting it swing close. "Your dad's… losing his abilities." Kotetsu met her wide-eyed stare with a sheepish grin. "You're the only one I've told, so this is our little secret." Ben didn't count, as he was Kotetsu's confidante.
"Wha...?" Kaede's mouth opened and closed two times before she uttered something that almost sounded like "how".
"I don't know. I guess Wild Tiger's time is up." A soft chuckle escaped the Hero.
"No..." Kaede spun, her arm still in his grip, and threw the free one around his waist. 'No...'
"I'm sorry," Kotetsu sighed, bowing his head. "I really didn't want you to find out this way. In my heart of hearts, I didn't want you to find out at all." He smiled, his hand rising from her shoulder to gently pat Kaede's head. "Since you already knew… all those times you yelled at me for not being able to make it?"
"Real," Kaede mumbled against his stomach. "You should've been able to find time without having to quit."
Kotetsu tried not to think about the ice rink debacle. "Ah, ha…" He laughed nervously. "Well, let's sit down and look through… You tore them up." He looked upwards, searching for an idea on what they could do to find somewhere to eat.
"I'd already decided." Kaede idly picked at a loose string on his vest. Realizing how close they were, she separated herself from her father, placing on her usual mask of disappoint. "Let's just go and get it over with."
Kotetsu grinned. "As you wish."
X x X x
Even during the ride back from the restaurant—it was as upscale as the middle tier would allow, but well within price range—Kaede refused to let her father forget his rash actions. "You need to talk with Barnaby-san."
Kotetsu shot his passenger a quick wide-eyed glance before focusing on the road again. "What? What are you talking about?"
Kaede's gaze was focused outside on the world passing them by. "Otou-san. I think Barnaby needs you as much as I do."
Kotetsu let out a bark of laughter, earning himself a glare that he didn't see. "Bunny doesn't need me. He's said so plenty of times. I was just an extra. A useless... extra."
"Mom didn't think so!"
Kotetsu slowed to a stop, as the traffic light demanded he do so. He chanced a glance at his passenger and noticed the way Kaede's hands were fisted in her lap, her loose hair falling forward. It was long enough to hide her profile.
"And I don't think so," she whispered. Kaede turned to stare at him. "And I'm sure Barnaby doesn't think so, either. Stop making excuses. Just because I'm a NEXT—"
"That's right!" Fisting his right hand, Kotetsu pounded it into the open palm of his left hand. He grinned at his daughter. "Thank you for admitting it, though… I don't think your abilities are the same as mine. You can turn yours on and off." Kaede pressed her lips tightly together, taking a quick glance out the windshield to make sure the light was still red. Kotetsu's grin softened to a smile. "I want to be there for you, Kaede, and help you come into your powers."
"Hero Academy," she stated resolutely.
Their conversation stilted when traffic began moving and Kotetsu focused on the road ahead of him. "But do you wantto be a Hero?" he questioned once he'd found an even pace to move at.
It took until the car was parked for Kaede to answer. "Yes." Her voice was soft, but it neither trembled nor wavered. "If it comes down to it, and I get accepted, then yes, but I won't do it for the points." Kotetsu's eyes widened. "Wild Tiger never saved someone's life for points, and… even though he's a little reckless at times," Kaede lifted her head and revealed a bright smile. "He's a pretty good role model."
"Kaede!" Kotetsu sobbed, stretching his arms across to reach his daughter. Kaede quickly unbuckled her seatbelt, opening the car door to jump out.
They were a father and daughter pair to be reckoned with, and the remainder of their day was far from uneventful.
X x X x
Barnaby had been working on auto-pilot for the entire weekend. When news of Dark Star's escape reached him, he showed no outward reaction. Hearing her name, however, had stirred up the emotions brought on during her outburst when she was captured. He made sure no one could see it on his face, but if anyone taken the time to look the Hero in the eye, they would have seen everything there.
X
Nathan found the young man holed up in the Justice Tower, pressed into the curled corner of one of the couches. He stood at the entrance, one arm wrapped around his waist; the other's elbow balanced atop it so he could curl his fingers against his cheek. "Handsome."
Barnaby's green eyes flickered to the doorway before returning to staring off into nothingness.
"Handsome," Nathan continued. "You can't do this to yourself."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," the blond murmured. "I'm running through the events that led up to Dark Star's escape. I couldn't think over at Apollon Media." Because Kotetsu-san isn't sitting next to me. His eyes widen before narrowing and he buries the thought, hoping to suffocate it so it never rises again.
"It is strange, isn't it?" Nathan lowers his raised arm, crossing it over the other, and sidles into the room. He takes a seat beside the younger Hero, sighing deeply. "The prison staff's being interrogated. They think it's an inside job."
"It doesn't have to be. Someone skilled in the art of hacking—"
"Handsome," Nathan cuts in, his tone chastising. "Anyone that tries to hack the prison system will get caught almost instantly. It's designed to trace the hack. There was no trace. I know you don't want to believe it's possible, but there are crooked individuals."
Barnaby lowers his head, staring at the white floor between his boots. His interlocked fingers clench, their pads pressing against the backs of the opposite hands. "Someone wanted her out."
"And they got her. Only her wing experienced a five second power failure, and there was nobody inside the prison except her and the guards meant to watch over her. Everyone else was in the yard."
"She doesn't lie." The statement referred to Dark Star and the words she had spoken that night. No matter how hard he tried, Barnaby couldn't push the fear far enough in the back of his mind. He's with his daughter, he told himself.
Nathan smiled, reaching over to place a hand to the blond's shoulder. Barnaby stared at the dark fingers before lifting his gaze to the fire user's face. "Come to my club. I'll open it early just for you. You don't have to order anything, I just want you to take a breather."
Chewing his bottom lip, Barnaby accepted the invitation. One drink wouldn't hurt.
A/N: Exactly 31 days! From 10/04 to 11/04. Shoot me… I know. A very uneventful chapter, after such a long away period, but… ugh. And just… ugh. Can I say "monthly updates"? And if I happen to be granted a good mood: "bi-weekly"? I would also like to, thank again, kudakoneko, for letting me use these awesome characters of hers~
Radbound Gustaaf© kudakoneko
Dark Star © kudakoneko
(Evelyn was kind of a "mine" in the making, but kudakoneko helped me perfect her, and she now has a full name thanks to that. Dutch siblings, yay)
*scurries away* I'm gonna get skinned alive for not updating my Bleach fics, uwaaaah…!
