Chapter 12

Lightning Max was out on patrol.

He went from city to city in record time due to his ability to slide across power lines with great ease. It was like a reverse magnet charge that allowed him to propel at great speeds yet never touching the power line. The current propelled him forwards at rates greater than any car or train if he wanted! It was a quiet day for once, and he savored it.

Taking a break on a rooftop, Max looked over the city, but then looked over himself. Nearly a year, like this, and he couldn't quite get over all he had accomplished in that time. The thought of it all too, he lost his ranks 19 in Class A was a proud accomplishment he had. But now, the thought of being an M Class Dragon, it gave him chills! But he also knew the day was coming where the S Class want to be certain that he is worthy of it. After all, he would be on par with them. Was he truly ready for this title? Still, with everything he has accomplished in this new form, he couldn't help but be proud.

"You appear rather content with yourself."

Max turned and saw Stinger lingering near by. However, as much as he wanted to offer a friendly smile to him, he couldn't. Not after the last conversation he had. "I thought I wasn't one to hang out with." Max said.

Stinger bit his lip. "I'm sorry. Look, I heard what happened, and it sucks they took your rank away!"

"Not just mine, Snek's too!"

"What?!"

"Yeah, they took our rank because we refused to go to a genetic lab to be tested on. I don't care what they say, I rather wait for a one shot cure than to be inject with God knows what unaware as to what it will do to me!" Max turned and faced Stinger. "I know I am a monster to you guys, I get it. But you can't tell me that I haven't done my job despite being this way. You also can't tell me I have done a lot more like this than when I was human."

"That's just it!" Stinger said. "Because you are like this… you are the better hero than we are."

The confession startled Max. "Is that it?" he demanded.

Stinger reluctantly nodded. "We're not upset that you became a monster, Max. We're upset because you are doing better than all of us put together as one. Ever since I saw you, Snek and Suiryu work together to take down that demon level threat a while ago… It made me realize that you are still you."

Max nodded to him. "So it was all out of jealousy?"

"Partly, I mean, look at you! You can summon, harvest and make your own electricity! None of us can do that! You can take down a monster on your own, sure we can do that, but sometimes we can't and not alone like you can," he paused. "You became something better out of something terrible."

Lightning Max smirked. "Believe it or not, I got Garou to thank for that."

Stinger was shocked. "Garou! What does he have to do with this?"

Max snickered. "He taught the guys and I that we are capable of doing good with what we are. Look at him, he really didn't want to become a monster this time around, and yet, he is trapped like that. He also knows what we are capable of since he has eaten monsters similar to us!"

Stinger shuttered. "Not a pleasant thing to think about huh?"

"Try eating with him." Muttered Max. He became more settled around Stinger, who also appeared to be just as comfortable around him. "I do want to become human again… but a part of me now… wants to remain like this."

"I'm not the least bit surprised," said Stinger. "Question is, what will you do if and when a cure is offered to you? Do you go back to being Lightning Max? Or are you going to be Max Lightning?"

"Max Lightning?"

Stinger smirked. "The kids have all learned about your monster forms, they have been working on new hero nick names for you guys. The kids love you man!"

Max laughed. "Who would have thought?" But then, he paused. "Why are people more accepting of me… being like this and not Garou's kids? Have you ever sat down and talked with them? They are very smart and insightful!"

Stinger blew off the notion. "They are Garou's offspring, no one really bothers with them except the fan clubs. People are still drawn to you and the other since you guys were always heroes. Not some product of the Human Monster!"

Max was surprised to Stinger's tone. Even he doesn't care about Garou's kids, who they are and what they are making of themselves. It was Pac, Hunter and Alley that helped him adjust to who he was and what he became. It was the kids that helped him train, and it was them that allowed him to feel normal. "You know… I think I am going to head home."

"Going back to your old place huh?" said Stinger. "I'll come and hang out with you!"

Max shook his head. "No… I'm going back to where I felt wanted." With that, he jumped off the rooftop, he landed gracefully on the power lines below before taking off for City Z once more.

Lightning Max raced all the way home, by the time he arrived, he found the house had changed drastically. It was a lot bigger and more spacious than before. Before it looked like a small, elegant teahouse, now it began to look more like an old Japanese mansion! Inside appeared far larger than before, the kitchen itself was over double its original size. The living room was three times that, perhaps it is to allow Snek room to curl up and watch TV. Even the hallways were larger. "Max!" called Suiryu, he was watching TV in the living room. "How was your patrol?"

"Quiet today, can't complain. The house looks amazing…"

"Yeah, but wait until you see the inside!" Suiryu got up and showed Max the latest edition. The rooms were wider and bigger now for everyone. "Snek got a special room since he is constantly growing. So it will adjust with him. Across the hall are the kids room. Hunter, Pac and Alley have larger accommodations. The twins have their own room yet somehow keep escaping it."

"Wait, the twins are escaping their room?"

Suiryu chuckled. "They keep going into Snek's room and falling asleep on him! It's cute, but he's getting annoyed with it!"

Max found his room, it was much larger than before. There was finally enough space to place his things, which he was grateful for. Suiryu's room was next to his, he was also given an upgrade in size. "I can't believe they did this for us."

Suiryu nodded. "I really do appreciate how they are trying to accommodate everyone here. They don't have to, but, I can't say I would rather be anywhere else!"

Suddenly the front door opened. Snek slithered back into the house but wasn't the least bit impressed. "Snek?" said Max.

"Going to bed, don't bother me." Snek's bedroom kept its double doors, for the obvious reason. He came back with a rather large lump in his core once again. Max shook his head to it all.

"He's been in a mood recently, can't say I blame him." Said Suiryu.

"It's his rank, isn't it?"

"More than likely, but I think it's something other than that too, Melee said earlier that Snek said something about the new M Class rank he has, he thought it was a handout or pity offering. Garou took him outside and kicked his ass!"

Max was stunned. "Why?"

"I saw a little bit of it. Garou was striking him hard and fast, had Snek been human… the blows would have been fatal. I guess Garou is trying to show him that he's a lot stronger than he was before. Class A Snek wouldn't have been able to take that kind of punishment…" Suiryu paused as he saw the doorway to the twin's room open. One of them peered out before crawling his way across the hall. His brother followed as they both snuck into Snek's room!

"What is with those two?" whispered Max.

They decided to see for themselves. Peering into Snek's room, they found the twins nestling themselves on top of Snek, one took to where the lump in his stomach resided, the other kept close to Snek himself. They would move about before finding comfort. Then, at the drop of the hat, they fell asleep on him! "That's so cute!" whispered Suiryu. "I guess they like him!"

"Maybe it's the scales, Garou has scales, and so does Melee. Maybe they like the feeling?"

"Who can say, but we shouldn't wake any of them."