Episode 18: El tigre no more part 2
Manny woke up one morning feeling like a new person. He had given up being El tigre much to the shock of his family, but he was convinced that giving it up was the best thing he ever did.
"Rivera!" Vice Principle Chakal shouted one morning. "You threw a truck on my house last night!"
"No I didn't! How could I? I don't have my belt anymore."
"You...don't? Then who did?"
"I don't know. Maybe it was some villain."
Manny's life seemed to get better after that. He no longer got blamed for crimes and he actually started to better in school. He stayed out of trouble, he got to do more fun things, his life had no worries.
"Manny! Are you sure you're happy with being just a regular kid?" Rodolfo asked.
"Yes. That belt brought me nothing but trouble and now that it's gone I can just relax and be me."
"Okay, I just hope you made the right choice."
Later that day as Manny walked to the arcade he spotted a group of thugs beating up someone.
"Hand over the money!"
"Help! Someone help me!"
Manny couldn't do anything but watch. Then he walked away feeling a little guilty. Manny went to the arcade and looked for Frida but she wasn't there. He didn't see her around school lately either. He didn't see her at all, it was like she had disappeared. Then he finally saw her in the hallway at school.
"Frida! Hey! I need to talk to you."
She just started to run away, Manny went after her and eventually caught her.
"Frida. I haven't seen you anywhere. Are you avoiding me?"
"No...Yes."
"Why?"
"My Dad doesn't want me around you anymore." She said. "I'm sorry, I have to go."
Frida ran home after school in tears. When she got home she threw herself on the bed sobbing. Carmela came in and rubbed Frida's back.
"Oh, Mama! It was terrible!" Frida wept. "I'll never forget the hurt look on Manny's face when I told him I couldn't see him anymore."
"I'm sorry Miha. You're father is a stubborn man." Carmela held her daughter as she cried. Later on when Emiliano came home from work, she decided to have a talk with him.
"I've never seen her so heartbroken."
"She'll get over it."
"What is wrong with you?" She said. "You can't just keep her away from Manny forever."
"I'm trying to protect her! Why can't you understand that?"
"Emiliano, I want her to be safe too...but I also want her to be happy." She said softly.
"That boy is dangerous!" Emiliano shouted.
"Fine! Keep her locked away from a friend. But if we lose our daughter because of your selfishness, I'll leave you!"
She marched into her bedroom and slammed the door. As the days went by crime continued to go up. People were robbed and attacked. It was too much for White Pantera to handle alone. Manny looked out the window and watched two thieves rob an old man. He laid down on his bed, overcome with guilt.
"What am I supposed to do? Am I not supposed to have what I want!" He thought about what Frida had told him a few days ago. She looked so sad and hurt. He realized that he could never be around Frida and be El tigre at the same time. He received a text on his cell phone from Frida.
Meet me by Main Street tomorrow at 4:00.
Manny waited by Main Street until Frida came later on.
"Hi." Manny said.
"Hey." She said. "It's great to see you."
"You too."
"So I heard you gave up being El tigre. Why?"
"Because I kept getting blamed for everything that went wrong."
"Is that all?"
Manny looked at the part of the cheek where he had scratched her a few weeks ago.
"It healed within a week." Frida said. "I know you didn't mean to hurt me."
"Um...does your dad know your here."
"No. I don't care what he says or thinks! You're my friend."
"Wh...why did you call me here?"
Frida took a deep breath then gazed at him.
"I have a question and I want you to give me an honest answer."
"What is it?"
"Do you love me or not?"
Manny froze on the spot, he didn't say a word. He just stared at her shaking then he swallowed hard and spoke.
"I...I...I...Car!"
"Car?"
"Car! Get down!"
Manny grabbed her and hit the ground as a car was flung over them. He shielded her from the broken glass that fell on them. The two stood up looked around as people ran in fear.
"What the heck was that?" Manny said.
Then they heard large footsteps that shook the ground. The Titanium Titan came toward them grinning wickedly.
"Manny Rivera, and his little girlfriend."
"What do you want?" Manny said.
He grabbed Manny by the throat and pulled him up close.
"I want a battle between you and me. The final battle!"
"I can't! I lost my belt!"
"Find it!"
The Titan glared at Frida.
"Or I'll break her pretty little neck!"
"If you lay one finger on her I swear I'll kill you!"
The Titan just laughed and threw Manny against a wall.
"Leave him alone!" Frida cried.
"You're coming with me!" The Titan snatched Frida with one of his metal arms. Manny tried to stop him but the Titan punched him hard on the head.
The Titanium Titan laughed as everything around Manny got dizzy. That last thing he heard was Frida screaming as she was being carried away. He stood up and tried to go after them but he just fell back down.
"Frida." That was the last thing he said before he blacked out. He woke up an hour later with his head throbbing. He ran through town searching everywhere for his belt. Then he spotted it in Dr. Chipolte Jr.'s lair.
"At last I finally have it! Now to take over the world- Huh? Where did it go?"
Manny had swiped it while his back was turned.
"Noooo! Curse you El tigre!"
Back the Titanium Titan's new lair, Frida was chained up and desperately struggling to break free.
"Hey! You creep!" She cried. "Let me go!"
"I can't let you go! Not until Manny comes to fight me!"
"You know what, you've spent 16 years trying to kill him! Get a life!"
"Silence!" He shouted. "Once El tigre is gone, the first thing I'm going to do is glue your mouth shut!"
Then they heard the roar of El tigre. The Titan laughed as he approached Manny.
"Where is she?" Manny asked.
"Oh she'll be just fine! Let's fight!"
They tackled each other punching and kicking. The Titan threw Manny to the ground and punched him. The boy jumped up and slammed the Titan against concrete.
"If you've hurt her I'll make you suffer!"
"Oh how sweet! El tigre is in love!"
He pinned Manny to the ground and held him there. He punched Manny repeatedly blistering and bruising his face. He scratched Manny's body tearing his suit and leaving bleeding cuts. Then he yanked off Manny's mask and clutched his face.
"I wanna see the look on your face when I tell you this. I framed you for all those robberies and if that wasn't enough get this!" He laughed. "Once you're gone I'm gonna tear your little girlfriend apart. I'm gonna finish her nice and slow!"
Manny was enraged with anger and developed new kind of strength that made him force the Titan off him. He glowed bright green and roared. Then he attacked the Titan like a savage beast. He was half way close to killing him when the lair started to shake.
"This whole place is gonna fall apart!" Manny gasped.
"Help!" Frida shrieked.
Manny released the Titan and headed over to her.
"Hang on Frida!"
He broke the chains and carried her bridal style as he swung off. The whole building collapsed to pieces. Manny carried Frida to her house and placed her in her bedroom. Frida's parents weren't home, they were looking for her. It was late at night.
"You okay?" Manny asked.
"Yes. But you...you're really hurt."
"I'll be fine." He started to leave but then stopped himself and faced her.
"Frida...I...I"
"You do love me."
"I do. More than anything in the world."
They leaned in closer and sparks went off when their lips touched. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against his chest. She wrapped her arms around his neck and played with his curls. Her lips felt so soft against his. When they parted they smiled at each other.
"You're a lot cuter without your mask."
"Um...Frida?"
"Yes."
"What are we going to do about your dad?"
"I'll think of something."
She laid her head on his shoulder, she was exhausted from today and so was he. He scooped her up and carried her over to the bed where they fell asleep together.