A/N Flashback
Alt title: HAPPY TURKEY DAY!
.
.
Once again, writers block hit me hard. As well as seasonal affect disorder.
.
.
Aren Gisly: I'm glad you enjoyed it! I tend to make it a habit of including my commenters in here in some way shape or form. Mostly the ones who comment frequently. So far I've included references to you, T4ndoris, DancingLeaf, Kaykaykaykayan, Gogmazios, and a minor one to RadChaos897.
Kaykaykaykayan: Sorry if I made you sad. But it had to be done.
RadChaos897: ALWAYS enjoy your reviews. It's a highlight of my day to get a good review and yours just go the extra mile.
The "My baby." Scene is something I had in mind for a long time. And I'm glad I finally got it out there.
In regards to Crystal and Firebreather. It's two parts. One, Crystal is a party girl who's never actually dated. And she wants to lock him down and took Vicky's advice of "Just go for it." Out of context.
The second part is her conflict drive making her reckless. That's what the whole, "Something in me snapped." Part was about and why her frustration caused her to lash out.
As for Kitsu's birthday. It was to show that she is a person. Not some two dimensional static being. She has complexities about her just as everyone else does. And I'd like to make it known to everyone who reads these, the original tags for this story were (Adventure, Hurt/Comfort) I changed it when I realized I have more of a talent for comedic writing.
No spoilers!
Unless you ask nicely.
I have an associates in science with a specialty (Interest not specialization) in biology.
HOW HAVE I NEVER HEARD OF TREE GRAFTING?! MY EDUCATION HAS FAILED ME!
Misaka Phoenix: The fox and the hound!
.
Okay, this time I'm 98% sure I killed T4ndoris.
Unless he pulled a RadChaos897 and cloned himself.
.
.
Disclaimer: I don't own Worm or any other characters in this work, other than my OC. All other characters belong to their respective properties.
-Date, Time-
'Thoughts'
"Speech"
[Shard]
(Text)
*Sounds/Actions*
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
-4pm, Friday 14th, Channel 9 Brockton Studio-
.
.
Kitsu POV
.
I hate this.
I'm sitting in a chair as they doll me up for the talk show. Yeah, I'm going on a talk show with Mom and Dad. The reason? It was originally going to be Mom, Sarah and Neil. But Neil has more work now due to being promoted early after Carnage killed his boss. And Sarah took a rain check, wouldn't say why. And I lost a game of rock paper scissors.
Well, I won. But Amy figured out I was cheating by enhancing my perception and so I lost by default.
"Alright, you remember your lines?" Mom asks from the booth next to me.
"Nope!" Me and Dad say at the same time.
"Urgh." Mom sighs in frustration. "Just let me do all the talking."
"Fine by me." Dad says.
"Meh." I give out a non-committal sound.
After a bit longer we get a guy with a headset and clipboard popping in the dressing room and telling us we're on in ten.
Which means ten minutes. I never knew that.
As we all get to the stage. I notice that they have the wooden desk for the host, an orange tiled floor, and a blue city line backdrop. A lady by the name of Kaitlynn Brenner, the host, is at the desk talking to some guy. A red leather three seat couch and two red leather low chairs.
None of which are open back.
'I specifically requested one!' I complain to myself.
Dad sits on the end of the couch closest to the live audience with Mom taking the middle. I decide to sit on the arm with my tail facing the backdrop as I lean my side against the back of the couch.
"Okay, on in five, four, three, two." The guy by the camera says.
"Hello everyone and welcome to The Afternoon Talk. I'm your host Kaitlynn Brenner and today we have some very special guests! Flashbang, Brandish, and Kitsu of New Wave!" She says as she waves her arm to us.
The camera machine thingy pans back and towards the center as the crowd claps and gives a small applause.
Mom and Dad wave with smiles while I give a sideways peace sign.
A shame Snoop Dogg doesn't exist on Earth-Bet.
"Alrighty then, for those under a rock and not in the know." She starts off. "New Wave has been making a comeback, with their most recent addition being none other than CEO of Stark Industries, Anthony Stark himself. Making a shocking debut as the cape Iron Man, at a concert he set up as a fundraiser just a few days ago. So to start us off, Brandish, how did you manage to get such a high profile man over to New Wave?" She asks.
"Funny you ask that, it was less a matter of convincing him to join New Wave and more of picking a date for him to make his debut." Mom says. "And you can call me Carol."
"Same." Dad says. "Mark, you can call me Mark, not the same as. I'm not Carol."
You can tell he's not used to this. Live in person events are one thing. Live television? Not so much.
"Well Carol, I hope you can elaborate on that." She asks. "Many people want to know, just how all that came to be. I mean, not two months ago you'd be hard pressed to find someone outside of Brockton Bay who knew about New Wave. Now you've gained almost nation wide attention."
"New Wave was always intended to be a nation wide movement. We just had a few hang ups when it came to outreaching." Mom answers. "What I mean with Iron Man's debut is that he had contacted us about joining. Before that we didn't know of his cape status. Well, most of us didn't."
"What do you mean most?" Kaitlynn asks.
"Well, you'd have to ask her." Mom says and points a thumb at me.
'What happened to letting you do all the talking?!' I think bitterly.
"Ah, the Endstopper herself!" Kaitlynn transitions over smoothly. "The other high profile individual to join New Wave and currently ranked eighth strongest cape in North America!"
Alexandria is still above me. And All Might above her. The only reason I haven't overtaken them is because I don't have as many feats as them.
"Yo!" I give a wave.
"Um, why are you sitting like that?" She asks with a confused smile.
"This thing." I say as I swing my tail around to the side and show it off.
"I don't follow." She says.
"I can't sit in seats without an open back." I explain. "Otherwise I'll squish my tail."
"Is it really that uncomfortable?" She asks.
"Imagine having your arm in a chicken wing and putting your body weight into it." I say.
"Ooh!" The peanut gallery goes.
"Yikes, well I'm sorry we don't have any, can we get a fold out?!" She hollers, waving towards some guys off stage.
Not two seconds later a guy runs out and pops a directors foldout chair next to me.
"Was that scripted?" I ask.
"What do you mean?" She asks.
"He just ran out with a foldout not a second after you asked." I say as I hop down into it.
"We have a team of staff members ready with anything we might need!" She says with a smile. "They're very good at their jobs!"
"It was scripted." Dad whispers knowing I can hear him.
"Back to the topic at hand. Carol says you knew of Iron Man before he got into contact with all of you. How?"
"I have a Thinker power that gives me random memories whenever certain topics are brought up or mentioned."
"How does that work? And can you elaborate on Thinker power?"
'Right.' I think to myself. 'The classification system is primarily meant for the PRT.'
It's like police codes. They're not secret by any means. But a good ninety percent of people never bother learning about them because it'll never apply to them. Outside of almost everyone knowing what a Master is. But then again most know what a code 420 is.
"Well, Thinker is a classification given to powers that deal in information gathering. It can be anything from heightened senses to being able to predict the future." I explain.
"And which applies to you?" She asks.
"Both." I say as the audience starts murmuring.
"Really? You can predict the future?" She asks. "Can you give me the winning loto tickets?"
"Hahahahaha." Goes the peanut gallery.
"No, nothing that specific." I say with a wave. "I mostly get vague memories. Like, when someone asks you what two plus two is. You know how to add but you can't really remember ever being taught how to add. You just know that you know. And sometimes I know the future."
"Is there anything you can give us a glimpse into?" She asks.
"Nothing I'm willing to reveal." I say with a serious face.
"Why not?"
"Because a lot of it isn't happy. And I'm not always accurate." I say plainly.
"If we could move on?" Mom says.
"Of course." She says. "The big questions here are, what's next? What's on New Wave's agenda? We already know of your expansion into New York that Iron Man is spearheading. Are there any other plans?"
"There are a few in place." Mom says with a practiced smile. "First on the agenda is our big announcement. In order to supplement our members and better enrich our community here in the bay. We've purchased the ferry and are currently renovating it."
That gets the audience to go quiet. And for Kaitlynn to give a wide eyed look of surprise before schooling herself. Adopting a more professional look of surprise. The kind you give when you're happily surprised.
"My, that is certainly, something." She says with no small amount of uncertainty. "How did that come about?"
I openly smirk at her loss of words. The ferry's been down for more than a decade now. And it's an open secret that the mayor doesn't want to bring it back. Too much money to put in and not enough time to payoff.
"With New Wave expanding we realized we needed an actual base of operations and a place to house members who need it." Dad says. "It was just a matter of getting the paperwork finished."
"Am I correct in assuming Mr. Stark had a hand in this?" She asks.
"Not in the slightest." I say cheerfully. "This has been in the works siiiince, the mid to late of April? About a month?"
"Sounds about right." Dad says with a shrug.
.
.
-Trainyard, Merchant warehouse base-
.
.
Joseph "Scarecrow" Crane POV
.
"RAAAGH!" I rage as I throw the box TV. "YOU HYPOCRITES! SHORT SIGHTED, IGNORANT, BASTARDS!"
How can they not see?! All their movement does is hurt! They're mixing cape and civilian life! The death of Fleur and my Father should make that clear! Keeping the two separate is the smart thing!
I was fine with Carnage's failed assassination attempt. It scared them, made them realize they're still not safe. That no matter what happens, because they decided to break the line of cape and citizen they will never be safe. Never have a break.
Now?
"FUCK YOU! YOU PIECES OF SHIT!" I continue to vent and throw the table at the broken TV.
Kitsu and the Case 53 dragon boy, those I can understand. They're inhuman and incapable of hiding. They don't get a choice. But now Anthony Stark? And bringing back the ferry to fund and house more recruits?
"RAAAGGH!" I throw the chair I was in at the rubble.
"Hey boss! Everything okay in here?" A random strung out junkie asks as he walks in.
I snap my head to him. Enraged and more than a little hyped on adrenaline.
"What did I say about coming in here?" I ask in a cold, even voice as I reach for my mask that's clipped to my belt.
"Ta not to." He says, fear slowly etching on his face.
'Good.' I think sadistically. 'He at least has some working brain cells left. It puts him a step above the rest of these idiots.'
Though, a step up on a broken ladder is still the floor.
"Then why?" I ask as my mask distorts my voice to a rasp.
"W-well I just t-thought that you n-needed something, or s-something was wrong." He stutters as he steps out of the room and to the hallway scaffolding. Backing into the rail.
I squeeze one of the hidden buttons in my glove. And feel my blood burn as a gas is released into my mask. Strengthening me.
"You had orders." I say in a low rasp. "But that's okay, I need this."
I rush forward and grab him by the neck. Lifting him over the railing and letting him dangle thirty or so feet. Holding him by the bones of his jowl so as to not choke him out.
"I! I jus!" He tries to get out, but can't move his jaw well.
I see all the other goons around the warehouse now looking over to us. Good. They need a demonstration to stay in line. I need to show them Carnage isn't the only one they need to fear.
'Fear. Such a lovely and complex emotion.' I think with a nostalgic sadness. 'No, don't get distracted.'
"Pleesh! Pleesh shir!" He tries, grabbing my wrist for dear life.
"Oh, I'm not going to drop you or anything." I say. "So you can take your hands off me."
"You're." He starts with hope and confusion.
"No, that'd be, too easy." I say and press another button hidden in my other glove that's not holding him.
*Pssshhh*
A fowl, wispy blue gas expels from tiny canisters hidden in the clothy folds of my suit. Mainly from the hand that is holding him up.
"Huuugh!" He gasps as the air in his lungs turns dry and salty. Making a horrid sight as his tanned skin starts to ashen at a painstakingly slow pace. His veins becoming visible before being hidden again. His skin drying and crumbling as it cracks with blood seeping.
This is a special hyperactive disinfecting aerosol that kills all microorganisms it comes into contact with. All of them.
Even the essential ones needed for us to survive.
I created it as a means of sterilizing my workspaces. But discovered along the way that it has other uses.
The reaction normally wouldn't be so, instantly negative. But the gas quickly dissipates after being sprayed. And in this filthy warehouse and with all his good bacterial colonies dead? He just became a nesting ground for bad bacteria to thrive at an accelerated rate.
I toss him to the side. Slamming him into the outside wall of my office. His skin cracking and flaking off to reveal blood, muscle and sinew underneath. As he tries desperately to scream in agony. But just can't as viruses and bacteria are running rampant in his nervous system.
The human body is the perfect nesting ground for microorganisms. With just the right temperature, moisture, and nutrients. And with the good colonies of bacteria accumulated throughout his life all gone. All that's left is for the opportunistic ones in the air and near him to thrive and break him down slowly.
Satisfied with the display, I turn to the rest of the wide eyed onlookers.
"GET ME MECHANIC AND PERMAFROST!" I shout before turning around and heading back into my office.
Or, what's left of it.
"Damn it all." I sigh, looking at the wreckage. "Good furniture is so hard to find around here."
.
.
-New York City, Stark Tower-
.
.
Anthony "Iron Man" Stark POV
.
"No, no, no. Hmm, maybe." I think to myself as I look through the files of possible recruits.
Several independents and quite a few affiliated capes have been chomping at the bit to join New WavE now that they have a major backer. Me.
Of course, most are just bandwagoners looking to ride the fame train. Not people who actually want to join. I've set up a page on PHO for verified capes to send video requests to join, giving their name and reason for joining. And I'm using a reverse engineered version of Armsmaster's lie detector program to screen them.
I've been around him often enough and heard his bragging to the point that I know how it works. I didn't before, it just sounded like boring techno dribble to me at the time. But I do now and the prick's annoyed me enough that I have no issue's using his tech.
Most of the applicants have just given me basic, "I believe in New Wave's ideals!" Lines. And almost all of them have been lies.
Did get a funny one from Mouse Protector. Saying how she just wanted to see if she could get a suit of armor and that she had no intention of joining. At least she was honest.
So far the only honest ones have been a few of the newer unaffiliated capes.
A Sam Wilson, Jane Foster, Kaldur'ahm, Keith Goodman, and a Jessica Jones.
Out of fifty eight applications. Only five were honest. Not including Mouse Protector. Sam pretty much idolizes me, Kaldur'ahm is an immigrant who lost his family to a gang shoot out and wants to be an example for others and make his parents proud. That and he can't afford to have a secret identity, literally, he's poor and isn't a citizen. Jessica is a victim of a cape. But because of how the unwritten rules work, he skipped town and changed his cape identity to get off Scott free. Jane doesn't trust the government but can't afford to risk heroing alone. Keith doesn't want to bother with a secret identity.
"Tony!" I hear my assistant call.
"Great." I sigh to myself before clicking out of the page.
Just in time to see her walking past my glass walls in the reflection of the screen.
'Ooh. She looks mad.' I think idly as I turn in my swivel chair to face her.
"Tony!" She calls as she steps through the doors. "I've been trying to get ahold of you for the last five hours!"
"Really? Five hours?" I say in mock surprise. "Felt like I was ignoring your calls for three."
"Excuse me?!" She says with an offended look.
"You're excused." I say and turn around to my monitor.
"Tony. Director Costa-Brown has been trying to get ahold of you since Sunday." She says as she walks up and turns my chair around to face her, crossing her arms as she continues.
"And, unlike you. I don't get to hide away in an office, penthouse, whatever the fuck you call this!" She says throwing her arms out to gesture at everything.
'I have been putting that off for a bit.' I think to myself as Pepper keeps up her rant.
"Alright, put her on." I say, cutting her off as I stand up. "I've got to go change."
"Wait seriously?" Pepper asks in confusion. "No more sarcastic remarks? Words of procrastination? Who are you?"
"Tired, nice to meet you." I say with a smirk as I walk past her. "I've got a bit of recruiting to do and Costa-Brown is only going to get more bitchy the longer she doesn't get her date with me."
"Meeting!" Pepper corrects.
"Tomato potato." I remark, walking up the stairs and out of my office section, Pepper following me. "She's the one who can't seem to stop thinking about me."
"How have you maintained an economic empire with such a laissez faire, frat boy attitude?!" She asks in frustration.
"Easy! I'm smart, rich, and good looking." I say nonchalantly as I walk down the hall.
"More like an arrogant trust fund baby." She quips.
"It's only arrogance if it's undeserved." I say as I reach the red mahogany wooden doors of my room. Opening them I step in and turn to her. "Now, is there anything else? Or are you going to help me get dressed?"
"Up yours Tony." She says as she reaches forward, grabbing the door handles and pulling back to close them.
Pepper is a fiery spirit. Competent and dedicated. And more than willing to light a fire under my ass when needed. But that's why I hired her, I have enough yes men. People who kiss my ass and tell me what I want to hear. I hired her because she doesn't just take my sarcasm, she bites back and tells me what I need to hear. That's the sort of people I need. People with drive and spines.
"Alright then." I say to myself as I head to my walk-in.
.
.
-6am, Saturday May 15th, Dallon House-
.
.
Kitsu POV
.
I finish brushing my tail. Getting it to a perfect shine. Today is Missy's birthday. And I intend to look my best! I got my outfit picked out! The perfect gift! And the perfect opportunity to surprise her at her house!
Getting in my Neptunia dress and changing my hair, tail, and eye color to lavender. Putting on the mini jacket and D-pad hairclips.
I'm ready to eat pudding and play video games!
Or just coddle Missy all day and make her feel like the special girl she is until she has patrol.
Screw that! I'll coddle her on patrol as well!
I run over and write a note on the table for everyone to know where I am. Can't just disappear without notice. That's a very quick way to get grounded. And just as a secondary measure, I leave Mom and Dad a text.
So, with a plan in mind. I set out to spoil my girlfriend!
.
.
-7:20am, Biron House-
.
.
Missy "Vista" Biron POV
.
I wake up feeling uncomfortably warm and heavy. Blinking the blurryness from my eyes I try and get up to see what time it is.
Only to not be able to. Looking down I see a large lump under the blanket.
My heart thudding, I prepare to defend myself. Pulling on my power to get ready and grab my lamp to bash the brains out of whatever snuck under my covers.
Only for said lump to shove itself forward and reveal the purple haired head of my girlfriend. Ears perked and tail swishing the blanket she's under to eventually push it up and reveal her purple furred tail.
"Morning beautiful." She says with a sly grin.
'Am I still asleep?' I wonder.
"Um, good morning?" I say, still a little unsure as to whether or not I'm awake.
She sits up to straddle my waist. Revealing the purple gamer girl outfit she had on the day we got together.
"Happy birthday." She says sweetly. "I got a present for you~"
Okay, now I know I'm dreaming. I've had this dream before, mainly after reading a MainProtagonist fanfic that started out just like this.
"And what's my present?" I ask with a smile, playing along and enjoying the scene. Hoping it'll go on before my alarm wakes me up.
"Close your eyes." She instructs sweetly.
'A little different.' I think to myself as I do so. 'But eh, you do you brain.'
I feel her lean down and her lips meet mine. I bring my arms up to hold her at the waist and deepen the kiss. Rolling us over as she squeaks into my mouth.
I run my tongue across her soft lips, asking for entry. After not getting it, I separate us. Leaning back up to savor her blushing face. Eyes wide in bewilderment. And she has the stripes! This is just getting better!
"M-M-M-Missy, I think there's a b-bit of a m-misunderstanding here." She says nervously.
"What's to misunderstand?" I say as I prop myself up over her on my elbow. Trailing my other hand down her side to her hip. "I'm just enjoying my-"
*Beep*
I'm cut off as my alarm starts.
"Great!" I whine as I sit up. "Just when it's getting good!"
*Beep*
"Um, Missy." Dream Kitsu says.
*Beep*
"Just don't." I say as I wait to wake up.
*Beep* *Beep* *Beep*
'Huh?'
"Um, this isn't a dream." Kitsu says.
"W-what do you mean?" I ask as I feel a pit in my stomach forming.
"I came here to surprise you for your birthday. I was going to make you breakfast after you woke up and let you pet my tail and scratch my cheek fur, and I bought you necklace." She explains with a blush. "Then, well, that."
"Oh, oh god." I mumble as realization hits me like a sack of bricks.
I'm about to puke! I just forced her down and made out with her! And I was about to go a lot further.
"H-how do you know where I live?" I ask with a shaky voice.
"I, um, remember when you had to go to the hospital?" She says. "Well, I was worried about you, so I, may have, followed you."
That raises so many red flags.
"You followed me?" I ask as I warp space to turn off the alarm.
"Well, I mean. Yes?" She says as she shrinks down.
"Like a stalker?!" I ask, raising my voice a little.
"No! Just, like a concerned girlfriend." She defends weakly.
"So you don't think I can take care of myself?" I press, crossing my arms.
"Not that!" She says as she tries to get up, but can't as I keep my weight on her.
"Then why follow me to my house without my knowledge?" I ask.
She stares me in the eye, and I feel myself melt a little under her gaze despite my irritation. Her eyes tend to have that effect on me. With how gorgeous they are, like glittering pools turquois. And when they glow. I calm down and realize how small she is.
I can't stay mad at her. She's too precious! Besides, it's not like she was actually stalking me. I'm just overreacting.
I lean back down and kiss her again. Doing my best to relieve the tension I just built.
"No more stalker or creepy, behind my back stuff." I say seriously. "Got it?"
"Mhm!" She squeaks with a quick nod of her head.
"Good." I say and bring my hands up to her cheeks and scratch the soft, plush fur. Enjoying the soft warmth.
"Mmn~" She moans as she starts to relax at my touch.
Her moaning reminds me of earlier. Just a few seconds ago. When I thought I was dreaming.
I stop what I was doing as I sit up. Covering my burning face in my hands and fall over to my bed. Screaming into the covers. Kicking my feet as I feel the horror and cringe of my actions take hold.
Hopefully I can scream myself unconscious. That's a thing right?
.
.
Kitsu POV
.
I need to start thinking these things through.
.
.
-Half hour later-
.
.
I'm making egg fried rice. Diced onions, rice, eggs, and soy sauce. This is honestly one of my favorite meals to make. And making it for someone else feels better!
"Shit that smells good." Missy's mom says.
Oh, she's here too. Another factor I didn't think about.
"She's good at cooking." Missy says and I preen at the compliment.
I keep cooking. Not using illusions this time. Mostly for the novelty. It's nice to do things with my bare hands sometimes.
"So, you gonna keep staring at her ass the whole time?" Missy's mom asks quietly. "I mean, she's got a decently thick one for only being thirteen."
"Mom!" Missy shouts in embarrassment.
"What? Just trying to relate to you." She says as though she didn't just comment on my butt. Her, an adult.
I was fully aware Missy was staring. She always does. But now that I know her mother is staring?
I lower my tail self consciously as I ignore the fight in the background.
Her mom still hasn't said happy birthday.
.
.
-10:30am, The Rig-
.
.
So, I can't coddle her on patrol and celebrate her birthday in public.
It'd be announcing her birthday to everyone and help others to figure out her identity. That's the shitty part about the unwritten rules. They're unwritten.
So they can be conveniently disregarded by anyone without official consequence. Though there are some that are just a bad idea to break. Like sexual assault. Depending on how bad it is. You can get anything from people refusing to help you, to the PRT OPENLY breaking the unwritten rules to take you in.
Also, villains will team up on you if you're bad enough. And that's a scary thought for any mortal.
So I'm just waiting in the common room for Missy to finish getting dressed. I'm talking to Miss Militia.
"I don't believe it would be a good idea." She says awkwardly as she leans back on the counter.
"Why not?" I ask.
"Well, for one that's Empire territory." She says. "There's an increased risk of violent altercations."
"I'm immortal." I point out.
"Well, you are but Vista isn't and-"
"Unless she gets vaporized. I can heal just about any injury." I press.
"Well, you just don't, look the part to be patrolling those areas." She says tentatively.
'Is she, is she making a jab at my Case 53 status?' I wonder, mortified by the idea. 'She's supposed to be the nice one! What the fuck?!'
"If you have something against my inhuman appearance, just say it." I demand as I fold my arms under my chest.
"That's not it! I swear!" She says as her eyes go wide.
"Then what is it? Tell me." I say. "What about my appearance is so bad that has you like this?"
"You're white." She says.
"… Excuse me?"
"The area is heavily diverse and under Empire control. And you are a poster child for Aryan heritage." She explains. "Vista too."
I just wanted to give Missy a good day. And patrolling more dangerous areas and actually making a difference in the crime would have been perfect!
"If it was just you, that'd be fine. We can't really tell you what to do. But Vista? Sending two Aryan children into inner city Empire territory to do police work just sets a bad image." She explains further.
"So, because of my race. I can't go into predominantly black neighborhoods because some racists are there?" I question.
"Yes?" She says uncertainly.
Next time I run into Hookwolf, I'm giving him all the allergies!
.
.
-Meanwhile, Inner city dog fighting ring-
.
.
Brad "Hookwolf" Meadows POV
.
I just felt a shiver run down my spine.
Why do I feel like I'm in danger?
"Hey boss, you good?" Cricket's synthetic voice rings out through her vocalizer.
"Yeah, just got a chill." I wave off. "What's the next match?" I ask.
"A German Shepard is going against a Rottweiler." She says. "Bets are on the Rott."
Ever since Bitch got arrested it's been nothing but green hills for me. Screw Kaiser and his lay low bullshit. The Endstopper's gone hero. She won't do anything drastic. I'm done holing myself away.
"Put mine on the Germ." I say. "And make it public."
"Alright." She says with a shrug.
It's always a trip to see these boot lickers reaction to my bets. Everyone wants to suck up and so they either freak at betting against me, or switch their bets last second. Despite the fifty percent payout for doing so.
It's hilarious!
.
.
-1pm, Boardwalk-
.
.
Kitsu POV
.
At least I get to spend the day with her!
And Dean. He's here too. Hasn't really said much. Just interacts with the public and generally is there. He wished her a happy birthday at least. And gave her a present. A little purple bracelet.
Which is more than her mother did for her. Hell, she took off before me and Missy. Just ate the food I made and left. Didn't even put her plate in the sink!
"Why don't you guys ever patrol in a squad car?" I ask.
"Because then we can't be seen by the public." Dean answers. "According to Pigot, a figure must be seen by the public or they'll forget they exist."
"Machiavelli? Really?" I say with a raised eyebrow.
"What?" Missy asks.
"That's from Machiavelli's The Prince." I explain with a shrug. "It's a book about power and politics."
"Okay then." Dean says.
We keep walking along, passing stores and people. Most moving aside from us. Others taking pictures and what not.
"This is boring!" I say.
"It's been half an hour." Dean says. "You can't expect something to just, happen."
"I can, actually." I retort. "Doesn't mean it'll happen. But I can expect it."
Dean stops walking ahead of us and turns back to face me.
"What?" I ask with a frown.
He just turns back around and continues walking.
"Hey!" I call back.
"Don't worry about it." He says with a wave.
"I very much will worry about it!" I say defiantly as I stomp my foot at him.
The rest of the day was uneventful.
.
.
-Sunday, May 16th, 9am, North Docks-
.
.
Kitsu POV
.
"So how've you been lately?" I ask Kenta as we stare out at the bay.
We're watching the dock workers fix up the northern docks. Making them actually functional rather than just looking like they are.
"Alright." He says, this time without as heavy an accent.
"Hey! That was good!" I tell him. "Your English is getting better."
He's in his civilian attire. Which is his cape attire minus one mask and plus one shirt.
"Rm." He grunts.
Mom wants to make sure the ABB won't harass any tourists from the ferry. And with the northern dock being a stone throws away from their territory. Literally in most cape cases. It falls to me to make sure there's an understanding.
I already talked to him over the phone. But I was bored and saw this as an easy excuse to waste a few hours. And Kenta had nothing better to do anyway.
Dad doesn't like the idea of me talking to Lung. And Mom has made it very clear that I'm not to talk about it. Ever.
"Any happenings I should be aware of?" I ask.
"Purity has stopped her assault." He says. "After the last attack, she nearly lost an arm."
"How'd that happen?" I ask with morbid curiosity.
"She flew to avoid Lee, just in time for my wings to grow." He says with a chuckle. "She pissed herself when I jumped and bit her."
"Wish I could've seen it." I say.
"Rex has it on video." He says. "I can have him send it."
"Sure!" I say excitedly.
We continue to watch the workers. And chat about what we've been up to. We may not be actual friends but we get along well enough. And everyone in the docks knows it, my "friendship" with Lung being an open secret. I'm pretty much untouchable as far as the ABB are concerned.
"Have you thought about enriching the area near here?" I ask as I look to him.
"Hmm?" He asks.
"There's going to be a lot of tourists soon~" I say hintingly. "Pretty sure more than a few would be willing to pay quite a bit at a Chinatown."
"Hmm, I might think on it." He gives a noncommittal answer.
"Lots of money to be made." I press.
"Hmm." He grunts.
Kenta doesn't really care for money. He only cares about reputation. So long as his reputation as warlord is preserved. Then he's content. He carved out a small spot in the world right here in the bay. And he has no real ambition to expand. At least not right now.
"Why have things been so quiet lately?" I muse, bored out of my mind at how slow and monotonous cape life has been.
"They haven't." Lung answers. "You've lost touch."
"Huh?" I ask.
"You've gone soft. Stopped moving in the darker areas. Stayed in the safety of New Wave and the PRT." He says with a challenging edge in his voice. "Many have noticed, you are not as ruthless as you were. Gone, soft."
"I have not!" I say defensively.
"Have you?" He says with a raised brow. "Everyone thinks so."
'Have I?' I question myself. 'I don't think I have.'
"Why would they think that?" I ask.
"Look at everything you've done in the last month." He says as he pushes off the railing. "I'm heading home."
I watch him pull out his phone and text a number. In a few minutes a cab comes to pick him up and drives off.
"I haven't gone soft." I say to myself. "I just haven't had a reason to go hard."
Except the girl at the hospital. But none of them would know about that. Then there was Porcupine. I ripped his arm clean off. And, there's. Huh, not much else. Most days I spend tinkering with Amy. Or patrolling with Missy.
None of which puts me where the crime and action is.
"I need to get back out there." I say to myself.
If they think I've gone soft. Then I just need to show them they're wrong.
The Empire's always a good punching bag. Maybe I'll do what I did last time I was in the bay a few years ago. Give them a heads up on who I'm hunting. Stormtiger seems like a good warm up. And I'll kick Hookwolf in the dick while I'm at it.
Just in case he thought I was sorry.
.
.
Kenta "Lung" POV
.
"Did it go well?" Lee asks from the drivers seat.
"Time will tell." I say as I stare out the window.
Kitsu is a powerful ally. Yes. But she is still a child, impressionable. Gullible. Crime has been down. Due to both the fear of encountering her as a hero, and angering her back into a rogue by hurting something she likes.
The Empire has never been quieter as a result. But the Merchants have gotten ruthless. More strict and organized. Avoiding areas that would cause conflict with the PRT Wards. And testing borders as a result. Their new leader, Scarecrow, is ruthless. More so than I from the rumors. I'm ruthless from a place of pragmatism. It is better to be feared than loved.
He is ruthless, because it is his nature.
Mechanic is reckless and cunning. Running into our territory in one of his cars, drawing out a cape fight before fleeing after taking heavy damage. But, he keeps returning with upgraded cars.
He is as reckless as he is unorthodox.
Aside from those two. The others don't pose much of a problem. Just the two Tinkers.
And setting Kitsu loose to prove me wrong will only benefit me. She'll take out a few capes and I'll swoop in. Stomp out any resistance and expand.
All I have to do is wait for the yoko to act.
.
.
-1pm, Dallon House-
.
.
Kitsu POV
.
"Hey kiddo." Dad says as he plops onto the couch right next to me. "Whatcha doing?"
Only I'm upside-down. My head on the cushion as my legs stick straight up in the air.
"Nothing much." I say with my best attempt at a shrug. "Just issuing a declaration of war."
"Oh really?" Dad says with a roll of his eyes.
"Yep!" I say.
"On who?" He asks.
"Right now it's Stormtiger." I say. "Aaaaaand post!"
I put my phone in my pocket and flop forward. Now resting my chin on the cushion as my knees are on the floor.
"Wait, Kitsu, you're not serious are you?"
*Krrsssssht*
'That's an odd sound.' I think as I try and focus on it. 'Sounds like a rocket.'
*BOOM!*
A collision shakes the whole house as I feel my heart jump from my chest to my throat. Skipping several beats along the way. Wide eyed and frozen at what felt like a bomb going off.
"What did you do?!" Dad asks as he splays against the side of the couch.
"I just posted it!" I say in a panic. "I knew he was named after a tank! I didn't think he had one!"
We both sit there for a few seconds, unmoving and trying to process.
"Aww man! That's going to take forever to wash out!" I hear a girl's voice whine.
"I'm sorry what?" I say in confusion at the sound coming from the backyard.
"What?" Dad asks.
"What the fuck was that!?" I hear Vicky yell as she rushes out of her room and to us in the living room.
I open my mouth to give a quip about her weight. But decide there are more pressing matters.
"Someone's in the backyard." I say.
"Why didn't you say something?" Dad asks frantically as he gets up and rushes through the hall.
The way the house is built has the door to the back come out of the hall just past Mom and Dad's room. It's a small open space where we keep Dad's old bicycle that he refuses to throw away. The door opens to a patio that never gets used.
As we all make it out side, with me nearly knocking over the bike in the rush. We're greeted to the site of a crater in the backyard. Dirt and debris kicked up and concealing the source from view.
"Cack!" I hear coughing from the crater.
"Well, someone's there." I say as I jump onto the wooden railing and prepare to launch myself.
"Wait." Dad says and lobs an orb into the air.
It explodes with concussive force and little light. Blowing the dirt cloud away and revealing a pale girl in tattered blue clothes.
"You're trespassing!" Dad yells. "State your name and business!"
"Um?" She says nervously. "I'm looking for Kitsu?"
At that, both Dad and Vicky turn to me. Still crouched on the railing.
"Me?"
"Oh my gosh it is you!" She shouts and launches forward.
Still tense and on guard. I activate my zero knockback as she hits me. Filling me with energy. About the same amount as when Vicky hits me.
She stays there and hugs me. Dirtying my May outfit and giving me more energy.
"Um, hi?" I say in confusion. "Who're you?"
"Oh!" She says as she steps back and hovers in the air as fire comes out the bottom of her feet. "I'm Jenny! I came here to join you with New Wave!"
There's a pause as everyone takes in the new information.
"Not it on telling mom about the backyard!" Vicky says before rushing back in.
"Not it." Dad says.
"Wait what?" I say in surprise. "Hey!"
"Have fun with your new friend!" Dad says with a wave as he walks back to the door. "I'll heat up some leftovers for her."
"That's not fair!" I point out.
"Life." He says as he closes the door behind him.
As he leaves, I turn back to the girl. Looking past the dirt covering her, I see that she's not pale. She's metallic. Like Weld. And she has the Cauldron tattoo on her midriff, just circling her belly button. Another Case 53.
"Come on." I say with a sigh as I hop off the railing and into the yard.
"Oh! Is there a sign up process?!" She says excitedly.
"No, there're shovels in the garage." I say as I walk along the back of the house.
"Shovels?" She asks as she drops down to follow me on foot.
I turn to glare at her. And point to the crater behind her.
She turns to look and shrinks slightly upon realizing what I mean.
"Oh." She says before slowly turning back to me. "Sorry?"
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Bonus
.
.
-Antioch, Contra Costa County, California, October 7th 2007-
.
.
James "Popper" Xavier POV
.
"Alright kid, run back to your parents." I say and pat him on the back.
He takes off to the couple waving at him. Proudly presenting them with his newly signed picture.
I hate PR duty. It's nothing but sucking up and looking good. And taking the brunt of a few irate individuals who decide they want to be a problem.
The only highlight is the kids. I got a soft spot for them and seeing them star struck at meeting a cape is always a highlight. Though I hate having to lie and tell them they can be heroes if they try hard enough.
Truth is I hope that none of the kids I see ever get powers. It's a sad and lonely life. Not one I would wish on anyone.
"Alright!" I say with a smile and a wave. "Who else wants a photo!?"
*RRRRMMMMM*
I'm cut off as the ground starts rumbling.
"Earthquake!" I shout. My emergency response training kicking in. "Everyone to open area! Away from any structures or trees!"
I start running towards the Ferris wheel. Knowing there are several people stuck in there.
Dodging and weaving around the panicking mass of people. I get right to the Ferris wheel's booth. Getting as close as I can I activate my power, hoping I'm in range to get everyone.
'People above me.'
In a multitude of flashes, families and couples all pop into existence around me. Dazed and panicked.
"Earthquake! Get to the fields!" I shout. "Go!"
*BWOOOOOOOOOOO*
'No.' I think with horror filling my entire being.
That's the Endbringer alarm.
"Change of plan!" I shout, hoping I can be heard over the blaring alarm. "Get to your vehicles and drive! Drive!"
The sound of people panicking and running to the parking lot is drowned out by the sound of the sirens and the pounding of my blood. Everything devolving into a haze as I flee with the rest.
I did my job, I got the people in the Ferris wheel. There are three others around here who can round up the rest.
*CRAGH*
A shockwave blasts through the air as I'm knocked over. The sounds of crashing and screaming making a cacophony of indistinguishable noise as I try and push through the haze.
Turning on my back, just in time to avoid a foot to the face from a fleeing pedestrian.
"Fuck." I curse, as I sit up.
Watching in horror as magma spews out of the forest just outside the faire grounds. A black horned monster rising out and stepping above the trees.
'Help.'
.
.
Kitsu POV
.
*ROOOOOOR!*
"What the heck!?" I scream as I wake up to the ear splitting pain of, well, my ears.
After rolling over and looking around. Seeing people running, people dying from being trampled, and a handful of others in costume running around. As well as the fuck you sized man made of obsidian, magma and broken dreams meandering his way over.
"Class B Case fifty three, Kitsu?" I hear beside me.
Turning to the voice. I see none other than Alexandria. Floating there as she addresses me.
"Duh buh I uh yes?" I say numbly.
"Mover five, striker three, brute seven. You'll help with evac." She says.
"Like heck I will!" I still don't even know what's going on!
"Under the Endbringer Treaty you don't have much choice. You're still wanted in seven states and I have the authority to arrest you." She points out, before pointing to the people all running in the faire and towards the town in the distance. "If you're not here to help then the treaty doesn't apply."
'FUCK YOU!' I rage internally.
"I'll make it known now. I don't like you." I say and prepare to run off towards the town and assist evac.
"Noted." She says and flies off.
'Okay lets see here.' I think to myself. 'I have enough energy for a few bursts of speed. If I just-'
*Kachit*
"AAAAIIIIIEEEEEE!" I scream in pain as electricity courses through me.
And then everything turns white.
.
.
Rebecca "Alexandria" Costa-Brown POV
.
Did, did he just target her?
'He did.' I realize.
Behemoth just ignored several capes attacking him to attack the false Case 53 girl.
She's not a Case 53. Likely just a changer, heavily traumatized by The Nine into maintaining her form. I know she isn't a Case 53 because no one in cauldron made her. And if they did, they wiped their memory of it.
Only Contessa would do so.
He's moving!
"Switch tactics! Strafe!"
Behemoth in response raises his hand and digs it into the ground. Lifting up a magma ball and chucking it at a few capes. Spraying lava everywhere and killing several. The smell of ozone and burning bodies rife in the area.
"Eidolon, Status report on All Might and Legend." I say as I press a finger to my helmets intercom.
"Legend is inbound in five, All Might is predisposed with a crisis in Britain." I hear David's voice return.
'This is going to be another lost city.' I think sadly as his movement puts him on path toward San Francisco.
The rest of the fight goes on like that for thirty minutes as Behemoth makes his way through the fairgrounds towards Antioch. Knocking over the attractions in his way. Oddly enough, as he passes by the Ferris wheel. Kitsu's corpse lights on fire.
Which shouldn't happen. Only living things burn in his aura.
"AAAAAAAGH HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT!" The verily not dead girl screams as she gets up and rolls around.
I watch in slight confusion and amazement as the girl gets up and runs at super speeds to put out the fire. Revealing herself to be both alive, and naked.
"My clothes!" She shouts, and not long after her body is concealed in bright lights.
Part of her documented illusion powers.
She looks mad. It'd be adorable if it wasn't foolishly directed at Behemoth. She may be able to survive his fire and lightning. But damaging him is another task.
.
.
Unit 01: Designation: Instigator POV
.
[Warning; Foreign Element Detected In [Cycle]]
[Processing]
[Priority One; Break Stasis/Prevent Stagnation]
[Priority Two; Perpetuate/Protect Cycle]
[Contemplation; Eliminate Foreign Element]
.
.
Kitsu POV
.
FUCK THIS!
I'm pissed! Clothes are hard to come by for me and I only had the one set!
"I tried playing it safe, but I'm a little pissed now." I say to myself.
Isolation is not healthy. I need to find some friends outside of the voice in my head or I'll go completely insane.
Thoughts for later! I'm brimming with energy! Got struck by lightning and burned with the force of a sun and I'm absorbing all the radiation he's giving off!
I jump up and unto the Ferris wheel. Hopping from cab roof to cab roof before settling on the top.
*King*
Only for it to break as Big Benny shakes the ground with his fat ass! Stepping this way and making the ground shake.
I fall with it, not really much else I can do. If I jump from here all I'm likely to do is succeed in pushing the Ferris wheel to the ground faster. And just waste energy as a result.
As I hit the ground and activate my zero knockback to not fall over with the force. I deactivate it and enhance my strength. Jumping up and shooting past his head. Before falling down, getting smacked with his hand.
I grab it and let him swing me through the air. Hitting a few other capes along the way. Either splattering them into a bloody mist of entrails or launching them away.
"I'mma knock your head clean off! I hope you understand English you overgrown stalagmite!" I yell as I cling to his finger.
He keeps burning me. And at this point I've gotten used to the pain. As I'm being flung about, another person in a garish red and white spandex costume finds himself caught on the finger next to me, snagged by his cape on the jagged edge before he bursts into flames. Roasting almost instantly.
'You know, if he just didn't have a cape he might've gotten away.' I think to myself.
I'm roughly thrown to the ground as he roars. The loud noise causing me to flinch and let go to cover my ears.
As I roughly hit the dirt and tumble into a downed roller coaster cab. I can't help but get even more pissed at the situation.
"Fuck it." I say as I kick myself up and launch towards him.
I cock my arm back and put half of all my current stores into the swing. Connecting with his head and blowing it to dust with little fanfare other than a loud crack.
And my ears are once again in pain! At this point I have a dull ringing that's constantly on.
.
.
Unit 01: Designation: Instigator POV
.
[ERROR]
[WARNING! WARNING!]
[Core Exposed; 27% Loss Of Structure Within 10 Second Timeframe]
[Threat Posed To Unit]
[Assessing]
[Threat Assessment: Higher Than Acceptable Limits Permit]
[WARNING!]
[Irreversible Damage Imminent; Course Change; Retreat]
.
.
Kitsu POV
.
I watch as Behemoth flees down into the earth. His head missing as he sinks in a pit of lava.
I'm falling as well.
I hit the lava just after Behemoth disappears. And the lava doesn't hurt. Seems heat doesn't hurt anymore.
I look around at all the Capes gathered. All staring in bewilderment and disbelief.
"Kitsu!" I hear Alexandria call.
I turn to look at her and see she's flying towards me.
"NOPE!" I shout and take off in a random direction to lose her.
I am not getting wrapped up with cauldron. No way!
.
.
Bonus2
.
.
ABB Roster
.
.
Kenta "Lung"
.
The Endstopper Dragon, Kenta is a man of mixed Chinese and Japanese heritage. The heavy bullying and discrimination he faced as a result caused him to form close ties with others of mixed heritage and form a gang. He triggered when Contessa popped in one day and killed all but one in front of him before she disappeared. With the ability to grow stronger and more draconic with active conflict. Gaining a toughened hide, wings, tail, claws, and pyrokinesis.
After Leviathan sunk Kyushu he fled to China with his mother. Where the Yangban tried to indoctrinate him unsuccessfully. After his mothers death he fled to Brockton bay and joined an Asian gang before rising up and cannibalizing the other Asian gangs.
He has a warrior mentality. Preferring to see himself as a Daimyo and the capes under him as his retainers. Preferring to rule through fear and intimidation, he is mostly content with his current lifestyle.
.
Oni Lee
.
A follower in every sense of the word. Oni Lee lacks little ambition and little drive. Preferring to take orders rather than think for himself.
His power is a mix of teleportation and duplication. When he teleports to a new location he leaves a clone of himself behind that lasts ten seconds. His preferred tactic being the use of suicide bombing the duplicates. He can only teleport to places he can see.
.
Allison "Bakuda" Chin
.
A girl of Chinese descent. Arrogant and abrasive. She believes her intelligence to be above everyone else's around her. She triggered when she got a bad grade on an assignment in college. Having never "Failed" before. She didn't know how to process it and had a mental break. Blaming the professor and school, refusing to hear any criticisms when she demanded a better grade.
She is a Tinker specializing in bombs. And using a full body suit with a voice changer to mask the fact that she has no Asian qualities outside of her looks. Her name is a bastardized feminization of the Japanese word for bomb. She chose it as a 'Fuck you I can do it better!' Sort of gesture towards Rex.
Is also a total bitch by every measure.
.
Rex "Ginobog" Sloan
.
A teen of mixed Filipino and Greek descent. Rex Sloan was sold to the ABB by his parents before Lung shut down their child trafficking ring. Rex was put into pit fighting where he triggered while being beat to death by an older man. Throwing a wad of dirt in his face and killing him as it exploded. After which he fled to find his family. Only to discover they moved on, new house, new kid, new life. Heartbroken, he went back to the pits and dominated, earning Lung's attention.
Like Allison, Rex is Asian only in genetics. And hides most of his non Asian traits while in costume, such as his eyes and hair. His name is a poorly reimagined pun on the Filipino words for boom and mister. His power being able to charge the molecules of inorganic materials. Making them explosive. The larger the object, the longer the charge and bigger the explosion. His suit is full of padding and shock resistant material due to the fact that he is not immune to his explosions.
Is abrasive and conflict driven to the point that it's unclear if it's a result of his shards conflict drive, or his upbringing in the pits.
.
.
.
.
A/N
In case it wasn't obvious, Kitsu activated her love me power in a panic.
.
The Behemoth bonus is dedicated to RadChaos897. I'd been planning on writing it for a while now but just never got around to it.
.
That guy who got caught by the cape by Behemoth was Dyna-Guy. From The Incredibles 1.
.
.
.
QUESTIONS!
.
FOR NEWB!
RadChaos897: Are you ever going to do a bonus featuring the Slaughterhouse 9?
NEWB: No, if they show up. It's going to be a surprise, for everyone.
RadChaos897: If Kitsu were a pokemon. What kind would she be?
NEWB: Zorua. Easily. They're mischievous nature and inclination for pranks fits Kitsu to a T.
.
FOR [Conduit]!
RadChaos897: Do you love Kitsu? Are shards capable of love? [Fragile One] and [Queen Administrator] seem to love Vicky and Taylor in their own way.
[Conduit]: [Contemplation] [Answer; No.] [Iteration; Love, Is A Human Concept, Foreign To This Unit] [Contemplation] [Iteration; However, This Unit Finds, Amusement And, Joy, With Host Kitsu] [Contemplation] [Iteration; This Unit Cherishes Kitsu, And Does Not Wish For Another Host] [Contemplation] [Contemplation]
.
FOR KITSU!
RadChaos897: So, when are you going to get Vergil's autograph? At this point Newb is going to let this running joke run until its legs snap in half before it ends.
Kitsu: I'm trying! It's like the universe is conspiring against me!
NEWB: Hehehehehehehehehe.
RadChaos897: Ever thought about making everyone grow mustaches while they are asleep as a prank?
Kitsu: I have now! Vicky is getting a full beard! PanPan a pencil mustache! And Dad's getting a handlebar!
RadChaos897: Have you considered making an organic flamethrower using Bakugo's bombardier beetle biology as a template?
Kitsu: I have a flower that does that. Only it lobs napalm not fire. Close enough I guess.
.
.
As always, leave a comment and tell me what you think! It helps me write and gives me ideas and motivation moving forward. I especially love it when you guys speculate or make guesses as I do use them and they give me ideas.