Wild Tiger

“Surprisingly.  You’re pretty nice to have around.”

“C’mon, Bunny! You know you love me.”

“Mhm.  I’ll never forgive you for that first year, you know.”

“...I know, I know. But you still love me, so.”

“…you do this every October now, you know.”

“Do I?” He laughed nervously. “I dunno what you’re talking about.”

“Is there any reason you’ve been sneaking around, Kotetsu?” He tended to come off as a lot more suspicious than he meant to.

He froze at the sound of Barnaby’s voice, quickly hiding his phone in his pocket and shaking his head. “Nope! Just...cleaning the apartment!”

“I only started at this job so I could find out who killed my parents, Kotetsu,” he mumbled.  “…anyway, it’s been quiet lately.  If we don’t get a call we can probably leave early and maybe go to the beach or something.”

“The beach? Yeah! It’s been so long since I went to the beach...I dunno if I remember how to swim anymore,” he said with a laugh.

“They did plenty well when we were in the second league, and they’d do plenty well without me again.  Besides, it’s not like work outside of Hero TV would dry up.  Plenty of people asked for modeling shoots during that hiatus year.”

“...I don’t want you to give up doing what you like because of me,” he mumbled. Then he went silent, but after a few moments he looked up at Barnaby with a smile. “Let’s talk about somethin’ else.”

“You realize I only came back because of you, right?  After that little incident, I made it clear that if you go, I do too.  There’s not much point in having me without my famous partner.”

“I know, Bun, but think about how much easier thing would be without me around! You wouldn’t have to deal with me and capturing a criminal. Besides, all of the other heroes look up to you; what would they do without Barnaby Brooks Jr.?”

Margret swallowed, “S-super heroes are real…? How come we haven’t heard of this in L.A.?!”

Jinx crossed her arms, muttering, “must be b-list… Ive never heard of him…”

Margret lightly slapped Jinx’s arm before turning back to Kotetsu, “M-Mr. Kaburagi… A-are you a performer of some sort, perhaps…?”

Margret blinked, “J-Jinny, he’s just trying to get home…! So what if he’s a little odd, he isn’t forced to give you his life story…” She frowned.

Jinx stared the man down, “What are you on the force?”