#sample-66

This was irritating. Perhaps not to other heroes. But to Lightspeed Flash, this was truly a test of patience. Though what in the hell could he ever do or say about it? Along with risking his life every other damn day to save someone else’s, he had to answer to cameras. Appease an audience who was far from the trouble, but still, for some reason, wanted to know what happened. And this was misinterpreted as simply being cold, cool, aloof. Flash was just fucking irritated, but his irritation was translated wrongly, subsequentially craved more. Luckily, every time he looked to his right, he was reminded that he wasn’t the only S-class who might’ve had better things to do and that he wasn’t the only one suffering because of it. At least, he hoped. He had no idea how his superior in ranks, Zombieman, actually felt about public appearances. The reserved man didn’t give ant sign he was experiencing any kind of emotion at all. Flash glanced back at the camera crew, remembering that he was free to wander away just until they come back to him, then gathered his bearings and took a deep breath. Zombieman, besides his big coat and weaponry, looked like an average man. But his rank kept a permanent air about him that... Made Flash decently more uncomfortable than he usually was with socializing when unnecessary.

Mumen clutched his gauntleted fists closer to his face as he pretended not to hear the announcement overhead raise the threat level to Tiger. A hero- one he didn't recognize ran past him as a tendril of fog wrapped around the back of his leg in the dead of the night.

scraaattchhhh, scraaatttchhhh

He shook his head, willing himself to choke down the fear and bile threatening to rise from his throat. He'd dealt with all sorts of monsters, how could this be any different?

scratch, scratch, scratch

It was getting closer. Slowly. What was it doing? It sounded like it was dragging something. "Stand your ground", he whispered to himself. "That's the best course of action". The fog was getting thicker as the noises grew heavier and a crow took flight above him, startling a glance to the sky. When he looked back, the creature was within his eyesight.

A young woman, pale with long black hair, still of school age looked up at him from where she lay on the ground, dragging half her torso with the strength of her hands and elbows. He could clearly see what was left of her intestines trailing behind her in a bloodless, macabre scene. She smiled something twisted and leapt, catching Mumen off guard and knocking him to the cold concrete.

scraaatch, scraaatch, scrraaaaatttcchhhh

She was fast- too fast, and he was losing blood through where she'd nearly ripped him in half. He tried to stand but found he could not. He wasn't ready to die, not like this. And then…footsteps. Those were the unmistakable sounds of footsteps.

“I watched in terror, the lake opened wideand horribly roaring, it pulled them inside.”

-Lake Pontchartrain, Ludo

They don’t pay me enough for this. Genos ducked and wove through the arms of living water that had overtaken the largest park in city B. It was all he could do to keep from being swallowed up like the rest of the citizens and heroes that had gotten in the living lake’s way. They were hardly visible through the torrent of moving water, though they seemed oddly still inside it. Maybe there was a pocket of still water to keep them from getting caught in the thrashing parts?

Regardless, Genos had to get to them before they could drown. With every blast from his arms, the air just got thicker with steam to the point where he could hardly see anything at all. If it weren’t for his motion detection and hearing, he’d be fucked. I’m running out of time. I need help.

The night was growing darker, and the temple bells were counting down to that last chime at the stroke of midnight. Genos could see the couples pairing off, but he didn’t quite understand... An older woman noticed his confused face and smiled, gently nudging him with her elbow.

“It’s a kiss for good luck... You’d better find someone fast, you’re running out of time!” She looked around and pointed out Zombieman among their little group of friends. He seemed to be the only one focused on the ringing of the bells instead of chatting with friends. “Your friend over there seems to be alone, too. Perhaps you should ask him?”

Genos’ first thought was to ask Saitama, but... No. 

...no there would undoubtedly be too much emotion behind that kiss and the last thing he wanted was to freak him out or make him uncomfortable. Perhaps asking a friend wouldn’t be so bad. He makes his way over, mentally counting down the bells to be sure he has enough time.

Sidling over to Zombieman’s side, he rubbed his neck with a nervous shift. “Um... Hey?” He tapped his shoulder lightly and straightened a bit. When the older man glanced his way, Genos tilted his head. “I was told that... At midnight you’re supposed to kiss someone for luck? I was wondering if you’d like to... Be my New Year’s kiss? If you don’t want to it’s fine. Everyone else just seems to have paired off already and you’re my friend, so...”