[Closed]

[attainment]

WHO: Kotetsu T. Kaburagi (oyaji) and Barnaby Brooks Jr. (attainment)
WHERE: Near Liger Clothing in Heropa
WHEN: Early February (the day after Barnaby is Ported back)
WHAT: A sort-of reunion and hero hijinks
WARNINGS: Two idiots



He'd deliberated over whether to contact Kotetsu via communicator, or whether it would be better to visit him in person. On one hand, his partner would probably be relieved that he wasn't stuck in this world alone. On the other, some digging on the network revealed that Kotetsu had no prior memories of this world...while Barnaby remembered everything.

Not only that, but it was still hard to tell where Kotetsu fell on their shared "timeline"...certainly, it was after they became partners. But that's all Barnaby knew.

Given the circumstances, meeting in person seemed like the better choice. Once he learned Wild Tiger's place of employment courtesy of online gossip portals, going there was just a matter of riding his Lonely Chaser into the other side of Heropa.

Unfortunately, Barnaby had barely slid off the parked bike when a shout sounded from down the street:

"Stop! Thief!"

His razor-sharp senses focused on a man -- dashing across the street, goods clutched in his arms. Several cars honked as drivers slammed on their breaks to avoid hitting him.

Barnaby immediately took chase. The brief halt in traffic was the window he needed to successfully cut across the pavement in hot pursuit.

Comments

all according to keikaku

[oyaji]

"Shaddup," was the automatic response Barnaby gets to his deadpan snap. But there was hardly any heat in it—Of course there wasn't. It was his partner and Tiger loved his dry sense of humor. It kept him on his toes.

Much like this chase. He pumped his arms harder to catch up with Barnaby and ultimately surpass him. This was his criminal tyvm! He stole from his store.

[attainment]

It was a familiar scene -- Kotetsu squawking defensively while struggling to keep up. Still, the genuine effort didn't go unnoticed.

His smile became more pronounced.

Without another word, Barnaby's running veered more toward the left. The maneuver allowed the fleeing thief to enter Kotetsu's line of sight. A deliberate choice, born from the trust they'd developed over the years.

[oyaji]

Perfect. Tiger raised his right arm, put on the breaks, and quickly fired his Wild Shot. The strong wire stuck to the back of the perp's shirt, and like a fish on a hook it began to pull Tiger along down the street.

No problem, really. Bunny would be right on him in a few seconds. Then it'd be over.

[attainment]

They fell into a wordless routine they'd done countless times before back on Hero TV. For a moment, it was like they were back in Stern Bild. He half expected helicopters to fly overhead.

But as Barnaby made a dash toward the thief, the only onlookers were locals. Of course, this being Heropa, they were pretty much used to seeing imPorts in action. That was probably for the best, though. The less disruptive they were about this, the better.

That was why Barnaby made quick work of their prey. With Tiger slowing him down, all he needed to do was close in on him. Within seconds, Barnaby had a firm grip on the man's arm. The perp barely had time to yelp in surprise as the stolen goods dropped to the ground

[oyaji]

"Hey! Don't just drop it all!" Back behind them both, Tiger unhooked the wire from their perp and let his watch spool it all back in. But he had plenty to say to the thief as he stomped toward his partner.

"Someone has to refold all of that! Geez, at least be a polite criminal," Tiger groused.

[attainment]

There was a lot he could have said. For now, though, Barnaby stuck to business. It was familiar. It gave him control.

"We should call the police," he remarked. "They'll send officers who can make a report, and then they can cart this guy off to jail."

[oyaji]

"Yeah, I got it." He'd done it plenty of times before, the hotline would probably recognize him again. Taking out his cellphone, Tiger called 911 and waited for an operator.

"Yo, it's Tiger. Wild Tiger! ..... I call all the time—Nevermind, listen! We've got a criminal apprehended! Bring a black and white to—" Ah crap, he didn't know where the hell they were now. It shouldn't be far from his shop, but...

"Uh, Bunny? What street is this?"

[attainment]

Without missing a beat, Barnaby rattles off the street and nearest major landmark. And for a second, he nearly chastise him for forgetting the layout of his own town...but wisely catches himself.

No use in scolding someone who doesn't remember living here, after all.

"How long will it take them?" he mouths at Kotetsu instead.

[oyaji]

"Uhhh...." That's a good question. But before he can ask, or continue making that annoying sound, there's the distant cry of a police siren.

"Not long I guess?"

[attainment]

Having lived here for as long as he had already, Barnaby almost feels foolish for asking. Heropa wasn't exactly a large city, after all -- especially compared to Stern Bild.

Still, a shoplifter being guarded by a couple of imPorts seemed like it could fall pretty low on the police department's list of priorities...and with this town's knack for getting into trouble, local law enforcement could be dealing with all kinds of crises on any given day.

Regardless, the siren grows louder until a flashing car parks along the street.

When a couple of police officers approach them, Barnaby flashes the pair a polite smile. Having done this song and dance more times than he can count, he has no problem summarizing relevant information for one officer to jot down. Her partner, meanwhile, officially arrests the criminal.

"There's actually been a rash of thefts lately," the female officer says. "We're pretty sure this guy is responsible for quite a few of them, so that's one less headache to deal with for now."

She nods toward the two imPorts, and adds: "Good work, Mr. Brooks. And you too...Wild Tiger, right?"

[oyaji]

"Yep! You got it!" He gives the officer a thumbs up, and then leans over into Bunny's space. "Jeez, of course you're popular already. You only just got here and everything."

[attainment]

"Mr. Brooks was actually the spokesperson for Powerthirst for, what...3 years?" As soon as the words leave the officer's mouth, her eyes grow large. A hand flies in front of her mouth. "That is, I mean--"

"It's fine," he assures her. "I remember my time here, Officer Dixon."

Although his smile is polite, his hands briefly curl into fists at his side. Barnaby wishes she hadn't said anything.

Still, the woman relaxes and she returns Barnaby's smile. "You were probably looking forward to going home, but...I'm glad to see you back, sir."

"You're too kind," he replies, and he glances at Kotetsu. "...Honestly, it's good to be back."

[oyaji]

Tiger's known about Bunny's apparent stint in Heropa before he came here, but three years? How? The guy doesn't take time off ever back home.

"So, you're taking the perp, right?" he speaks up to finally squash this awkward topic into the ground. Bunny clearly doesn't want to go on with it and Tiger sure as hell doesn't either! It's like listening to two people share an inside joke that you so weren't there for.

"Yes, thank you for your services!" She gathers herself and directs her partner to put the man in the back. "Can—Would it be alright if I got your autograph? You left before I could ask last time..."

OF COURSE! No one can resist can they? Talk about pushing boundaries.

[attainment]

Barnaby can easily imagine Kotetsu bristling over the request, but he doesn't look at him this time. Instead, he falls into the regular routine: obliges the officer with feigned brightness, writes a brief note thanking the woman for her good work, and signs it with his name.

After she's thanked him and left with her partner, Barnaby folds his arms over his chest.

"We should probably head back to the store and tell them what happened," he says after a moment. "Actually, I was on my way to see you when that man bolted across the street."

[oyaji]

"You shoulda called me! Then I'd just cut work," Tiger tells him with obvious petulance. The last thing he wants to do is go back to his perch in the clothing store and sit around making gags. Give him a crime to thwart every time!

The sidewalk's turned cramped as passersby stopped to watch the apprehension, but smartly every one of them gets out of Tiger and Bunny's way with the stolen clothes in their hands.

[attainment]

"Exactly," Barnaby replied without missing a beat. "You just arrived here. Unless there's some kind of emergency, it would be bad form to skip work."

Granted, it's not like they'd fire Kotetsu. Registered imPorts have job security, after all. But it's the principle of the thing...

"When do you get off today?" he asked after a moment. "I was hoping to catch you after you'd clocked out."

[oyaji]

Huff. Of course Bunny thought about it already. He just never lets Tiger cut corners! Too bad he's not actually upset about that, though.

"I dunno," he lies as they make it back to the Liger Clothing store. "I'll ask the manager." As soon as he walks back into the store, one of the clerks comes over with praise and thanks for getting their items back. That's when he asks for the manager to ask him a question. Kind of.

"We got it all back! Guess it pays to hire a Hero, huh?" Tiger poses as pompously as he can with the clothes extended in one arm to him. "But, uh, so listen! We've still got questions to go over with the police. And, you know, other Hero duties. Very tedious, very boring, but you have to finisht he follow-up or it all comes crashing down. So, I'm gonna have to cut out early—"

"Oh! Yeah, that's totally fine! Yeah, take your time! We'll see you tomorrow."

[attainment]

Hanging by the store's entrance, Barnaby watches Kotetsu hand over the items and ask his boss for time off. Hand on his hip, he doesn't bother contradicting the man's flimsy excuses for ducking out of work early.

The manager doesn't seem upset, though. And if there isn't much else keeping his partner here, then...

Barnaby supposes he doesn't have to scold Kotetsu -- too much, at least.

After giving the clerk a polite good-bye, Barnaby holds the door open for Kotetsu. Once they're outside and well out of the manager's earshot, he still quirks an eyebrow at the other man.

"You, using paperwork as an excuse to leave work?" he dryly remarked. "That's a new one."

[oyaji]

It is novel, isn't it? The thought makes Tiger laugh beside Bunny, thumbs smoothly adjusting his suspenders over his chest like he's hot shit.

"Not like I can use it at home." There's always paperwork to be done back at the office. Even if there weren't, the mere thought of paperwork would create some freak accident wherein paper would spontaneously combust into existence. A big bang of legal documents that would need so much filling out!

"'sides, playing hooky from that dumb job with my partner is so much more important!"

[attainment]

Kotetsu's sudden laugh washes over Barnaby like a warm, familiar blanket. Under the guise of checking the street before crossing over to nearby park, he looks away from him...and hides the embarrassed smile twisting across his face.

Once he's sufficiently schooled his expression into something more neutral, however, he looks back at Kotetsu.

"You don't seem too surprised that I'm here," Barnaby says.

[oyaji]

"I am!" is the defensive response he comes up with. But it's not a very good one. Most of this answers aren't, so Tiger tries a little harder this time. Lots of quick thinking.

"Some guy told me you'd been here before. So, you're back! That's good," Tiger finally eeks out after such a poor explanation. Being stuck in this place without Bunny would've been real annoying. He'd have to make new friends and ehhhh, so much work.