"Multiple heroes dead, some injured, and an entire section of our building destroyed," said Sitch, while he eyed the room full of suited executives. "That was what that creature was capable of."

"Perhaps even more," said another executive, sitting down the way alongside an elongated wood table. "We weren't able to find its body for whatever reason, I assume that it was Tornado that took care of it…"

"It seems that way," said Sitch. "She was the first one on the scene, her and that stranger, what was his name again?"

"Secter," came an executive. "Bit of a nobody, was causing the heroes trouble for some time."

"I see," said Sitch. "Interesting. Well, in any case, we need to take a look at how this impacts our funding, and need to see if any of the heroes-"

"Are actually heroes at all?" came a voice from the darkened entrance to the room.

All the officials turned at the same time apart from Sitch, whose eyes widened as the new speaker strode into the lighting and came into focus.

"Hello everyone!" said Sycamore, leaning over the end of the table as several executives leapt back out of their chairs and away from his presence. "My name is Sycamore. I'm here to tell you why I'm the greatest investment on the market right now."

Looks of panic and shock were ensconced on everyone's faces. Before them stood Sycamore, towering over each person as his head neared the ceiling. The newcomer was a brimming stew of confidence, a glowing grin spread along his face coupled with rows of sharp black teeth. Shadowy skin almost made the being blend into the nearby darkness, but his slanted yellow eyes and mouth helped set him apart. He wore a dull silver suit with a black sweater underneath, just as slick as the sleazy expression he forced onto his audience. Gnarled dark horns jutted out from the back of his head, twisting and turning off into the air, while shadowy flames protruded out of his back flickered as if in response to some imaginary wind. Sycamore seemed to encompass the entire room, filling it up as if he were the only person in there despite having an audience of at least ten others. For whatever reason, despite the friendly expression on Sycamore's face, no one felt as if that were his true intent. Something about the way he moved and twisted towards the table as he walked screamed suspicion, but Sycamore was not the type to let people on to his real feelings so easily.

"You-" began Sitch, rising up from his seat. "How did you get in here? Where is security?"

"I let myself in," said Sycamore. "And I am your security."

"He looks a bit like that officer," said an executive. "Someone call the heroes!"

"No one's coming," said Sycamore. "It's just us." He laid a hand down on the table before him, his grin widening even further at the terrified Hero Association officials. "And I'm only here to talk, nothing to worry about here."

No one seemed convinced.

"Well look, here's the deal," said Sycamore. He rose up, crossing his arms as he stared down at the cowering executives before him. "You own an association of heroes, right?"

A few small nods, a few people crawling under the table.

"And yet you still have a problem with monsters despite all this," said Sycamore. "Well lucky for you, I'm here to help. With your monster problem."

"Get out," said Sitch, the only one remaining to face Sycamore's grin. "We don't need your help."

"Ah ah ahhh," said Sycamore, waggling a finger at the irritated man. "But you do. And after all, you should accept my help, right? Because I can tell you right now-"

Sycamore slithered across the table, his body turning into a snake of burning shadow as he crept up face-to-face with Sitch.

"I have the power to help," said Sycamore. He chuckled as Sitch stumbled back at the sudden advance.

"We have enough heroes here, we don't need one that comes in and threatens us!" yelled Sitch.

Sycamore laughed again, reforming himself back into his humanoid shape.

"No threats here, only promises," said Sycamore. "I'm going to start rounding up every monster, every creature, every mysterious being that poses a threat to mankind and I'm going to get rid of them. Easily. You should be thankful for my kind of help, I don't give that sort of thing out so carelessly."

Sitch crawled backwards until he hit a wall, his eyebrows furrowing at all the executives who were scrambling to escape the room in front of him. Sycamore paid them no mind.

"We…we don't know who you are," said Sitch. "Or what you're capable of. I don't trust you, and I don't want your help."

"Is it because you don't trust me," said Sycamore. "Or because you need the monsters for your shitty little organization to stay afloat? Because oh no, what will happen if the monsters go away? No more funding for you or any of your little cronies. Say goodbye to your nice lifestyles and hello to more mundane work."

"We…we don't rely on monsters to exist…" said Sitch. "And…you can't go messing with things this way!"

"Really?" asked Sycamore. He twisted his body again and again, laughing as he did so. Looping around until his figure resembled a series of silver, shadowy loops, he tore himself back to his original form like a ripcord, his head snapping in place by the time he finished. His grin remained the whole time he moved.

"Because it seems to me," he continued. "That this sort of thing is regular hero work. I go out, help the people, destroy the monsters. Easy right? Why not just accept this? Is it because you're as corrupt and pathetic as I think you are?"

Sitch had no answer. The being in front of him was burning its way through his mind with its stare, glowing eyes inflaming his brain and shaking him to the core of his soul. Nonetheless, he would not give up the staring contest between him and the newcomer.

"Oh I know this organization was sad," said Sycamore. "But not this sad. I mean come on, all your colleagues have abandoned you, you won't even accept my generously heroic offer, and your first issue that you brought up was funding as opposed to the wellbeing of the heroes in this past attack or whatever it was!"

"We…have our issues, but we still try-"

"Oh I know that. But the time for trying is past. Now is the time for action, and I, well I am the greatest actor on earth. I knew this wasn't an organization of heroes, you just feed off of their successes and hope that they never truly prevail."

"I want humanity to defeat the monsters, I just can't trust-"

"Then watch and learn, Mr. Sitch. And have a little chat with your shareholders sometime, because it seems that not everyone is concerned about the safety of others as you are."

Sycamore laughed again, all too pleased about the status of events. Then, he twisted up into the air, vanishing as he phased through the ceiling and out of sight of the trembling Sitch. The poor man was left alone in the meeting room, sweat beading down his forehead and a rising sense of dread swirling up from his bowels.

. . .

Secter nudged at Tatsumaki, who lay against him on the couch. Her eyes were heavy after getting up only an hour ago, and she squinted at the television with sleep on her mind. Secter smiled at her, his heart warming as her green curls unfurled over his chest.

"You want to get up yet?" he asked.

"Mmph," said Tatsumaki.

"You know I have to go get my stuff still," said Secter. "Probably should've done it yesterday, think it's supposed to rain today."

"Mmmmph."

"I gotta get up."

"Don't get up."

"Well, I'm going to."

"Don't leave. You don't get to leave yet."

Secter shook his head, his eyes rolling.

"Sometimes I think you're still a bit too possessive of me, Tatsu," said Secter.

"I just don't like the thought of losing you," said Tatsumaki, gripping him tighter.

Secter grimaced as her nails dug into the bandages beneath his shirt.

"You're not gonna lose me…" said Secter. He paused for a second, a realization coming together in his head. "Although…I can see why you'd be worried. Yeah, you got a point actually."

"See?" asked Tatsumaki. "I'm right. I'm always right."

Secter leaned down and kissed Tatsumaki on the forehead.

"Most of the time," said Secter as he pulled away. "But you are wrong about one thing, I'm gonna get up."

"Why?" asked Tatsumaki. She slid down onto the couch as Secter rose, lacking the energy to bring herself to a sitting position.

"Because there's still a bunch of shit at my house I have to bring over here," said Secter. "And if I want to move out, the landlord's sure as hell not going to want it there."

"Ugh," said Tatsumaki. "Can't you just teleport it over here?"

"I mean…yeah," said Secter. "But I could go for a walk anyways. Need to stretch my chest and legs out, been sitting and laying down for too long as is. Plus I gotta meet with my landlord one more time, good riddance."

"Fine," said Tatsumaki. "But hurry back."

"I will."

. . .

With a bag full of belongings in one hand, and an alien shotgun strapped over his back, Secter signed the last bit of paperwork needed to get him out of his old home and shook the hand of his irritable landlord as he got ready to leave the man's office. Heading out through the main door, Secter breathed in the frigid air as he wandered the streets, his expression pleased as he gave one last look in the direction of his old house.

Out with the old, in with the new, he thought.

Leaving the area, Secter strode past cafés and restaurants alike, until someone shouted his name from somewhere behind him. Turning around at the familiar voice, Secter's eyes widened when he spotted a man wielding a massive flail and a woman with a series of wriggling chains for arms running towards him.

"Rikuto?" he asked. "Mei?"

The power duo slammed into Secter, hugging him tight and nearly causing him to drop his belongings. Gripping onto the bag with one hand, he pulled the two into his body with the other, until they all finally separated from the embrace.

"How have you two been?" asked Secter. "I see Mei's gotten…creative."

"Yeah, that commandant tried to ruin things for us," said Mei. "For a lot of people, unfortunately."

"Yeah, and I'm really sorry about that," said Secter.

"Why are you apologizing?" asked Rikuto. "It's not your fault!"

"Yeah!" said Mei. "That villain went after a bunch of people, there was no way you could've caused all that!"

"Well…it's complicated," said Secter. "But I guess you're right. I didn't control that miserable pile of shit they call a man."

"Are you feeling any better?" asked Mei. "You looked real bad last we saw you."

"Yeah I'm alright," said Secter. "Tatsumaki probably saved my life."

"She seems to feel real deep for you," said Mei. She nudged Secter in the shoulder, giving him a small wink as she did so. "If I were you, I'd keep an eye on her."

Secter laughed.

"Yeah, I think I might do that," he said.

"You want to do some patrolling with us?" asked Rikuto. "We're out looking for monsters again."

"Already?" asked Secter. "You guys sure you're up to it?"

"Of course we are!" said Mei. "I mean…it's a bit lonelier without Ori, but we manage…"

"Yeah…" said Secter. "A damned shame about him…"

Rikuto shook his head. He kicked up some dust with his boot.

"Well, no sense standing around and moping," he said. "Let's get back to work honey."

"Sure thing!" said Mei. "And Secter, thanks."

"For what?" asked Secter.

"For taking down that evil commandant," said Mei. "Tornado told us it was you."

"Oh, uh, no problem," said Secter. "It was for the best it was me anyways."

A woman in a burly fur coat came running up to the trio, her eyes wide and panicky. Rikuto and Mei flipped around in response, while Secter eyed her warily.

"Monsters!" she yelled. "Right down the street! Three of them! Big!"

She huffed and puffed, failing to find the air to sustain her.

"Clear the area, citizen!" said Rikuto. "We have a job to do."

Mei glanced over at Secter.

"You want to come with?" she asked.

Secter sighed, and slung his belongings over his back.

"Alright," he said. "Let's get em."

They all ran in the direction of the threat, arriving in a clearing just at the edge of town. Sprawling desert was all that lay before them, the sky above grey and cloudy while thunder sounded off in the distance.

"See anything?" asked Mei.

"No, but keep your eyes peeled," said Rikuto.

Secter scanned the area, but saw no sight of any monsters. Instead, he spotted a strange cluster of grey hexagonal columns begin to rise from the sand and into the air above them. He took a step back, while his companions did the same. Whatever the strange object was, it was the size of a boulder, and hovered in the sky a few meters above head length.

"Is…is that the monster?" asked Rikuto.

"No, no," said a being somewhere off to Rikuto's left.

The three of them turned, only to see Sycamore approaching them from the side. He strode over to the bottom of the floating cluster, a sly grin on his face.

Secter's arms began to shake. His mind frozen in place as a cold sweat overcame his body, his throat going dry from the dread that threatened to devour him. This being before him was a Soulless, no doubt about it. He reached behind his back for the shotgun, his eyes widened and his lips trembling.

"This here is a trap," said Sycamore, pointing to the metal cluster. "Or more accurately, a little death trap for those monsters. As you'll see my friends, there's going to be a lot more of these here pretty so-"

Sycamore stopped when he spotted Secter leveling a shotgun at him. Raising an eyeline, Sycamore crossed his arms and tapped his foot on the ground impatiently.

"Excuse me, you little human degenerate, but you shouldn't aim at a true he-" Sycamore stopped dead short upon closer inspection of the shotgun.

"No," said Sycamore, taking a step back. "No, that can't be. That's an elimination weapon!" He stumbled back, falling onto his spine right underneath the floating cluster. "You put that down!"

"Why," said Secter. "The hell. Are you here. And who are you."

"I-I'm Sycamore," he said. "And put that down! Don't shoot, you imbecile!"

"Give me a reason," said Secter.

Rikuto and Mei exchanged uneasy glances, worried at the sight of the burning rage behind Secter's eyes.

"I'm not here to hurt any heroes, if that's what you're wondering," said Sycamore. "Just here to capture monsters and send them away! To get rid of them!"

"Why," said Secter, his voice dripping with suspicion and hate.

"That-that is my job," said Sycamore, raising his hands in surrender. "Once a reformist, always a reformist, surely you must know that! What are you, a Volunteer?"

Secter narrowed his eyes.

"You must be," said Sycamore. "Don't know where else you got a gun like that. Were you…in the war, by any chance?"

"War?" asked Mei.

"Don't worry about it," said Secter. "And yes, yes I was."

"Ah, me too, me too," said Sycamore. He tried to slide back to his feet, but a sudden advance from Secter put him back in his place again. "And…I uh, I was there after it too! Yes, stuck up in the Nothing after the war, as I'm sure you know all about!"

"I left as it was ending," said Secter, not a hint of sympathy in his voice.

"Ah, you got lucky then," said Sycamore, his voice shaky. "Me, I was still stuck up there. Along with so many others. Such a horrible place it is now, so horrible…"

"And then you came here," said Secter.

"Yes, yes," said Sycamore.

"And you weren't with anyone else," said Secter.

"No!" said Sycamore. "Just me."

Secter wasn't sure what to believe. The cowering Soulless before him didn't seem like he was a threat, but Secter thought he spotted the outline of a gun in the being's suit jacket.

"Can I get up now?" asked Sycamore. "My suit is going to get all dusty."

"Slowly," said Secter.

"Um, Secter," said Mei.

"What?" he asked.

"Is this the monster?" she asked.

"We'll find out," he said.

Sycamore rose from his spot, keeping his hands up in the air as to show his defeat.

"Ah, thank you," said Sycamore. "And I can assure you, I am no monster. I am only here to get rid of the monsters, as you see here." He pointed up at the floating cluster, his grin pained.

"Open it," said Secter. "So we can make sure."

"Yeah, open it!" said Rikuto. "What would a weirdo like you want to do with traps full of monsters?"

Sycamore sneered at Rikuto, but flicked his wrist at the grey object. Slowly it came drifting to the ground, and as Sycamore laid a hand upon it, it opened at the front to reveal several bloody and dead monsters all stuffed into the trap's cramped insides.

"There they are," said Sycamore.

"What the hell are you going to do with them?" asked Secter.

Sycamore shrugged.

"Eh, who knows," he said. "Probably send them off into space or something."

Secter frowned at the sight, but twitched his head to the side, as if giving Sycamore some hidden signal. Sycamore gave Secter a quizzical glance, but quickly realized what he meant and tapped the object to have it seal back up again.

"So you're here just to trap monsters," said Secter.

"That's it," said Sycamore.

"All because you want to help people," said Secter.

"Of course!"

Secter tightened his grip on his gun. Suddenly he charged forward, barrel of the shotgun speeding ahead until it was only inches from Sycamore's chest. The target let out a small gasp in response.

"You do anything out of line, and I'll hunt you down, you understand me?" asked Secter. His eyes burned into Sycamore's face, the alien no longer grinning but instead frowning in despair from his sudden attacker.

"You got it, you got it!" yelled Sycamore.

"Because I just had a not-so-kind Soulless show up last week, and I don't need another one to go around attacking people and destroying things."

"I would never," said Sycamore. "And is that right? That would explain what that Sitch guy was talking about…"

"What did you say?" asked Secter, poking the shotgun into Sycamore's chest.

"Nothing! Nothing to worry about! Just heard from the HA that there was some kind of incident!"

"There was," said Secter. "If you so much as think about trying a power, or so much as look at someone the wrong way, I'll be on you in seconds, and don't think I won't be willing to use this." He thrust the shotgun further into Sycamore's chest, pushing the alien a little.

"I wouldn't doubt it!" said Sycamore. "I can assure you, I've seen enough death and suffering to last me a lifetime, I have no intentions of hurting any humans or destroying anything but monsters."

Secter scowled at Sycamore but backed off of him, allowing Sycamore to let out a sharp breath.

"I'll be around," said Secter. "Don't do anything stupid."

"Wouldn't dream of it," said Sycamore.

Secter backed up from Sycamore, still keeping his shotgun trained on the alien.

"Your gun," said Secter.

"What?" asked Sycamore.

"Give it to me."

Sycamore groaned, but reached inside his jacket to pull out an elimination pistol complete with two barrels pockmarked with circular holes.

"Set it on the ground," said Secter.

Sycamore did so, and watched with irritation as Secter walked over and picked it up. Stuffing the gun in his bag, Secter fell back to the shocked Rikuto and Mei, who had been watching the entire discourse with a mix of fascination and fear.

"Let's go guys," said Secter. "Keep an eye on this one, he ever does anything suspicious, call me and I'll be there. Don't try and fight him, just get somewhere safe and call me."

"Uh…ok," said Rikuto.

With his scowl never disappearing until he turned around, Secter left Sycamore alone in the desert, a confused Rikuto and Mei by his side. Despite all their questions they had for Secter while he made his way back home, they got little in the way of answers from the grim-faced man.

. . .

Secter opened the door to his house, glancing around to make sure that Rikuto and Mei had actually left after they had said their goodbyes. He brought his bag up to waist height and walked inside, on the lookout for any sign of Tatsumaki. There was no one on the couch, but a sliver of nearby light coming from the bottom of the bathroom door gave away her position. Secter closed the front door behind him and crept over to the kitchen.

Where the hell am I going to hide this, he thought as he looked inside his bag to see the top of Sycamore's repeater pistol. Of course this happens as I'm moving in with Tatsu, so hiding it is going to be much more tricky…

"Secter?" said Tatsumaki from the bathroom. "That you?"

"Yeah, it's me," said Secter. He snapped his bag shut and maneuvered around the esper's kitchen table towards a nearby closet.

"Did you get everything all cleaned out?" she asked.

"Yep, everything," said Secter. "The deal is done, I'm all yours now."

Secter could hear giggling from the inside of the bathroom. A weary smile on his face, he opened the door to the closet, and began to search through rows of neatly stacked and hanging clothes for a spot to hide the pistol.

Ah fuck it, I could just teleport this pistol, thought Secter. But if that Sycamore guy is still around…I don't want him knowing about Tatsu and me, and especially not where we live.

Secter let out a sigh, his whole body shaking with anger and exhaustion.

Fuck, he thought. I just did all this. Just dealt with a Soulless. Please God let this guy be a good one. Please don't have him hurt anyone, especially not Tatsu…

"Alright, I'm coming out," said Tatsumaki from the bathroom.

Secter jolted back into reality, and tossed the pistol behind a stack of folded clothes in the closet. Panicking, he turned back around and closed the closet's doors behind him just as Tatsumaki exited the bathroom and turned to face him. She was wearing more casual clothes instead of her normal dress, a white t-shirt and jeans as opposed to the black gown she typically wore.

"What are you doing?" asked Tatsumaki.

"I, uh," began Secter.

"Ohhhh, I know," said Tatsumaki, a smirk finding its way onto her face. "You're putting your clothes in with mine, aren't you? Well, don't mess anything up in there, I prefer to keep it organized."

"Yeah, yeah," said Secter, his arms shaky from Tatsumaki's near-discovery of his activities. "Don't worry, I won't mess anything up."

Tatsumaki smiled and strode over to him. Leaning on the tops of her toes, she kissed Secter on the cheek before falling back to her normal height.

"Hard to believe you live with me now," she said. "I never thought I would ever go this far with anyone, ever."

"Well like you used to say, I'm different," said Secter.

"In a good way," said Tatsumaki. She walked over to the kitchen, and once she neared her cabinets, she began to pull out various ingredients.

"I'll make some lunch," she said. "I'm starving."

"Me too," said Secter.

Tatsumaki turned to a nearby counter and started to lay out all of her ingredients before her in a colorful array of foods.

"I want to talk to my sis sometime," said Tatsumaki. "You know, about all the stuff you told her. I know we're gonna meet her later today, but I don't know if the café is a good place to talk about all that. We'll definitely need to talk about all of it though."

"Yeah, yeah definitely," said Secter. "She seemed to take it fairly well though."

"She did, but I just want to make sure," said Tatsumaki. "I want you there for the talk too."

"Oh I'll be there, without a doubt."

"Good. Are you going to put the rest of your stuff up?"

Secter glanced down at his bag, still clenched to his side.

"Right, right," said Secter. "Be right back."

He turned away and ran up the stairs to Tatsumaki's bedroom, shouldering his way past her door and entering the place. Setting his bag down on the ground, he rummaged through the contents, frowning at the two bottles of black bile that were still left in there.

I'll have to dump those out, he thought. Shouldn't have even taken them here, why didn't I just dump them at my house…

Grumbling, he pushed them to the side of the bag and fetched out a tennis ball, the mere sight of it making him smile. Secter walked over to Tatsumaki's nightstand and laid the ball down right next to a shiny display case which housed another object of the same kind. He beamed at the sight of the two objects next to each other, before heading back over to his bag. Not long after, he unpacked everything and put all that he had in their respective places. The only thing left were the two bottles of liquid, which sloshed in their glass prisons as Secter glared at them.

Leaving this behind, he thought. Come on Secter, let's go dump this shit.

Heading out to Tatsumaki's backyard, he dug a little hole with a nearby trowel he found near her patio, and began to dump the foul-smelling liquid into it, watching as it seeped into the earth below. One bottle down.

Secter eyed the last one, his hand twitching as he began to tilt it sideways to allow the liquid to escape.

Just dump it, Secter, he thought.

He began to do so, watching with pain behind his eyes as the last remnants of the dark poison spewed into the tiny makeshift grave he made. As the bottle was finally emptied, Secter felt a rush of relief splash over him. It was finally done.

"Good fucking riddance," he muttered.

Turning away from the hole, Secter sighed as he began to walk back towards Tatsumaki's house, two bottles in hand.

I just want things to be normal with her, he thought. I just want her to be happy, and…and me to be happy, and I don't want anything to come and ruin that. This fucking Sycamore person, or whatever the hell his real name is, why does he have to be here? Why now? Why does he have to come along and start messing with things? I know he said he only wanted to help, but there's something sleazy about that guy, can't quite put my finger on it…

Entering the house, Secter found the nearest trashcan and tossed the two bottles inside. At their clanging, Tatsumaki straightened up from the kitchen where she was nearly done preparing the food.

"You all good over there?" asked Tatsumaki, her voice ringing throughout the house.

"Yeah, everything's unpacked," said Secter.

"I heard something clanging, sounded like bottles," said Tatsumaki. "You ok?"

"Everything's fine, everything's fine."