"I see. ...Mm. That's excellent news. I'm very glad to hear it."

Barnaby didn't sound particularly glad to hear whatever he'd just been told. Kotetsu tried to tune it out... not too hard, when Barnaby's voice coming from the television sounded much more urgent - even frantic.

"Tiger... Tiger! Where are you...? Damn it...!"

It made his heart hurt a little to hear how upset Barnaby had sounded. With good reason, of course, and the voiceover was all too eager to point that out.

"Oh, no! There's no sign of Wild Tiger anywhere! He must have still been inside when the building collapsed! And look at that wreckage - no normal person could have survived that! But as we all know, Wild Tiger is a veter- oh, look at that, folks! Barnaby's beside himself! His powers have activated; he's throwing the rubble aside like it's nothing, looking for his partner!"

Behind the play-by-play, Barnaby could be heard practically screaming Kotetsu's name. His real name, now. Good thing his identity was pretty much the worst kept secret in Sternbild after the Maverick incident. Well... now, maybe the second worst kept secret.

"That was Agnes," Barnaby reported, coming back to sit down on his couch beside Kotetsu. "She says it didn't last long enough to cause a huge ratings jump, but they've received a lot of calls about it. There are some threatening boycotts, of course, but the majority of viewers seem to be supportive. There are even a few organizations who are suddenly interested in endorsements."

Kotetsu heaved a sigh that felt as heavy as those beams Barnaby was tossing out of the way, on Barnaby's giant viewing screen. "Great," he muttered. "We're a hot commodity again."

"Well, with your powers having declined, we weren't doing as well in the rankings as we had been before. I suppose it's a good thing." Barnaby rested a hand on Kotetsu's knee, squeezing lightly. "...I really am sorry, though."

"Can hardly blame you," Kotetsu said with a shrug, resting his hand over Barnaby's and squeezing in return. "I probably would've done the same thing. And, uh... I could've paid more attention to what was going on."

"For those of you just tuning in, the mid-season HeroTV celebratory dinner was interrupted when a report came in of a terrorist bombing nearby at City Hall. Three people were killed instantly, but thanks to the quick action of our heroes, the rest of those inside have been saved and accounted for. Tonight we've seen heroes as we've never seen them before, protecting the public even in their formalwear! Truly, these are your heroes, Sternbild - ready to act whenever the need arises! But one hero might not have been quite prepared enough. It looks like Wild Tiger was still inside the burning building, trying to make sure everyone was out safely, when it collapsed! His partner Barnaby is frantic, as you can see..."

"I really sounded like that...?" Barnaby murmured in disbelief, as the camera zoomed in to get a better look.

"Wouldn't know, I wasn't there to hear it at that point," Kotetsu pointed out. "Going by how hoarse you were afterwards, though, doesn't surprise me."

Mercifully, the camera cut away from Barnaby for a moment. "Here's some good news, everyone - Sky High has captured the bombers! They're being taken into custody now. Now it looks like the other heroes are joining in the search for Wild Tiger..."

Sure enough, Rock Bison was working with Fire Emblem, both in tuxedos and their headgear, to move aside more rubble, Blue Rose was quenching the fires with her ice as she scoured the area in her evening gown, calling his name. And of course, at the center of it was Barnaby in a suit jacket now streaked with soot and dust, digging into the ruins with his bare hands.

Kotetsu leaned over to put his arm around Barnaby's shoulder, and Barnaby leaned into him. "Maybe we should turn off the replay?" Kotetsu suggested.

"No... I think it's better we see what actually wound up on the air," Barnaby sighed. "Just so we'll know what we're going to have to answer for."

"I don't think it's going to last much longer anyway," said Kotetsu. "Since Keith's back from handing over the bombers now, and he was the one who found me."

Sky High had just spoken a brief word with Origami Cyclone, then launched himself immediately into the air, blowing away the dust and smoke that was making the search more difficult before surveying the area. Suddenly he stopped short, pointing.

"What's this? Has Sky High spotted something...? Yes he has - it's Wild Tiger! He's safe, and appears to be unharmed!"

Now that the blimp could resume aerial coverage, it had been simple enough to get a shot down into the area from above, the camera going in and out of focus as it zoomed in on a single figure seated against the wall of a building adjacent to where City Hall had once stood.

They watched as the other heroes reacted, surprised and relieved. Even Sky High hadn't made it to Kotetsu's side as quickly as Barnaby, his speed still enhanced by the Hundred Power. "Ko- Tiger," Barnaby breathed, sinking down in front of him, clutching the shoulders of Kotetsu's dress jacket. "Thank goodness... I thought you were still in there..."

"In there? Nah..." Noticeably befuddled, Kotetsu gave him a slightly sheepish grin. "Got kinda turned around, with all the smoke an' everything... went out a fire exit and was trying to figure out how to get back in when it all fell down."

"I think one of us needs to stay sober at official functions from now on," Barnaby remarked, and Kotetsu nodded mutely.

Onscreen, the fact that Barnaby had also had a few drinks before they were called out was becoming a little more obvious, even if there hadn't been plenty of hints earlier to anyone who knew him as well as Kotetsu did. Granted, that was pretty much Kotetsu himself, and maybe Barnaby's therapist. "I thought... I thought I'd lost you... I don't know what I'd do if I lost you..."

"Aw, it's okay." Kotetsu reached up to ruffle his hair fondly - and, Kotetsu realized, he'd caressed Barnaby's cheek a little too. So this wasn't exactly all Barnaby's fault, he'd contributed. Naturally, someone from the ground crew had managed to get there just in time to capture it. "See, I'm right here, I'm okay..."

And just as the camera on the ground got a good angle, Barnaby closed his eyes, relieved, and leaned in to kiss Kotetsu. And no, it definitely wasn't all Barnaby's fault things had turned out this way, because Kotetsu was kissing back, having completely forgotten they were in the middle of an event - even winding his arms around Barnaby and pulling him into his lap.

"...Wow! Who was expecting this? In the midst of this tragedy, a glimpse of hope, as two of our heroes reveal their true feelings for each other! If anyone ever doubted the strength of the bond shared by Wild Tiger and Barnaby, this kiss is proving them dead wrong! Just look at that!"

Of course, they hadn't been in their power suits. They didn't have earbuds, even - there had been too much of a rush to get to the scene from the banquet. They'd had no way to reach each other, and they definitely weren't hearing anything that was being said over the air. It wasn't until they'd drawn back, Kotetsu caressing Barnaby's cheek again with his thumb, that they opened their eyes and realized that they were surrounded by their fellow heroes. And cameras.

The expressions on both of their faces would have been hilarious, if they weren't so embarrassing. Beside Kotetsu on the couch, seeing the close-up of their scandalized expressions, Barnaby leaned forward, burying his face in his hands. Kotetsu patted him on the back, and gamely kept watching.

They hadn't really known what to do. Especially since they couldn't hear the announcer's shocked exclamation that someone else had arrived on the scene. They hadn't known that the situation had changed until the cameramen (who did have earbuds) all looked even more startled, and one of them pointed, having spotted the newcomer. The onscreen Barnaby and Kotetsu turned their heads just as the camera turned away from them, zooming up to focus on an unusual but familiar caped figure above.

Lunatic stood staring down at the heroes, clustered around the startled and embarrassed partners, and for a moment was still, aside from the flapping of his cape in the wind.

"...I suppose you heroes have enough to deal with already today without Thanatos becoming involved, hmm...?"

And with that, he'd turned, his cape flaring and then burning to nothingness as he disappeared.

For once, the bastard had been right.