Hero For Lust

The agreement any buyer signed when purchasing a 'Superior Immortality Serum' was absolute. Tucked within the text sat a simple warning: breach the confidentiality clause, and consequences would follow.

What the contract omitted, however, concerned the precise nature of those consequences.

Caspian agreed they didn't need to specify. He doubted any buyer would believe them if they did. Who, after all, would credit 'dropped into the Sun' as a credible threat?

And yet, that's exactly what would happen…

The two emerged through the 'Hyperspace Gate' into a disused underground location. Low light clung to the mildew-stained walls. Flashing emergency lamps drew the eye, shining down upon the rails. The unmistakable scent of decay, a mix of rot and dampness, hung heavily in the air, raising questions about what lurked within. Such a horror movie setting hardly aligned with Caspian's vision for their meeting spot.

Dr. Genus adjusted his glasses. He surveyed their surroundings with calm detachment — the sealed briefcase containing the serum clutched in his hand. "Charming locale, isn't it?" he remarked dryly. "Though I suppose if one wants discretion, a vacuous substation in F-City is as good a choice as any."

"Have you been here before?" Caspian asked.

"Yes, a long time ago, but back then, the substation was pristine and in full operation. The reason for its current state derives from a race of monsters who called themselves the 'Subterranean People.'"

"Neat."

The Subterranean King and his people represented yet another change Caspian recalled during the series rewatch in the 'Mind Room.' It almost seemed the dream sequence had prompted their sudden rise to the surface world.

Footfalls echoed in the distance, growing louder. A muscular man soon appeared, wearing a formal business suit, his hair combed upwards, glasses perched on his nose, and a black eye patch covered his right eye.

McCoy?

Several paces distant, he halted on the expanse that once served as the waiting platform for subway commuters. His single visible eye scanned the area; then settled on them.

"Dr. Genus I presume, and… you're the Rank 20, A-Class Hero 'Caped Baldy.'"

¤ ¤ ¤

Morning, W-City; splendiferous sunshine poured down from on high.

Yuta found herself before the looming storefront of the House of Takoyaki.

She had spent the past nights ruminating. But her thoughts only sharpened, carved down into one clear certitude.

The vow she made herself all those years ago… she intended to keep.

She took a deep breath and knocked on the entrance door.

Moments passed.

Then a click. The door cracked open a sliver; crimson eyes peeked through the gap with obvious interest. Mosquito Girl blinked once, then pulled the door wider without a word. Her expression read both curious and welcoming.

Yuta opened her mouth—

Mosquito Girl acted far too quick. She reached out, grabbed Yuta's wrist, and tugged her inside.

"Ah—wait—"

"Nope!"

Mosquito Girl pulled her along at a speed she struggled to keep up with.

"W-Where are we going!?"

No answer.

They swept through the small room, down a set of creaky stairs, past a strange medical lab, then into a short hall with three doors. Mosquito Girl entered the left one; it slammed shut behind them. She kept hold of Yuta's wrist until they both wound up seated on a large plush bed.

"Well, well, well… I see you've wised up, missy."

Yuta wasn't prepared for such a turn of events. She had braced herself to face Caspian, but the mosquito's impish ways caught her off guard. Her equanimity fluctuated under the scrutiny. The confined space crackled with tension, and Mosquito Girl's knowing look shattered her mental preparations.

"I am here to see Caspian."

"Eh, why're trying to act all composed? I can hear your heart hammering." Mosquito Girl shifted closer and asked, "You're here to do more than just talk today, aren't you, Yuta?"

¤ ¤ ¤

Caspian and Dr. Genus returned. A hefty sum was now split between them. McCoy's purchase promised a battery of tests, no doubt, but Dr. Genus' undeniable reputation meant the Hero Association executive never questioned the serum's authenticity.

Dr. Genus offered a wordless farewell, a slight nod of his head, before heading toward the elevator. His silhouette receded into the brightly lit shaft, leaving him alone to think.

Caspian's thoughts drifted to Mosquito Girl. A desire to see her, to share the day's success, rose within him. He activated 'Sense,' his mind reaching out, and a wondrous surprise appeared.

A 'Hyperspace Gate' materialized a second later; he stepped through, arriving outside her door. The familiar corridor felt different somehow, charged with anticipation. He raised a hand and knocked, resulting in a soft, muffled, "Come in."

He pushed the door open.

Across the room, Yuta stood clad in a plain beige T-shirt mini-dress, its soft fabric clinging to her frame and falling just past her knees. The garment accentuated her graceful body while maintaining an air of understated elegance. She strode toward him, her movements stoic and almost determined — unwavering amber eyes locked with his.

Then, a subtle tremor ran through her; her lip trembled, and her constructed poise crumbled. She launched forward, embracing him fiercely.

Within his embrace, he felt her frame convulse as she gently sobbed in his chest.

Yuta tried to articulate her truth, stumbling over her words, fragmented sentences echoing. "So much... anger... pushed onto me," she choked out, "a will... not mine... Fuhrer... my father... I can't... …without you." He grasped only glimpses: an intense ire, a tragedy avoided, and the unyielding conviction that, now in control, she...

Clap

A sharp clap resonated behind him; a bright, deliberate sound disrupting Yuta's spiraling outpour.

"I'll make takoyaki," Mosquito Girl rose from the bed. "I'll wait for you to claim her."

She flashed Yuta a grin before turning her attention to Caspian, letting her gaze travel slowly from head to toe in silent appraisal.

"Take all the time you need."

With that, she turned and walked away; humming under her breath. The door clicked shut behind her. Leaving them alone in their intimate sanctuary.