Rabbit Hole Share House! (4)
"Mind your manners, Miss Thunderbird. This is a warning."
"Hmm... Is that so? Or is it not? It seems I've been rude."
Thunderbird smiled faintly. The moment sparks flew from Botal Rabbit's eyes and she moved to assume a combat stance, Iron Colossus swiftly stepped forward and seized her shoulder.
"Junior."
"...Huff. Huuuuuh...!! Aaaaaaaaah...!! Why are you doing this? What the hell is your problem? Thunderbird! What did I do wrong?"
Fortunately, her rage cooled quickly. Botal Rabbit reined in the killing intent that had been pouring out of her and shouted at the top of her lungs.
Thunderbird leaned back in her chair, stretching languidly as she spoke.
"I apologize. Sincerely. But is Mr. Tran truly such a meaningful asset?"
"He's not an awakened worth clinging to like that. So what's your answer?"
"Do as you wish. You and I are not in a vertical relationship. No one in the TSS team is, but at the very least, excluding myself, you are the only S-class here. You have no need to ask me for permission."
Botal Rabbit pouted and took a step back. The sincerity in the apology left her with no choice but to retreat as well. Still, something felt off. Especially these past few days. No, even more so over the past few weeks since she had become entangled in the TSS team's internal affairs.
"If something... is troubling you, you can talk to me anytime. Thunderbird. I'm only saying this because I'm worried."
"...Thank you. Now please leave. The interview will be handled at the team level. We can't afford to burden you with every little detail."
"Appreciate the thought. See you."
With an awkward expression, Botal Rabbit left the team leader's office. As Iron Colossus moved to follow her out, a sharp crackle of electricity sounded behind him.
-Twitch.
His body tensed instinctively, bracing for the shock he knew was coming. But the discharged current merely brushed past him and settled near the door.
"I've blocked the sound. There was no hostile intent, so please understand."
"Miss Thunderbird."
He turned to look at her. She remained slumped in her chair, her hair standing on end and swaying from the activation of her powers.
"Does the same apply to you?"
"What do you mean?"
"It means that if a problem arises, I may consult you... or contact you anytime. Just like what Botal Rabbit said earlier."
"Of course."
Iron Colossus nodded without the slightest hesitation. To him, it was simply the duty of a hero—not to overlook those in need. Realizing his sincerity, Thunderbird let out a hollow laugh.
"As expected, you're wasted here."
"Hm?"
"It's nothing. Just... a warning. I wanted to at least give you this much. Be careful with Chrome Fist. More than you think. And..."
Thunderbird withdrew the electricity she had deployed, closed her eyes, and whispered softly.
"I hope that heart of yours never changes."
Iron Colossus paused at the open door, then turned back and walked up to her table. He stopped right in front of her and spoke quietly to the startled woman.
"I don't know what happened, but."
"Yes? Yes?"
"If you need help, anytime, no matter the situation, I'll be there."
Without waiting for a reply, Iron Colossus strode out of the room. Through the open doorway, Thunderbird watched as Botal Rabbit, waiting by the elevator, threw herself into his arms and began complaining cutely. She kept staring until the elevator doors closed and began its descent. Only then did she whisper once more.
"Then save me."
As if hoping those words would one day reach him.
*
At that same moment, Tran Van Bao slipped out of the base and headed for the appointed meeting place. It was a desolate old town district, abandoned after repeated terrorist attacks and chronic budget shortfalls. A place beyond the law's protection. In a slum like this, if you weren't a superhuman, it was perfectly normal to get dragged into any crime imaginable—even in broad daylight.
Still, even slums had their own ecosystem. Tran Van Bao walked the familiar streets until he reached a small bar tucked in a corner.
"Welco... Ah. Tsk. What brings you here?"
"It is errand for big brother Chrome Fist. This one will wait here."
"That son of a bitch is coming? Business is fucked today. Kids, take the girls and get inside."
At the owner's shout from behind the bar—where he had been wiping glasses with a dirty rag—the staff who had been preparing for opening gathered the women and quickly left the building. It was a slum rule: 'Don't keep women near Chrome Fist.'
Ordinary people couldn't survive his sadistic tastes. More than a few women had died from what happened during his sessions.
As the owner grumbled, the door creaked open again shortly after.
"Did you wait long? Huh?"
Thick metal forearms and a body bulging with muscle. Despite a gut that protruded from complete neglect of maintenance, his overwhelming frame and sheer muscle mass made him look less like a fat man and more like a beast of burden.
Chrome Fist. The villains and residents of the slum called him 'Ogre'.
He sauntered over and dropped heavily onto a seat at the bar.
"Gimme the most expensive shit you've got."
"Even the most expensive thing here isn't exactly fancy. I'll just pour it for you."
"This place does good business, huh."
Chrome Fist chuckled as he traded crude jokes with the owner, then turned his gaze to Tran Van Bao while crunching on some dry snacks. Those savage eyes made Tran Van Bao flinch.
"You must have succeeded... otherwise you wouldn't be crawling in front of me like this, right? You fucking bug?"
"Did it. This one did it. Succeeded properly."
"Oh...? You? You're not lying to me, are you?"
This scrawny, worthless little worm had actually fucked Botal Rabbit? Chrome Fist studied him with the eyes of a predator.
"This one is leaving TSS team now. Signed exclusive contract with HT team. This one demands his share. This one did exactly as you ordered. Tran Van Bao does not know how to lie. He is icon of faith and trust."
"Want me to tear your fucking mouth off? How do I know if you just put on a pathetic act to get transferred, or if you actually succeeded? Huh?"
"This, this is proof!"
-Rustle.
Tran Van Bao pulled a sheet of paper from his coat. It was covered in the vulgar sentences of the 'oath' Yeonha had written inside the gate. Chrome Fist stared at it like he wanted to devour the page, then exploded with laughter.
"Hahahaha!! Uahahahaha!! That filthy slut!! This is fucking hilarious! If her ass was light enough to get fucked by a bug like you, why the hell was she acting so high and mighty all this time!"
Chrome Fist folded the paper and slipped it into his pocket. Tran Van Bao panicked and lunged at him.
"G-give that back!!"
"Why the hell would I?"
"B-but this is different from what you promised! Y-you clearly said..."
"I said if you fucked her and broke that bitch so badly she lost all face in TSS, I'd hand her over to you."
"B-but then...?!"
"Everything you have is mine, you bug bastard. Tsk."
-Bang!
Tran Van Bao's face slammed into the bar table with a loud crack. He let out a miserable groan as Chrome Fist's powerful hand pinned him down. He squirmed helplessly.
"This is why you bastards are a problem. Give you an inch and you think the whole world belongs to you. Huh? Listen, you little shit. The fact that I haven't kicked your sorry ass back to your ruined village is already a huge fucking favor. Got it?"
"No... no..."
"What... Sigh. You little bastard. Huh? How about you start listening properly?"
Chrome Fist pulled a small case from his pocket and tossed it in front of Tran Van Bao.
"Do this one thing for me, and this time I'll make sure you never have to worry about earning a living again. It'll be goodbye forever between us too. You were always an eyesore anyway. Huh?"
"Ugh... Hic..."
In front of the terrified Tran Van Bao, Chrome Fist clicked the case open. Inside was a small silver ring. The word 'Chrome' was engraved on it in tiny letters.
"Stick this in that bitch's cunt."
"H-her cunt...?"
"Yeah. That little protruding bit. Her clitoris. Shove it in there."
"Ah, but trying something like that... it's still too early..."
"Sigh, you brainless idiot. How long will it take?"
"Y-you must give this one three weeks. It is not fully matured yet...!"
"One week."
-Bang!
Chrome Fist slammed Tran Van Bao's head into the table once more, then stood up. The owner had just brought over a bottle of liquor and was about to pour a glass when Chrome Fist snatched the whole bottle from his hand. He chugged the entire thing in one go, let out a satisfied "Kya!", and hurled the empty bottle to the floor, shattering it.
He left the bar without another word. Even as the owner frowned and began cleaning up the mess, Tran Van Bao sat there clutching his throbbing head and sobbing.
"Tran Van Bao does not simply endure. Tran Van Bao is not a bug. Tran Van Bao of rage and revenge... Vendetta Tran...!"
*
Around that same time, Botal Rabbit was tearing through the streets in her beloved orange Aventador, 'Bouncy,' hoping a drive would clear her head.
"So what did she say at the end? Why would Thunderbird go so far as to set up a sound barrier just to talk?"
"She told me not to change one bit."
"Wasn't that sarcastic?! Oh my god! If a frustrating guy like you stays this frustrating forever, how is your girlfriend supposed to live?"
Botal Rabbit shouted cheerfully as she sped through the city. It was just another ordinary day.
*