[KHH] Cross your Antennae and Hope to Die (Gigabite)

Klaus-"You know the answer to that."

"It's deeper than that..." Their eyes wouldn't meet. Gigabite's eye never left his cup... Akai's eyes were on the ceiling as he let his own tea cool. Every once and a while he'd take a sip, and allow the soothing sweet aroma to kiss his nose. The green tea shined through, even though he'd added fruit to the concoction, what depth in flavor! It was poetry in a cup. BUT ~~~He's making this hard~~~ Akai thought in a quiet huff. The grizzly man slowly moved his gaze toward the beetle. Their silence was comfortable due to the many years of knowing each other. More impressive than that was Klaus' ability to understand the grizzly man more than anyone. He could give a speech in just a few short words, but in most cases, he'd talk to Klaus at length, because he was comfortable with his old friend. 

He'd try again. "You do need to let it out. Vent." A sip of tea, then he- "Otherwise it will just keep weighing on you." He'd blow at the lip of his cup before taking big gulps to finish. He'd set his own cup right next to Klaus'. He had 10 years on the hero. It wasn't like this was Akai's first rodeo. Relationships were hard and that was a fact. He'd look to GB's other ex. But that wasn't the ex in question. He wanted more info on Izumi, or well, Necropolis as she appeared in police reports. Whoever she was to Klaus was obviously important to shake him up this badly. What kind of things went down between them, he wondered. "She showed up in public after years of hiding. There's no way this is good news... and that little girl. Hmmph No no, I'll stay on topic. How did you manage to get so close to the enemy? " Akai wasn't judging, after all his only daughter turned to villainy. He HAD to get to the route of the issue. It wasn't as if this woman were a saint among villains. Akai did some digging. The reason she always seemed to be steps ahead back then was that she was a part of a secret intelligence group called Cerberus. There were 3 heads, her, a person called KK, and another. At that young age, they plotted so much and hardly ever had to pay the price as they often hired underlings to do their work for them. 

He didn't want to pull the Tartarus Card, but "The more you run from this, the more digging I'll do. It'll be way worse if I find out on police time rather than on tea time... tea time is ALWAYS off the record" The tension in his voice dropped.  His fur cloak shifted as he'd raise a hand to his heart and gave the number 8 a nod. A conversation among old friends, that's all this was. 

Akai reeled back a bit. Maybe his choice of words was a bit too harsh... He was used to dealing with inmates all day. Generalizing a distinct us vs. them mentality was the norm in Tartarus. It was what kept him sharp and vigilant. The bear had to remember that Koriban was a place where he could breathe and be human, and to that fact, assess others as such. Gigabite was right, they are all people. Shaking his head, he'd just huff with an apologetic expression. As much as Akai sucked at these vulnerable kinds of conversations, he always felt incredibly grateful when he got to the end of one. It would be hard to know how to say the right things, but his friend Klaus would be right there to aid him along the way.

With attuned ears and a want for better communication, the man of few words listened intently to the beetle. 


"”It was before I left Japan. Our… line of work, kept causing us to cross paths. Eventually, she… rubbed off on me.I was lonely. She wanted someone to talk to. It is simpler than you think, but…"

So it was a real relationship... That villa-woman, Izumi had her claws dug deep in Klaus, even til this day. The hero spoke so tenderly about her as if these events happened yesterday. Akai had to recalculate the whole situation in his head. In fact, he had to recalculate his whole response. Luckily Klaus would continue on.  His tone... Akai scooted his chair in closer and rested a hand on the beetle's arm. His expression was strong but... understanding. He couldn't find the words, but in his hearts of hearts, he wanted Klaus to know everything would be alright.

"You pointed her to the future, and now that clashes with our present..." He'd say with his eyes softening. It was a hard truth to say out loud, but he'd have to do the same for Klaus... For the good of Koriban, they needed their leader far more than he knew. He was silently praying for Klaus to snap out of this depressive, tea-filled stupor, but he knew reality didn't work like that. With a hope and prayer, he'd continue to dig a bit deeper. With a cautious grumble, he- "I can only help you look toward the future, but as things are now... and as we talk about the past and present... Are... hmmph.... are your able to say you can leave that image of Izumi in the past? It sounds as if you think there's a good person inside of her. If she's grooming that little girl, it's gotta be manipulation...right? She's gotta be rotten...right? " He wasn't great with words, but he was trying his best here.  Akai was horrified and at the same time eager to hear Klaus' thoughts. 

"Have you ever loved anyone, Akai?"

The large man's worry recoiled. He had... "I... ugh." A struggling exhale. He was being judgmental... The great urge to share his own story pressed against his lips, he'd share with his friend, Klaus. It was only right. "My ex-wife and I. We ugh... we had a baby girl. She was my everything, we named her Regina. She had my quirk and everything. My little girl, I wanted to protect her from the world." The distant memories forced a brief smile onto his face as he stared into the cup. The smile would deplete over time as he explained. "I started to sense some darkness in her early on... She was a bully to other kids in grade school. Then when it got the time for high school, she stopped showing up both at home and at school. Seeing her would be like seeing a rainbow. It's like the world took her from me before I could ever spend enough time to teach her what's really right." 

His large hands gripped the cup in frustration, enough for it to crack. The obvious sign to stop made him release his tension. "I'm not even sure that's who she is... funny enough that was her given name. Regina Right. A beautiful name for a beautiful girl, who I thought would follow in my footsteps. I guess I understand you more than I first assumed... loving someone you can't truly accept. No matter how much she is my daughter... I refuse to recognize the villain she's become...-a member of team confidence at that."  He'd palm his face in frustration, and guilt. Was he the worst parent in the world or what? The simplest truth between them both was, they couldn't choose who people turned out to be, despite how painful such a simple truth was. 

"I'll get us a fresh pot..." He looked at Ingrid. They were getting somewhere. Maybe that's all the two needed... just to open up a bit... - the power of fresh tea. The man would return with fresh herbs, and a some more strawberries to whip up another delicious cup. There was plenty for Klaus as well. Progress. Something he was looking forward to would be halted the very second that a chilled hand rested on his shoulder. The whole tea shop grew quiet, and Akai flinched, realizing her cold hands could be felt through the fur of his cloak. Turning his head...Izumi was right there, with Kako at her hip no less. Akai looked at his drink, then the two girls. "Space." Awkward as hell... This seemingly soulless being was who Klaus was head over heels with once upon a time. Akai just couldn't understand.

"She won't be here long. She wants to go see Thunderclap next, but she said she promised you a conversation." Izumi patted Kako's shoulder. She'd giggle as the terrain hero scurried away, Kako would take his seat, and look at Gigabite with determined eyes. Izumi would wave at Klaus and go find herself a tea that suited her at the mixing station. "I'll leave you to it then. I'll come back when it's my turn."

The woman would find herself right next to the man. They'd eye each other, Izumi would give him a warm hello, and a devilish smile. Oh... Redstone flinched. So that's why Klaus liked her... She was like a poison waiting for any spec of weakness to seep onto. An infectious type of woman with her eyes trained on a kind hearted man. Klaus was too good of a guy in Akai's mind. It couldn't possibly have been a one-sided thing. Akai had to dig for answers. If Izumi was open to it, he had questions.  The two would engage in a conversation in the distance as Kako inspected Akai's cup. Something fruity, eh? She could get down with that. 

"I said I'll talk to you when I'm ready and I'm a person who keeps her word, Gigabite-sensei!" With determined eyes, it was the same old Kako, despite the situation they last saw each other in. It hadn't been that long and she was able to bounce back. There were a few bandages on her from a recent mission. Sure she was wounded, but her spark was as strong as ever, reminiscent of Kagayaku, but there was a subtle hint of Izumi. An element of confidence that wasn't there before.  "I placed my resignation letter in... I'm going to move to Osaka as an emancipated minor. That way I can work for the NJPD full time and have my own place. It's all mapped out riiiight here." She giggled pointing to her noggin, promptly stealing a sip of Akai's tea. "I'm only telling you, my closest friends, and my grandpa. I'm turning into a woman now... aaaaand..." She couldn't keep the front up forever. She'd stand up and bow to him. "THANK YOU! There weren't too many people who accepted me for me. I wasn't even in your class my first year, and you always had your door open, even when I was being a brat. I should have talked to you more..."

Kako smiled at the massive person in front of her. He was so kind hearted. She wasn't quite sure how to repay the teacher. "Yeah... family." Family was the hardest part. By train Shizuoka was on the way to Osaka... perhaps a detour to her home town of Oyama  was in order. In all honesty she hadn't seen or spoken to them in months. She played with the thought. Well she was going to see Kagayaku... baby steps. Before she could get lost in thought, Gigabite looked to the tall man and Izumi. That's right they had adult stuff to discuss. He'd bounce back by offering a possible gift. Her eyes got big. "Mmmm, I think a really strong green tea is the best. Better than coffee, in my opinion." She'd say. "I like squeezing lime in it too, for a little pop." A simplistic request, but she'd stop him from shooing her away so soon. She only had one question left, "Can I come here again? Even if it's not to talk about hard stuff, just to relax?" This place had a deep level of zen within its atmosphere. It was hard to believe there was a hero agency nestled somewhere in the back. She liked Gigabite, almost wishing he was her teacher during her first year. It was likely things would have ended up in the same place, but at least she wouldn't have had such a poor time adapting. 

Izumi nudged Redstone. "Guess my turn's coming up soon. Any more questions Mr Prison Man?" The man seemed stunned. In a bewildered sigh, "I'm fine with being strangers. I WILL protect my friend though, watch yourself." He'd warned her not to cause Klaus any more pain. Izumi chuckled. "He and I are forever connected. I'll do as I please." She'd note, passing a petty stare to GB's other ex. She'd use her as a talking point as if she weren't standing right there. She was offensive yet so damn disarming, Akai didn't know how to react. "Interesting how all of his women stay in his life, right? His heart is TOO big sometimes. He's a man of pattern. Once he cares, he CARES." She'd say. "I really did try my best to correct him..."

... What the fuck did that mean?

"What the fuck does that mean?" He couldn't hold it in.

"Pushed a little too hard. He's the purest man I know." She tapped her eyepatch, hinting at something that made Akai's jaw drop. It was the perfect time to leave this conversation. For a simple man like Akai, dropping a bomb like that was more than enough to keep him occupied. Akai sat dumbfounded as the sound of her heels began clicking away from him. She'd arrived back to GB's table, without really caring how much she just threw the mixing station for a loop. "Quite the crowd, Klaus." It sounded like a bland observation, but it was a literal jab to Akai and his ex... -a prison guard and some chick.  Distance made the heart grow fonder, as she could still show those old jealous traits after not having a real conversation in a while. She'd rub Kako's shoulder, only to receive a brief hug in return. "Time for a grown up's chat, girly." Kako snickered, "You're not slick, ma'am, buuuu~t whatever." Yes, Kako was team Klau-zumi. She'd hug Klaus once more. "Bye~ and thank you again."

Connecting her thumbs, and creating an arch with her index fingers, her hands created a heart. With a devilish grin, she'd speed off in a full sprint as she had quite a few things that needed to get done. The next thing on her list was to catch Kagayaku. Izumi chuckled and shook her head. Turning back to Klaus, she'd eyed him. With the child gone, they could have a real conversation. "You have some nerve coming here, Necropolis." He'd say. Her response was a quick and sharp dig at him, "I'm sure two exes in one place is quite the hassle." She'd take a seat, and slowly cross one leg over the other. Slowly and softly, she'd pull her dress over her exposed leg, before flicking her gaze back onto him. She was doing this on purpose or was she? Izumi enjoyed pressing his buttons. He had many, and as a person who wore his heart on his sleeve, it made him a prime target. Maybe it was what got her smitten in the first place all those years ago. This wasn't a meeting to live in the past, but a conversation to understand the "now."

She'd reach into his cleavage and yank out a document. There were legit records of her business. She'd opened a community outreach program. In all honesty, she wanted him to know she was serious. "I'm not the same person you once knew." She was more mature in her tactics and in a way, more vile. She'd never open something like this without any alternative motive. That much was already shown when Klaus caught their little vigilante lesson. Still, he was challenging her authenticity. She was known to be a liar but for some reason, it sincerely bothered her when Klaus thought of her as one.  She very much was, but if she really told a truth, she wanted him to believe her. "Heaven forbid I do something you don't like." Izumi's expression softened into a remorseful frown. As much as she toyed with him, this look on her face seemed real. "Will you support only her?" Without asking him outright, she was asking for something very small. At the same time, the implications were giant. Supporting Kako meant supporting vigilantes. Well not all vigilantes. She wanted Klaus to support HER vigilantes. Before giving him the chance to wiggle away from her question, she'd double down and ask what she really wanted to say. She- "Will you support my organization and all that we do?" Yes... she was actually here to ask for ally-ship. 

Klaus knew the importance of reformation. Hell, his desire to rescue people was so deep that he believed in rehabilitation. In a way, she was offering something similar, but for the rejects of the world. People who never saw themselves as heroes and never would be heroes. From the average joes to former villains, to former heroes... she offer safe haven to them. She offered the opportunity to build from scratch and aim toward her idea of a new Japan. They'd aid the communities they'd occupy and stand their ground against what they thought was wrong. Despite what they put each other through, Klaus was the most reliable man she knew. She'd triple down, and make it personal. It was never a business visit... Her voice was soft, as if afraid to really ask.  "Will you support me, too?" Was the woman the devil? An interesting question. She at one point aligned herself with a master of research and a master of strategy... She was a master of psychology. Playing into people's wheelhouse was her specialty... Was she trying to play him, or was this sincere? With an uncanny way of straining people and squeezing her relationships for everything they were worth... She was a parasite, if not a devil. Disgustingly enough, parasites were still human and she was excellent at showing it. While this was heavily advantageous to her... she was only asking Gigabyte, because he had been Klaus to her. Someone she knew. Someone she could trust. 

“Your organization commits murder. You teach murder to the people you claim to protect.”

 It was more than just testing the waters to see how far Kako could get pushed, it was more about how far Kako would push herself if there was a real deadly threat in front of her.  "You're twisting things Klaus... We do the same exact thing but you teach limits, where I promote freedom. I teach people about the strength they have. Give them the ability to recognize how truly strong they are, and they have to agency to do what they want with that empowerment. And guess what, they choose to protect their community and spread what we do..." Nostrils flared, a hint of passion bleeding through. Just or evil, this organization was her baby. She'd been following behind Weaver, and KK in her young years..., but this, NJPD, was hers entirely. Between Koriban and NJPD, they did indeed do similar things, but Izumi's Machiavellian nature was going to shove her ideals for social change into NJPD's communities.  The ability to protect oneself was the simplest right that people didn't have access to in this world. This was a core belief she had since she was young. Klaus was teaching people how to adhere to society and Izumi was going to teach society how to adhere to her. In Osaka, using one's quirk to ward off a thief was slowly becoming commonplace, rather than waiting for a hero or police help. Kyoto was next on her list. She was going to create a New Japan, whether society could keep up or not...


She unintentionally threw a verbal dagger. Her point was D but oftentimes she'd drag someone through a painful and mean ABC in order to get to her point.  "EVERY truly strong person has the capacity to kill... -And in my opinion, you did nothing wrong. You protected who needed to be protected and you stopped the threat. " Bringing up how he'd pummeled a villain dead.  Klaus' sense of justice was skewed, like all heroes. The moral high ground didn't always mean superiority, and for some reason, Klaus depicted it as if it were. It was likely this core difference that was the meat and potatoes of many disagreements they had... outside the obvious things like her being a villain and him being a hero.  As a truly strong user of his powers, Klaus was a killer who understood mercy, but a killer all the same. She was just trying to get him to understand that. Slapping the word "hero" onto things did not change the fact that he was raising children to combat other quirk users. Killing and death were very real results of such a craft, but she wouldn't call his teaching them wrong. She'd never do that. For a person who could help rehabilitate people, he was very closed-minded at times. Why couldn't he understand her?

“The Koriban House of Hope does what you claim to do, without ever needing to resort to crime or violence. Can you do that, Izumi?”

He wasn't a saint. Why was he judging her so harshly? 

"Can’t you help people without hurting them?"

It hurt. 

He'd rather judge from afar than see all the work she'd done. This was a whole decade of hard work and organizing. There was absolutely no way for it to all be fluff. As a villain, this faction was her source of entertainment, but at its core everyone underneath her was truly invested in doing good for their community. She'd made something good. Something to be proud of and it still wasn't good enough for Klaus. Instead of spitting more venom, the woman grew quiet. It wasn't worth the trouble. Rather, it was troubling her immensely already. A somber expression decorated her face. The very eyepatch he focused on grew damp, a tear escaping. It was wiped just as quickly as it appeared. Izumi was a strong woman, and Klaus was the only person she'd show vulnerability to, authentic or otherwise. The lines felt blurred her. While she came with a motive, the bastard actually managed to hurt her feelings. 

A giggle persevered through a bleak sigh. "Message received. You can stop now." Her vision drifted elsewhere. Klaus had gotten his point across and that was fine, but she felt like if she stared at him for too long, she'd start balling.