Hey it's Masked Stranger Anon again and thanks for the feedback. Honestly, I was kinda nervous but I appreciate what you said and I will be sure to put triggering warnings at the start of my fics should it come to it. The next time travel chapter is coming up soon but I couldn't help myself from making this so I hope you enjoy:
(Tw for Good feeling absolute dread and panic due to his ability to sense if his siblings are in danger.)
Good adjusts his grip on his umbrella as he walks down the empty, rainy streets. In truth, there was no reason for him to go out other than to clear his head. Many worries continue to plague on his mind and it's not going to end anytime soon. There must be more he can do for his siblings. He can clean the house when he gets back so that Nice won't have to worry. Or he could arrange a karaoke session for Kind so that she could feel at ease. Perhaps he should go to buy groceries, Fine has been stress cooking lately but a new batch of ingredients might get his mind off things.
"Agh!" He suddenly yelps, face colliding with the wet light pole. He shakes his head and rubs his face, withholding a hiss. "I need to watch where I am going. I cannot afford to be clumsy."
"You're never clumsy though." A male voice, rugged yet familiar remarks. Good's eyes widen as he turns around, coming face to face with a white and black lightly armoured man seemingly drawing inspiration from E-Soul's design but with yellow glowing lines all around his body. He gasps, not expecting to see such a familiar face, "Bug? Is that you? What are you doing here?"
"Was simply patrolling the area, looking for shady activities. This isn't the kind of weather to be walking alone in partner." Bug says, walking forward. Good gulps, a sigh escaping his lips, "I am not your partner anymore Bug. I apologise for leaving but my family needs me."
"I know, that's not my point though." Bug says bluntly, his arm extending out to quickly grab Good's face. His grip while forceful felt gentle yet firm, gleaming eye slits staring down at him. "Your hair is different. You look tired. You're not taking care of yourself."
"I have been busy, so I have not been able to rest properly. That is all." Good reassures but despite it being the honest truth, it feels more like a lie. "My family needs me, now more than ever. I cannot afford to rest."
"Can't or won't?" Bug questions, tilting his head downwards, "We've both been busy but while I'm out here doing hero work, your family emergency seems to keep going."
"Bug, I-" Good tries to answer back but words fail to come out. Immeasurable dread creeps in through his veins, crawling up him, tangling around his body in a suffocating grip. His instincts bellow out that something was wrong, that his brother Nice wasn't safe. His mind screams at him to get to his little brother, to protect him and take him away from the danger. It must be Shang De, he must be with Nice right now. Nice can't be with him, he's dangerous.
A part of him knows that Nice can handle it, that despite the threats, he will be safe but it's overshadowed by the overwhelming, loud alarms blaring throughout his body, seizing his very soul. How he hasn't run away to get him by now, he has no clue.
Finally, after moments that felt like an eternity, the danger passes and Good feels like his entire being had been released from being squeezed. It was then that he finally registers the sore feeling in his jaw from the desperate rambles that he doesn't remember, his cheeks wet not from rain drops but rather tears. He feels hands on his wrists, a steady grip that makes him feel rooted and safe. He tightens his grasp on his umbrella, taking in the smooth plastic as he lets the sound of rainfall calm his heart. Slow, deep breaths went in and out his chest and Good opens his eyes once more.
"You alright?" Bug asks, a solid presence after being in the eye of the storm. Good nods shortly. "Yes, I am sorry for that. Everything is alright now."
"There's no need to apologise." The hero said and despite everything, Good couldn't help but let out a rueful and thankful smile. He lets Bug take him in for a hug, the cool metal armour somehow feeling warm against his skin.
As Bug looks down at his partner, the rain starts to slow down to a stop and yet, no beams of sunlight shines through, leaving them both under a grey cloudy sky.
'Honestly, you're too tender partner, learn how to take.' He thinks, shaking his head, 'I don't know what's going on but I can't ignore it anymore. Not after this.'
- Good used to have tattoos on his shoulder blades at the back. They were purple in colour and looked like frutiger metro swirls, it was one of the first few things he chose to have. However as he pretends to be Nice, those tattoos disappeared.
- Bug is the kind of person who would take what he wants, no matter what he must do to get it. He respects E-Soul for having the drive to see the battle through to the end.
- None of the siblings know that Bug and Good know each other.
Okay I'm 1000% sold on this now, I love them. I'm glad Good has someone to rely on, even if it's begrudgingly. I feel like it's common for protective older sibling types to sort of refuse to let themself fall on their younger siblings, even if the younger ones are literally telling them to lol. I'm glad Good isn't alone.
Also I'm so curious what is hero career was like before becoming Nice's stunt double. I could be interesting if he didn't wear a mask before. What if the public suddenly became aware of his previous persona, and immediately noticed how similar he looked to Nice. I imagine there were already conspiracy theorists online who were confident something was going on with Nice, and this just furthered their bullshittery.