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Taiga and Titas were walking to get some ice cream near where Taiga’s dad lives. Titas was just coming back from his hospital stay at U40 (After a slight Political Spat between the Council of Elders and the Intergalactic Defense Force) and Taiga told him about this ice cream which was so good that Belial sneaked into the Land of Light just to get it. Titas wasn’t really that excited about it, but Taiga was really happy to show him the place so he went with him.
They went without Fuma though. They tried to contact him several times, but he never answered any calls. They decided to leave a message and buy him some ice cream to go. Titas was a bit worried about that. I mean, Fuma is also a big boy, and he can do whatever he wants with his life and his time, but before he wasn’t disappearing that fast and for that long. He was thinking his blue friend must be doing something embarrassing, or something they don’t want them to know
-Are you sure he’s not harassing Mebius again? - Titas asked almost in front of Taiga’s dad house
-I don’t know - Taiga complained out loud - But, I was thinking, dad knows where he is the entire time and I’m sure he’s not shy of sending Fuma flying to the next functional star
-That’s worries me more - Titas crossed his arms - That means he’s not learning his lesson
-Again, even if Mebius is way too nice to tell Fuma no - Taiga was trying to end the issue right there - Dad is going to break his legs
-I didn’t need such a graphic of a description - Titas replied, somewhat surprised - But fine, fine, ju…
Titas noticed Taiga changed his expression completely to one almost blank. His horns were vibrating, barely, but enough that Titas noticed. He read a lot about Ultra Horns, or almost everything available, as, with only 3 Ultras with them, there wasn’t that much information. But, as he knows when Taiga’s dad started to demonstrate his powers, he was expecting for Taiga to have these issues in like, 6000 years more, not now!
-Taiga? - Titas wanted to be gentle, he knows how strong his muscles are - Are you ok?
Taiga’s expression started to communicate something, but what it was communicating was an ever rising panic.
-Do you need to go to the clinic? - Titas asked. Taiga wasn´t even able to answer. He was trying to avoid Titas gaze as much as possible, as he was very, very, very surprised and afraid - I’m sorry Taiga - And Titas grabbed Taiga bridal style and flew directly to Mother of Ultra’s clinic.
—
-I’m very thankful you brought him here - Mother of Ultra thanked Titas after checking on Taiga, who was still very afraid and very filled with panic. - His father isn’t good to check himself when he’s sick either, so I’m very happy he has a friend who worries
Titas got a tad bashful. He could feel how his cheeks were getting hot while getting some of the praise. Maybe this is the reason why she was so insistent on getting him back.
-Oh, of course - Titas tried to be humble but at the same time educated - did you figure out what’s his issue?
-Well, it seems Taiga’s horns grew up a little and he must awaken some powers right now - Mother of Ultra explained
-So soon?
-I’m also wondering the same - Mother of Ultra continued - My son seems to have developed his powers fairly recently in the grand scheme of things. I wasn’t personally expecting for Taiga to develop his powers so soon.
-What’s about Father of Ultra?
-I don’t know! - Mother of Ultra reacted a bit harsh, Titas felt. Maybe this was a touchy issue for her - I met him after he got his powers and, as far as I know, Belial is probably the only one who knows
Titas took a mental note to never talk about something like this again.
-But, I think it would be a good idea for him to talk with his father for once
That phrase of Mother of Ultra was interrupted by a scream of desperation from Taiga, who apparently just heard the worst idea the whole day. He hugged a pillow as extremely scared, while shaking his head as strongly as he could to say no, just no. Titas and Mother of Ultra were baffled, but she was a doctor so Taiga’s complaints were promptly ignored.
—-
Back at the administration building of the pop Academy, Taro was trying to figure out what was happening with his young son. He got the clip notes from Titas (Who was being subtly interrogated by his assistant Umi right now) but he definitely couldn’t tell what his son was thinking. Taiga was stiff as a plank, sitting across Taro in the desk at the office, looking really scared at his dad, but as far as the latter knows, Taiga hasn’t done anything to warrant something like this.
-Did you get something out of Titas, Umi? - Taro asked to his assistant telephatically
-Nothing useful - she answered - He’s not as stoic as he believes he is, but he doesn’t know more about this either
-Thanks…
Taro grimaced a little. Taiga was very obviously scared, but he couldn’t find a way to get in.
-Titas told me your horns grew a tiny bit and it seems you got a new power - Taro started telling Taiga, to see if addressing the situation could work to let him speak. No dice so far - It’s ok to feel scared when something like that happens. It’s a new feeling, something unexpected. But I’m here to help - Taro stopped a moment to see if Taiga will acknowledge anything that he just said. Taiga was still looking at him like a headless chicken, if that makes sense - so, if there’s anything that I can help you with, feel free tell me
Nothing. Taiga was like a deer looking at headlights, like some humans say. Taro was getting frustrated, but his son is a teen, and, well, maybe he will never know what happened. Maybe what Taiga needed was a distraction. And food. Food always helps. Then he might tell Titas what’s going on. That’s a good plan, he needed to keep Taiga safe for now.
-Taiga, you know - Taro said while shaking his hands - Mebius went home early today, and he told me he was going to…
Taro eventually noticed that just mentioning Mebius was making Taiga even more nervous. And then it was when he got it. This is not Taiga being scared about the changes inside his own body, this is Taiga keeping something important to himself.
-Taigaaa - Taro started to say, suddenly using his stern father voice - What happened?
Taiga knew this was over. He tried as he might not to speak to protect his friend; he couldn't keep it quiet. It’s difficult to make Ultraman Taro mad. But Fuma surely found a way.
-Please don’t kill Fuma - Taiga pleaded with his first words in like 4 hours
-Why would I? - Taro was mostly confused. That was worse for Taiga, who has to elaborate now
-FumawascuddlingwithMebiusinyourbedthisafternoon - Taiga said, really fast.
If he were able, Taro would have blinked. Several times. He did understand what Taiga said, he hoped.
-Did you say Fuma and Mebius were cuddling recently? - he did eventually ask
-Please don’t kill him - Taiga pleaded once again
-How do you even know that? - Taro asked incredulous
That stopped Taiga on his tracks. Now he has an opportunity, an opportunity to play some sort of charade and say some white lie which is going to take Fuma out the heat and then later, taking the thing between both of them. Alone.
-How many fingers Titas has up? - Taro suddenly asked
-4 - Taiga answered without thinking. Then he realized - How do I know that?
-Well, your horns got a tiny bit bigger, and its seems your first power is tracking your dear friends - Taro answered - It’s just between a couple of kilometers though, but its not bad for starters, I suppose
-Dad - Taiga couldn’t understand why his father was having this reaction - I just told you Mebius is cheating on you
-He’s not cheating on me
-I mean, not on purpose - Taiga was trying to backpedal - But, it’s very obvious Fuma just pressured him into doing… that…
-Cuddling?
-In your bed!
-Well, that bed is the biggest bed in the house - Taro was still not getting it - And Mebius just refuses to use the guest room that I told him we can convert into his room
-Dad!
-Oh? Oh! - Taro just realized what was the issue Taiga was having by now - Taiga, did you forget that I can track people too? Mostly, Mebius and your friends?
The clock ticking in the open space office was the only thing which was making a sound, for Taiga, at least, while he was processing this new (old) information.
-So you know already?
-Exactly
Taiga was, well, surprised.
-Do you like to watch? - Taiga asked, still confused
-What are you…
-You… you… you know
-Why did your mind go there immediately?
-So you do?
-No, no, no, no - Taro was trying to get Taiga to listen - your friend has had some issues recently and he has been talking with Mebius about them, and you know Mebius is a hugger, the kid is sad and he’s going to hug him
The door to get into his office opened with a slam by a very concerned Titas and a very embarrassed Umi on toe.
-DID YOU SAY FUMA IS SAD?! - Titas exclaimed with his not indoor voice
-Do you also have powers? - Taro asked, extremely surprised
-No… no… - Taiga answered - He’s just trying to be a good friend, I think
—--
-He’s exactly like Zoffy when I was like 2000 - Taro commented to Mebius, while both were observing the Tri-Squad being young in the Living Room at his house from the kitchen
-Really? - Mebius was paying attention
-He was always like “you can trust me with your feelings, I’m your big brother and I’ll help you” and no one ever did - Taro explained, while Mebius laughing out loud - He was expecting Seven to be honest with his feelings and you know that doesn’t work
Titas meanwhile was shaking Fuma trying to explain to him what to do so he will not harass Mebius ever again.
-I’m not doing anything like that - Fuma kept insisting
-No matter, but you can talk to me or Taiga freely about your feelings and your dreams - Titas continued, while Fuma was trying to find a way to tell him that issues were usually him and Taiga - Plus, my muscles are not only for defeating enemies, but for also to comfort my friends
Fuma couldn’t stop Titas picking him up and trapping him in a bear hug that made all of Fuma’s bones crackle and everybody present even in the kitchen, winced at the view of such an event.
-Well, Zoffy never did that - Taro clarified while Mebius was trying to figure out if Fuma was actually alright
-Are you ok? - Taiga asked
-I think he fixed my spine - Fuma commented, quite surprised while being left on the floor by Titas
-This is just one of the things I have trained for beyond defeating enemies - Titas explained while Taiga was checking a surprised Fuma - In fact, I believe Taiga would also benefit from such a thing - He declared by then trapping Taiga in another bear hug and making his bones crack so much, Mebius and Taro had to hide in the kitchen on how funny everything it was.
-Well - Taro then said, while hiding with Mebius next to the refrigerator - I hope Fuma at least feels better about any issue that he had
-Ah, no no no - Mebius corrected - I asked him to come, I needed to talk something with him
Taro looked at Mebius blankly. It took him a couple of seconds to figure out.
-No, absolutely not - Taro then declared
-Awwww…. - Mebius groaned loudly - But, sir…
-I don’t want anyone bitting my….
Then Taro saw Taiga looking at them after just entering the kitchen, completely frozen, waiting for his father to complete whatever phrase he was about to say. But Taro was too embarrassed and too angry to even say something coherent. Except this.
-YOU GET OUT!
And throwed Taiga, Fuma and Titas to the street outside his house.
-How this was even possible? - Titas was surprised, since his muscular mass should leave him way too heavy to be picked up by an Ultra
-Well, I’m not bitting anything anytime soon - Fuma then commented out loud.