Fat. Beautiful. Tasty. Ravenous.

Interlude: Fat Gum POV 5

"Follow them," I instruct Red and Steel as we chase down a couple of fleeing villains who just robbed a convenience store, "I'll go this way and cut them off."

I indicate my direction and the other two nod, then we split up.

Making my way around the building, I pick up speed to try and get ahead of them.

A flash of violet hair catches my eye and my head turns, my heart already leaping with hope.

"Aiko?" I wonder aloud, halting my progress and looking for the head of hair again.

She wouldn't be here alone, would she? After kicking me out of her apartment, Suneater's still been escorting her around sometimes. In fact, that's where he's meant to be today. But I don't see him anywhere either. He would've definitely said something to me if he were here, right?

I see the flash of violet hair again but realize quickly that the person I've been looking for isn't her. She's too short, her hair is far longer.

Of course she wouldn't be here. Why would I even think that?

"Fat!" Red and Steel cry out, snapping me back to what I'm meant to be doing.

The villains!

I turn back to see the two of them chasing down said villains past where I was meant to cut them off.

What the hell is wrong with me?! I'm letting this affect how I do my job now?

It shouldn't be a surprise, though. I couldn't do anything but throw myself into my work when she kicked me out. I can't go back there. I know if I try, she'll do something even more drastic. She needs space and time to heal. If I can't offer the comfort she needs to do that, I shouldn't be there. Even if it kills me every time I think about that last face she made as I was leaving.

Coming back to the matter at hand, I race to catch back up with them and we funnel them into a cut off alleyway.

"You have nowhere to go now. Just set the money down and come quietly," I order.

One of them pulls out a gun and I tense. No one reported anything about them being armed when we went after them!

Red and Steel immediately armor up as I edge toward the men at the other end of the alley.

"That won't work," I warn, holding my hands out to show my own lack of weapon, "Just put the gun down."

I'm more worried about this guy hurting himself or his buddy or anyone who might pass by than myself or my pupils.

Taking a few more steps forward, I feel more confident that he's not going to shoot after all. It's just for show. He doesn't have it in him.

He's sweating buckets and his buddy next to him is starting to look like he's unsure any of this was a good idea any longer.

"You don't have to do this. Just put it down. I don't want things getting out of hand," I edge closer still.

When I'm only a few more steps away, his nerves get the best of him and he squeezes the trigger, screaming as he does so and shooting me right in the chest.

"Fat!" both of the boys yell in unison.

The villain, for his part, immediately drops the gun, falling on his hands and knees and vomiting. The other isn't looking too good either.

A mistake, but one that could've proven costly if it had been someone else.

Red and Steel come running up to them then and restrain both men, pulling them back up to drag them over to the closest police precinct.