Can We Be Heroes?

Chapter 34• Stuck in-Between.

Vixen landed hard on the scorched pavement, boots skidding slightly as he rushed over to the two bodies sprawled in the street.

The heat was suffocating, the air still thick with smoke and the acrid scent of burnt metal and flesh. One of the sidekicks was barely conscious, his body charred, his lips trembling but unable to speak. The other—bleeding badly from a stab wound—was pale, twitching, and slipping in and out of consciousness.

Vixen tore open a pouch on his belt, pulling out a compact medical kit. “Hey—hey, stay with me,” he said quickly, trying to pack the wound with gauze. “You’re not dying on me tonight, got it?”

Suddenly sirens whaled in the distance and Vixen's  head jerked up as from above and behind, a sudden crack echoed and elongated wood shot through the alleyway.

Kamui Woods had arrived, the vines tearing toward him with Vixen just barely having time to leap back, flipping mid-air and landing in a crouch.

He was fast. Too fast. But before the vigilante could run again, the other end of the alley was blocked. A silhouette stepped through the smoke—

Eraserhead?

His eyes were glowing faint red under his goggles, scarf billowing in the wind like a serpent ready to strike and Monoma could feel the effects of the underground pro hero instantly.

The alley was sealed now, no exit in sight as Kumai Woods’ arms cracked with tension, bark-covered vines ready to spring again.

“What did you do?” he demanded, his voice deep and furious.

Vixen straightened slowly, hands slightly raised—not in surrender, but in instinct. “I didn’t do this,” he said firmly, trying to keep his voice calm. “I just got here. I’m not your enemy.”

Eraserhead’s eyes narrowed, glowing brighter now. “You’re a vigilante. That already makes you wrong.”

“I was helping them!” Vixen snapped, pointing to the bleeding sidekick behind him. “You’re wasting time interrogating me while they’re dying!”

But neither hero moved. Kumai’s eyes were burning now—not with heat, but rage. “You expect us to believe you when the street's on fire and two heroes are on the ground?”

Vixen grit his teeth, body tensing to spring. “Believe me or not but I will still stick to my story. I’m not the one who burned them.”

He glanced back. The bloodied man coughed weakly, eyes fluttering. He had to get help as quickly as humanly possible but with Eraserhead in front and Woods behind, Vixen knew he had seconds to make a move.

He’d been cornered before and just like all those times he was sure he was making it out.

With a racing mind and the smell of smoke still clinging to his suit, his heart pounded against his ribs like a war drum as Eraserhead took a slow step forward, scarf uncoiling like a striking viper, his gaze locked and unblinking.

“I suggest you don’t make this worse for yourself,” the pro hero said calmly, though his tone left no room for mercy. “Put your hands on your head and kneel. Now.”

Behind Vixen, Kumai Woods’ vines seemed to tense even more, creaking and shifting, ready to wrap him up like a spider with a fly.

He had seconds.

“I told you,” Vixen growled through gritted teeth, “I didn’t do this.” He motioned to the bleeding heroes. “They were like this when I got here—I'm not the one who lights people on fire!”

“Then tell us who did,” Kumai snapped, his voice sharp as bark.

Say it. Say it. Tell them who you know it behind it. The ones who were growing stronger day by day. Speak up Monoma! “I don't know.”