Title: When Waking a Tiger

Rating: M

Characters: Kotetsu/Barnaby

Chapter: 4 of 4

Disclaimer: I do not own Tiger & Bunny

Warning: Explicit content.

A very special thanks to calloutyoru for her help, guidance and inspiration in completing this (and for the wonderful title!)

Chapter 4

Back at Barnaby's apartment, they locked themselves inside of the bedroom, losing track of the hours that ticked by while they were caught up in their coital passions. Barnaby was pleasantly surprised that despite their notable difference in age, Kotetsu matched his stamina.

Yet reluctantly, they had to pull themselves away from each other when they realized they were both ravenously hungry. They had completely skipped dinner, too anxious to return to each other's arms in the sanctuary of Barnaby's apartment.

"That's so convenient that there's a delivery place so close to you, Bunny," Kotetsu said through a full mouth. "There's no way I could have waited much longer."

Barnaby flipped his hair behind his shoulder. "You could have always gotten something yourself," he commented.

"Ah, but this was way better." He glanced at the computer on Barnaby's desk, noting the late hour. "Say, Bunny, it's getting pretty late. I should probably get going, unless—"

Barnaby snapped to attention, a small flash of fury in his keen green eyes.

"—unless you want me to stay," Kotetsu finished. He looked a bit nervous after being the target of such a venomous stare.

The younger man relaxed visibly. "Of course. Stay."

Kotetsu smiled. "I just wanted to check."

"Why don't you take a bath when you're through? I'll clean up in here first, and then take one when you're done."

"Hmm, or you could come join me," he smirked.

"I'll pass for now," Barnaby replied with a smile.

"I'm going to remember that you said 'for now.' That means you have to say yes at some point," Kotetsu winked playfully.

Barnaby came out of the bathroom, carefully wringing the water out of his hair with a towel. When he entered the bedroom, he saw that Kotetsu was lying down in the bed, his naked back turned to him, the sheets pulled up around his waist.

He sat down next to him, and ran his fingers through his damp, dark hair.

"Did you even try to dry this?" he chided.

"Mmm, it's good enough," Kotetsu murmured in reply. Then he turned around to face Barnaby. "You changed the sheets," the older man mentioned.

"There was no way we could crawl back into bed in the state it was in earlier," he replied, absently tracing the visible lines on the older man's exposed chest and abdomen.

"Ah, but it kind of makes we want to mess them up again."

Barnaby smiled, leaning forward until their lips were almost touching. "Wouldn't you have wanted to do that anyway?"

"You're probably right." He reached up and grabbed the blonde man's shoulders, pulling him into a kiss.

Although their bodies were tired and sore, somehow, they found the energy to make love one more time. Barnaby writhed underneath Kotetsu, completely oblivious to anything besides the hands and mouth that seemed to be exploring every sensitive part of his body.

"Hey, Bunny," Kotetsu said suddenly, slowing his rhythm as he pulled himself up enough to look him in the eyes.

"What?" Barnaby panted.

"I kind of want to try something... Ah, well, how should I put it? It's a thing that only the two of us could do. I want to try it with you-but only if you're comfortable with it. I mean, it would be completely fine if you said now," he babbled, glancing from side to side as he tried to find the right words, slowing down slightly as he continued.

"Go ahead and ask," Barnaby said as reassuringly as he could muster. As shady as the other man was acting, he knew Kotetsu well enough to be certain that he would not ask anything too out of line.

Apprehensive brown eyes locked onto his. "Can we... use our powers right now?"

Barnaby's eyes widened in surprise. Using the strength they would gain from the Hundred Power could potentially be dangerous, but it could also lead to an even more intense pleasure. He stared up at his partner's large brown eyes. Though they were filled with desire, he also sensed the tenderness and care radiating from them. He knew that as long as he was in his care, nothing bad would happen to him.

Nodding his assent, Barnaby reached up and firmly grasped him by the shoulders. "I want to try it, Kotetsu-san," he said firmly.

"Are you sure?" Kotetsu asked. "I don't know exactly what—"

"I'm sure," he interrupted. "I trust you."

Kotetsu leaned down and kissed him. "Okay. I'm going to."

"Ah," Barnaby nodded. "Me too."

Blue light illuminated the room. Barnaby felt the muscles in his body expand as well as those in the body on top of him as the power began to surge through him.

Then they both cried out in unison as they realized the full effect of invoking their powers. Barnaby closed his eyes tightly, overcome by an overwhelming mix of both pleasure and pain. Every muscle in each of them, stronger than before, including the one inside of him... He could barely control his senses, and from the noises escaping from his lover's throat, it seemed Kotetsu was in similar shape.

Yet his body adapted quickly, and after a few apprehensive thrusts, they found a rhythm much more intense than any either man had ever experienced.

Kotetsu moaned loudly. "I'm not going to be able to keep this up much longer, Bunny," he gasped.

"Me neither," Barnaby barely managed to say, his voice strained.

"Bunny, I'm gonna-"

"Ahh, so am I," he shouted. Both men cried out loudly, completely overcome by the intensity of their climax. Barnaby lost all control of what he was doing; he was totally overwhelmed by the orgasm. It was stronger than any he had felt before, and it felt like it lasted an inconceivably long amount of time.

Kotetsu collapsed on top of him, too overcome to move for a moment. Barnaby twitched a few more times, feeling several additional pleasurable bursts that he could only describe as aftershocks of the orgasm.

When he started to come back to his senses, he wrapped his arms around the older man resting on top of him, hugging him tightly to his chest. "Kotetsu-san," he whispered tenderly.

Tiredly, Kotetsu turned his head and looked at him. "Damn," he murmured.

"What is it?"

"I'm completely exhausted, but when you hold on to me and look at me like that, it makes me want to take in even more of you," he replied. He kissed him, first just with his lips, and then leaning in deeply until their tongues met.

"It's okay to rest for now. You can have me any time you want from now on," Barnaby whispered.

Kotetsu smiled. "You've said it now... Don't take it back."

"I won't," Barnaby replied. "But you have to take responsibility."

"Ehh? Responsibility for what?"

"For making me want to make this my reason for living," Barnaby said.

Kotetsu looked surprised for a moment, but then the same tender expression returned to his face. "Ah, I can take responsibility for that. Just don't regret making a bad decision later."

Barnaby smiled and reached out to stroke Kotetsu's face. "Kotetsu-san, I love you."

"I love you too, Bunny."

Shortly thereafter, both men drifted off to sleep, desperately trying to sleep as close to each other as possible, their limbs intertwined.

Right before he fell asleep, Barnaby had a similar thought to one he had earlier that day, only this time, with more certainty.

This must be what happiness feels like.